Update: What It Costs to Furnish a Guest Bedroom

We know that a lot of you have searched for this answer consistently over the last four years of this blog (stats are a beautiful thing), so we took a second look at our advice to see how it has held up!

We noticed immediately that the price ranges in most categories have changed quite a bit since that first post back in 2020. Many things have changed in the world since then, so we wanted to give you a more accurate range to consider when you're trying to furnish a guest room for the special people in your life.

Our tips to get the most out of the furniture and textile choices in this space have remained though - scroll through for our cost breakdown and realities to consider when furnishing a guest room.

For context, we have broken down the three ranges considering specific retailers, but of course, your mileage in each category may vary by needs, sizing, and material choice. Economy choices include Target or Wayfair, mid-range choices include Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and Brooklinen, and high-end choices include RH, Lulu & Georgia, Citizenry, Parachute, and interior designer led boutique stores like McGee & Co.

One thing to consider is that 'high-end' doesn't always mean high quality either - be discerning about the materials, construction, and customer service support post purchase.

Read on for the questions we ask during design consultations to figure out what the best choice is for a guest bedroom!

BED

For a guest, does it make sense to have a bed with storage because of space? Would they prefer an upholstered bed versus a metal or wood structured bed? Maybe even a canopy? All of these considerations affect the price point for the bed. This is a great piece to put in a solid investment because the bed may last the entirety of that guest room!

BEDDING + PILLOWS

Bedding is such a personal decision - and you have so many options in terms of material! You have percale, sateen, linen, bamboo, even silk - what do you choose?! Going with easy to wash options for guests is our first choice. If you love light and white bedding like we do, remember that you can always bleach clean white bedding, and you can't with other colors.

Layers also dictate the overall price - do you include a duvet cover, blanket, and quilt, with a throw blanket on top for good measure? That's all personal preference and how much your guests love making their beds every day - or not, no judgment!

We could say the same thing for pillows - are the decorative pillows handprinted individually or sent through a factory assembly line? Are they limited run releases or color releases for a specific season, or something you can buy at any time? Are the pillow inserts polyester filled or down filled? All of these factors can change the pricing dramatically.

WINDOW TREATMENTS

This category can vary so widely, but window treatments do elevate a room and make it feel complete, while also helping with light penetration and privacy. Ready made panels and standard lengths for curtain rods can keep costs at bay, but anything custom made, or multiple layers of blackout and decorative panels can drive the cost up quickly. Adding in any type of shade as well can escalate the cost too. This is typically the category that gets overlooked if there are shades already installed in the room, but remember this category if you get to the end of a guest room makeover, and it doesn't quite feel complete!

RUG

Our post about rug material content gives all the details about what goes into the construction of a rug, so pull up a chair before you click over - we didn't hold back any details! It's a nice touch for guests' feet in the morning, especially if you don't have carpet in these rooms.

LIGHTING

Lighting has a huge range because we see handblown, custom pendants and chandeliers made, and we see more mass-manufactured lamps as well. There is definitely a balance between functional use and choosing a lighting fixture because it's just the most beautiful piece of art you've ever seen, and you want that to be a focal point in a space. Guest rooms are a great space to try a funky or different chandelier that you love, or fun lamps in an interesting shape or color.

NIGHTSTANDS + DRESSER

Materials are big here - are marble, hardwood lumber, or welded metal involved in the pieces you choose? Are you choosing nightstands and dressers with soft close storage? What type of hardware is being used for both pieces? Raw material costs, extra material needed for storage, and the extra labor all contribute to the price range listed above. And again, type of construction and overall quality of that construction are a deciding factor.

ART & ACCESSORIES

It doesn't take a lot to accessorize a guest room, but the quality of the pieces chosen affect costs a lot. Craftsmanship and artisanal work takes much more time, material, and creativity, and prices can reflect that. How large are these art pieces and/or accessories? Are you purchasing from a vintage source or reusing something you already own in a new way? As with many categories, you must decide what takes priority for you in determining what budget makes sense for your style sensibility.

Was this helpful for you? Anything you're thinking about adding into your guest bedroom that we haven't covered? Leave a note below and we'll add it to the list!