See how easy it is to transform a basement guest room into a warm, welcoming retreat with simple touches that make guests feel at home.
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The basement in our new home is much bigger than our last house’s basement. It actually has a dedicated bedroom versus being just one big room. (You can read all about our previous basement makeover HERE.) When we first moved in last summer, I was using the dedicated basement bedroom as my workout room. But as the guests started pouring in over the last year, I realized that we needed a larger space to “contain” everyone, versus having them spread all over the house. LOL
Since our new basement has the space, we moved our daybed down to the open space, along with a sectional sofa, coffee table, and living room chair. Then, we created a brand new guest room in the basement bedroom. This way, when my sisters come out with their kids, they can have a dedicated bedroom and have the kids right next to them in the open space. There’s a 75″ TV down there, so it’s the perfect place for guests to have their own space while they’re visiting.
Queen Bed
Since our basement guest room is only 10’x10′, I needed to maximize space and comfort. Most of our guests are adults, so a twin or full size bed was too small and a king size is too big, so I bought my first queen-size bed!
I love a metal bed. It’s such a timeless design and goes with so many decorating styles. I chose an off-white metal bed from Wayair, and it’s just perfect!
We want our guests to sleep as comfortably as possible, so we bought a memory foam mattress and topper. Mattress toppers are game changers for sleep! Plus, they help extend the life of your mattress. It had been a hot minute since we had purchased mattresses, so I did a lot of research looking for highly rated ones that didn’t break the bank. This bed needs box springs and a mattress. The topper is optional but I highly recommend it and your guests will definitely appreciate it!
Don’t forget your mattress pad. You’d be surprised how much dirt can go through sheets (not that your guests are dirty but mine do a lot of mountain hiking!).
Queen Bed Art
For art, I hung pieces I bought at Target years ago that used to be in my office. This set works perfectly above our queen bed and pulls in the navy from the nightstands and bedding. For more inspiration, check out my Best Coastal Art to Hang Above Queen Bed post.
Coastal-Inspired Bedding
We have mattress toppers on all of the beds in the house, which means they sit taller. Because of this, I prefer oversized bedding for all our beds. Standard bedding ends up looking too small and exposes too much of the mattress.
For this bed, I used an oversized queen down comforter (from Amazon) and the cutest oversized queen cotton blue and white striped duvet cover. Throw an extra quilt at the end of the bed. It’s good to layer bedding, so guests can pull blankets on and off. I chose a cotton navy quilt, which is the perfect weight for chilly nights. Simple navy chenille throw pillow covers are the perfect finishing touch.
I love how Amazon’s bedding assortment (and home decor assortment in general!) has gotten SO much better over the years. That’s always the first place I look, especially if I need things quickly.
The sheets on this bed are an extra set of king-size Boll & Branch sheets I had. My husband dried them on high, so they had shrunk a little and were a little oversized for this queen bed, but worked fine. Plus, they’re literally the best sheets on the planet!
Hale Navy Nightstands
If you know anything about me, you know I am obsessed with Benjamin Moore Hale Navy paint. These nightstands that we DIY painted navy in 2021 were in our primary bedroom for years. But they were a little short for our super tall mattress so I swapped them for taller ones and brought these navy ones down to the basement guest room.
I added a couple of textured ceramic white table lamps that really pop off the navy nightstands. A wicker tray fits perfectly on the bottom shelf to corral books or personal belongings of your guests.
On one nightstand, I chose a white marble dish from Studio McGee’s Target line and a navy candle that smells amazing! On the other nightstand, I added a simple faux eucalyptus plant (similar) and vanilla amber candle (similar).
Wall Mounted TV & Console Table
On the wall across from the bed, we hung a 55″ Samsung TV that was in the basement of our last house. It’s the perfect size for this basement guest room and my sister always has a series she wants to fall asleep to.
Under the TV is the console table we painted white in our last house. My husband needed somewhere to display pictures of our pup Reese, so this has become a little bit of a shrine to her (she’s an AKC Lure Coursing champion!). All of our guests love our pups, so they think it’s super cute!
A basement guest room doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special. Even in a small 10’x10′ space, a few thoughtful pieces can make guests feel right at home. With a comfortable bed, cozy bedding, and simple furniture, the room is functional without feeling crowded. Add in personal touches—whether it’s family photos or your own style accents—and the space instantly feels welcoming. Sometimes the simplest rooms end up being the coziest retreats.
This room is not quite finished yet. I will be replacing the carpet in the coming years (lighter and more textured) and maybe adding some roman shades (we have cellular shades now). But with fresh paint (Benjamin Moore White Dove) and updated furniture and decor, it’s come a long way!
I hope this post gave you some good inspiration to decorate your basement guest room. Happy decorating!
Basement Guest Room FAQ
Light paint colors, mirrors, and layered lighting can make a basement guest room feel more spacious. Keeping furniture minimal and choosing pieces that fit the scale of the room also helps maximize space.
A queen bed is usually the best choice because it feels roomy for guests but still fits comfortably in most small basement bedrooms. If space is extra tight, a full or even a daybed with a trundle can work too.
Soft bedding, layered throws, rugs, and good lighting go a long way. Adding personal touches like artwork or family photos makes the space feel warm and welcoming.
Yes! Repurpose furniture from other rooms, shop affordable bedding, and add inexpensive decor like framed prints or fresh flowers. Small touches can make the space feel polished without spending a lot.
Comfortable bedding, nightstands with lighting, and a spot for guests to put their belongings are essentials. Extras like a TV, water carafe, or phone chargers make the stay even more comfortable.
This post is about basement guest room ideas.
