Christmas and New Year often bring a houseful of visiting friends and family, with some staying for several nights at a time. And while a few festive touches help set the scene, what guests really remember is how comfortable, cosy and well-rested they felt during their stay.
The best part? Creating a welcoming guest bedroom doesn’t require a full redesign of your spare room. A handful of considered updates can turn your guest room into a calm, inviting retreat your guests will love to come back to - well beyond Christmas.
Here at Woolroom, we’ve put together some simple, practical steps you can take to prepare - along with guest bedroom ideas that work for Christmas and well into the new year.
1. Start With a Seasonal Reset (Freshen, Clean & Air the Room)
Before you start thinking about twinkling fairy lights, whether pine green or dark red sets a more Christmassy mood, or how many cushions the bed really needs, begin by giving your guest room a quick reset.
Spare rooms often sit unused for much of the year, so a 15-20 minute refresh can make a huge difference. Start by:
- Opening the windows to circulate some fresh winter air
- Dusting surfaces, lamps and skirting boards
- Vacuuming the surface of your mattress to remove dust build-up (especially if it has a synthetic filling; but not if it has a wool filling)
- Rotating and flipping your mattress
- Clearing away any unnecessary clutter
- Washing your bed linen so everything feels crisp and welcoming
If your guest mattress feels a little flat, uneven or just not quite right, this is the perfect moment for a small upgrade that makes a big difference - a mattress topper.
2. Create a Comfortable Bed Guests Can Rest Well In
Sleep matters at every point of the year. But at Christmas, it matters even more – it’s the end of a long year, and often the best chance many of us get to properly rest.
Even if your guest room isn’t used regularly, the bed should still feel supportive, warm and clean, without your guests being too hot or cold during the night. After all, you want them to come back next year!
This is where natural materials really shine. Wool, in particular, is brilliant for guests because it naturally:
- Regulates temperature
- Breathes better than synthetic fibres
- Reduces clamminess and overheating
- Insulates heat for cold sleepers
- Manages moisture for a fresher night’s sleep
- Is hypoallergenic and dust-mite resistant
All this helps you hit that sweet spot that works for all kinds of sleepers –especially helpful when you don’t always know your guests’ sleep preferences.
Natural Bedding for Your Guest Room
Wool Mattress Toppers
You don’t necessarily need to invest in a new mattress to elevate your guest room. A luxurious wool mattress topper can go a long way. Naturally hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating, it adds an extra layer of comfort and support, helping your guests enjoy a restful, cosy stay. Thoughtful, eco-friendly and welcoming.
Natural Wool Duvets
Cheap synthetic-filled duvets can’t breathe and tend to trap heat. Wool, on the other hand, is naturally breathable and able to regulate temperature - so your guests can enjoy a restful night without feeling too hot or too cold. Soft, hypoallergenic and long-lasting, our wool duvets offer year-round comfort. Unlike a festive woolly jumper, they really aren’t just for Christmas.
Supportive Wool Pillows
Give your guests an inviting place to lay their head with our wool pillows. Filled with natural, traceable British wool, they provide excellent support, regulate temperature and are hypoallergenic - ideal for guests who suffer from allergies. They’re easy to plump, and you can even add extra wool fill for personalised support.
3. Refresh the Look With Natural Bedding (Christmas-Friendly, Year-Round Beautiful)
Aesthetics matter - especially at Christmas - but transforming a room doesn’t have to involve garlands, heavy décor, or bright seasonal prints. A simple bedding refresh can instantly uplift the whole space.
Woolroom’s flax cotton and organic cotton bedding sets in soft pastel tones are perfect if you want a look that feels clean, calming, fresh and naturally stylish.
These gentle shades create a neutral backdrop that works beautifully with subtle Christmas touches - a wool throw in a warm winter shade, a sprig of greenery or a few soft fairy lights. It’s a look that stays elegant long after the decorations come down.
It’s the most affordable way to give the room a ‘new’ feeling without redecorating.
Guest Room Bedding Set Colours That Work All Year Round
We’ve highlighted a handful of colours from our bed linen range that make your guest room feel welcoming throughout the year, while also styling effortlessly for Christmas.
Sage
A soft, nature-inspired green that echoes Christmas foliage without feeling too seasonal.
Rose
A warm, muted rose with a soft, earthy undertone. It brings a gentle hint of colour without feeling overpowering. Subtle enough for Christmas, calming enough for the rest of the year.
Almond
A warm, creamy neutral tone that adds instant cosiness and pairs effortlessly with the textures of wool throws or cushions.
Pebble
A soft grey-beige that feels calm and understated – perfect if you want a clean, neutral backdrop for festive greenery or fairy lights.
Buttermilk
Warm and gentle, this soft yellow shade creates a subtle golden glow, especially lovely in winter lighting.
White
Crisp, classic and hotel-fresh, white provides the perfect base for any Christmas styling – from Scandi minimalism to deep greens, brass accents or soft candlelight.
4. Make the Room Feel Cosy and Comfortable in the Winter Months
The winter often brings colder nights, with heating systems getting greater use and guests having different temperature preferences. It’s worth making sure the room feels comfortable, whatever the weather is doing outside.
You don’t need to do anything elaborate. Just a few thoughtful touches can make the space feel instantly warmer, more inviting and easier to settle into:
- Leave an extra wool blanket or throw at the foot of the bed for guests who feel the cold.
- Add a soft bedside lamp to create warm, gentle lighting that feels far more relaxing than bright overhead lights.
- Make sure guests can adjust the radiator or heating, and leave a note if the controls aren’t obvious.
- Offer a couple of pillow options (firmer and softer), so guests can choose what suits them best.
- Place a small carafe or bottle of water on the bedside table for night-time convenience.
- Ensure the room is well ventilated, especially if it hasn’t been used for a while, so it feels fresh not stuffy.
Wool naturally adapts to temperature changes, so it helps maintain comfort even as the room cools down during the night - an added benefit if your heating tends to fluctuate or switches off on a timer.
These simple, practical additions go a long way in helping guests feel cosy, cared for and properly rested during their stay.
5. Add the Finishing Touches Guests Appreciate
It’s often the small details that make all the difference in leaving your guests feeling well looked after – especially when they’re away from home. They don’t need to be extravagant. They simply need to show you care and that you’re delighted to welcome them into your home.
Consider adding these guest room essentials:
- A set of folded fresh towels
- A small basket of toiletries, including shampoo and conditioner (in refillable bottles), a toothbrush, toothpaste or cotton makeup pads
- A universal phone charger or spare cable, because you just never know what someone’s going to forget
- A reading light or lamp, so your guests can unwind with a good book
- A spare wool throw or blanket, in case they get cold during the night
- A little notecard with your home’s Wi-Fi password on it
- An unlit festive-scented candle on the side, to bring that soft, warm glow
Simple Upgrades Can Get Your Spare Room Guest-Ready
Elevating your guest bedroom doesn’t need to involve a long shopping list. Often, one thoughtful upgrade is enough to refresh the space and noticeably improve your guests’ comfort.
Whether it’s a wool mattress topper that brings new life to a rarely-used bed, a fresh organic cotton bedding set that brightens the room, or a wool throw that adds winter warmth and year-round style, choosing one well-made, natural addition can transform your guest room with ease.
Pair that with a few calm, considered touches - clean bedding, warm lighting, and a welcoming atmosphere - and you’ll have a guest room your friends and family will love staying in long after the Christmas decorations come down. So good they might not want to leave!
Discover Woolroom bedding and transform your guest room into a naturally cosy, welcoming space - for Christmas and beyond.
