The holidays are all about homes full of family and friends. Are you preparing your house for guests? If so, this post is for you! We’re gathering all our favorites and sharing tips for getting your guest room ready. And, as in our case, that could be your kids’ rooms that have to work for both kids and guests! Two of our three are coming home from school, and we have guests coming to stay too. Some may think there’s no way a kids room can double as a comfy, inviting room for guests — but we’re here to tell you it can serve both purposes! Follow these steps and you’ll feel ready and able to entertain guests over the holidays … like a pro.
CLOUZ HOUZ TIP: To make guests feel welcome and comfortable, it’s the simple things 😊 For example, I like to add travel-sized toiletries to nightstands in case anyone has forgotten items like toothpaste, aspirin, earplugs, charging cord, etc. Also, a carafe of water and a glass for an easy middle of the night sip is always a nice touch. Your guests will appreciate these small gestures!
image: Clouz Houz / Photography: Zee Wendell
Treat whichever room you’re designating as a “guest room” as a special retreat for your guests. Whether it’s a den with a pull out sofa or an office with a blow up mattress, you can create a cozy space for family and friends where they can relax and enjoy their time in your home. See below for some items that we think are not only comfy and inviting, but also practical and budget-friendly. Adding these will make a “5 star hotel” experience in your own home!
CLOUZ HOUZ TIP: We needed a nightstand in our daughter’s bedroom since she took her furniture with her to college. So, we turned a chair into a surface by adding a stack of books. Then we placed a small dish to collect guest’s jewelry, etc. and set out a tray to hold a glass of water or a phone.
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Water Carafe and Glass
Make everything feel special, even a late night sip of water! This water carafe and glass set is so cute. It's the perfect addition to the guest room to make visitors feel like they're truly being spoiled with simple luxuries.
I love this little tree for placing on a nightstand to make your guest's room feel festive. Add lights for a night "glow" in the room, or leave naked for a cute touch to any space. I bought two of these this year, and just ordered a couple more for the kids' rooms. They would also look sweet with ornaments.
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Flannel Sheet Set
New sheets always feel luxurious, and these are sooooooo good! They're inexpensive, but feel really nice on a cold wintery night. And, let's not forget how handsome they are as well! I got a couple of sets or the kids' rooms this year, and they love them. It's a win-win as kids and guests will love to curl in for the night!
We purchased this duvet and these shams for our daughter's room, and now I'm on a mission to get the same ones in the green colorway. The quality of the linen is really really good, and I love the relaxed yet preppy look it adds to her room. I've purchased Serena & Lily bedding over the years, and I have never been disappointed.
If you want to turn a den or TV room into a guest space, I recommend investing in a good air mattress. This particular one has rave reviews, with air-filled coils and a built-in air pump to adjust the firmness of the mattress. Add some nice sheets, a down comforter and fluffy pillows and your guests will feel spoiled all through the night!
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Sheepskin Throw
I use sheepskin throws all the time, whether they're thrown a chair or sofa or as an easy solution to put something cozy and luxurious to the floor! I placed a couple next to the bed in our daughter's bedroom where we will host guests as well. It adds just a little something extra that will feel so good when stepping out of bed in the morning!
We've had the bed in our son's bedroom for years, and I still love it as much as I did the day we got it. It's a classic style -- not too childish, yet relaxed enough to feel casual and comfortable. The natural quality of the rattan goes with many styles of bedding. It looks especially amazing with hotel-inspired bedding, with classic embroidered sheets and beautiful duvets.
I can't say enough about how much I love this floor lamp! I've used it for clients' projects as well in our home. Both our boys have them as a reading light over their beds. I really like the contemporary, cool vibe it gives to their rooms. It has a handy touch sensor for ease in the middle of the night. And, you can't beat the price for the look! It's a great dupe for a designer look.
Me... sees cabins trending and immediately decides to throw cabin content at you all month😂 But honestly, this isn’t a trend for us. This is core CH DNA.
Cabins and mountain homes were some of the first projects we ever designed back in the PNW, and that look and it’s still one of my all-time favorites. It’s lodgecore, but refined. Less kitschy “theme cabin,” more elevated mountain retreat that still feels like home.
And if you’ve seen our Mountain Modern Ranch Design Guide (plugging it lightly because I’m proud of her), this is exactly the vibe (with maybe a few more twists). A curated roadmap for getting the look without falling into the cliché traps.
This style is trending again because people want homes that feel cozy and lived-in but still intentional. Life feels busy... lodgecore slows it down. It brings in warmth, nostalgia, nature, and structure all at once.
If you’re shopping the look this month or just gathering inspo, comment ‘ASPEN’ for all the deets (and if you want the fashion links… you’ll hav to read the blog tonight or shop our LTK). Aspen Lodgecore Refined is officially the theme, and I can’t wait to show you how approachable (and fun) it actually is!
Headed back to Oregon today and scrolling through old Christmas clips like the nostalgic, obsessed person that I am.😂 It truly never fails to be the coziest place during the holidays.
We chose the PNW this year partly for the peaceful vibes... partly because our renovation is unhinged right now. And MOSTLY because I wanted to put up a tree.
Luckily we have a fake one in storage. No ornaments, just twinkle lights and vibes. I’ve got a few simple tricks to make it feel special for our family.
Where are you celebrating this year? Traveling? Staying home? I love hearing what this season looks like for everyone.
We’re currently in the concept phase for a full furnishings and light refresh project at our ‘Tetherow Timber House’ project. A home with mountain modern roots, lots of reclaimed wood, and a natural warmth we want to preserve. This one doesn’t need a full remodel; it just needs the right updates in the right places.
In the kitchen, we’re keeping the existing cabinetry but introducing new counters, new paint for cabinetry, updated lighting, and refined hardware to give it a fresh, elevated feel without losing its character. Just off the kitchen, we’re designing a new bar area — a small but impactful space we’re making “its own moment” with moodier materials, rich finishes, and layered textures to make it feel collected and intentional.
Sometimes it’s not about reinventing the space, it’s about revealing what’s already there and bringing it to life in a new way.
Christmas recipes... Just good food, cozy pajamas, and something warm in a mug.
This is Part 5 and the final chapter of our ‘A Martha Season’ holiday series, and we’re closing it out with the things that feel quintessential to us: the recipes our kids always ask for, the pajamas we live in all December, and the little touches that make the whole house feel warmer.
And if you have been following along, you know I’m a self-proclaimed horrible cook-so these are the recipes ANYONE can make. 🙂
P.S. The pink dip is honestly something our family and friends call “crack dip” it’s a recipe passed down from my grandma and everybody loves it.
Save this post and share it with whoever you’re cooking with — your holiday made simple with these recipes!
If you want links to everything we picked to recreate the feeling (from the food to the fashion to the cozy accents) comment ‘SHOP’ and I’ll send them your way.
In the spirit of the season, I’m gifting one of you a Designer for a Day virtual experience (broken into two highly-focused sessions) designed to give you the clarity, confidence, and direction your project has been missing. Let’s make your home feel like the haven you dream and deserve. ❤️
During our time together, we’ll dive into whatever you need most. Whether that’s refining room layouts, dialing in materials, choosing paint + finishes, planning lighting, building your palette… whatever will move your project forward. These sessions are always so fun to do and shockingly productive.
HOW TO ENTER: - Like this post - Make sure you’re following @clouz_houz - Tag 3 friends in the comments - Bonus entry: Comment your city!
I truly can’t thank you enough for your support this year. Whether you comment, save designs, ask questions, or simply enjoy following along. This community means the world to me. ❤️
(Winner announced December 17th. Session can be booked after the New Year - must be scheduled one month in advance so we can prep! Available nationwide).
CLOUZ HOUZ TIP: To make guests feel welcome and comfortable, it’s the simple things 😊 For example, I like to add travel-sized toiletries to nightstands in case anyone has forgotten items like toothpaste, aspirin, earplugs, charging cord, etc. Also, a carafe of water and a glass for an easy middle of the night sip is always a nice touch. Your guests will appreciate these small gestures!
