Hosting Christmas: The Perfect Guest Room

Creating a Cosy Christmas at Home

The fire is lit, candles are flickering and your find yourself gazing merrily towards your Christmas tree at any opportunity. Preparing your home for Christmas is a home-bodies favourite time of the year. Christmas at home evokes the senses, it’s the touch of different cosy fabrics, the delicious smells and tastes coming out of your kitchen, the sound of carols and the sight of twinkle lights wherever you go. For home lovers, it delivers the chance to get creative and transform everyday spaces into something special.

A Winter Retreat Bedroom

The Christmas season can be a hectic time as we try to squeeze as much into our social diaries as possible. Still, it’s important to carve out some time and space for yourself and there’s no better place to do this than in your bedroom. A few small tweaks can lift your space into a welcome refuge from the hustle and bustle of December.    

Of course you don’t need to redecorate entirely for the season, sometimes it is the smallest updates that make the biggest impact. Adding twinkle lights and stockings will create a seasonal atmosphere but don’t stop there. Changing out the materials dressing your bed will be a sensory reminder of the period. At FOXFORD, winter is a time for soft flannel bedlinen. Unique to this time of year, the brushed finish of the cotton offers true comfort, like a warm hug around you.

Depending on your personal style, you might prefer to go for traditional festive colour combinations. Remember though, the room should still feel calming. This year we’re choosing gentle colour combinations such as a rich forest green with a creamy base in our Eve Toile bedding collection.

Prepare the space for rest during the Christmas period by removing some of the technology that usually sits on your bedside. Instead, reach for physical books, word-puzzles, magazines or a journal. Indulge in your favourite sleep spray, cashmere bed socks and cosy pyjamas. Anything that supports you in winding down for sleep.

Adding Warmth to Other Rooms

Thinking of your five senses again as you move throughout your home. The power of scent is powerful in evoking memories. Perhaps you create a scented moment with a new festive candle or even get crafty and create a natural scent such as cloves in oranges to fill your space. Add strong senses to momentary rooms such as hallways or bathrooms. Opt for lighter or more natural scents in rooms where people sleep or eat. The scent should compliment your space, not dominate it.

Think about soft lighting in the corners of your rooms, adding extra throws or blankets to add both visual and textural interest to your space. Much of the joy of Christmas is about slowly down and spending more lounging around at home. Celebrate this. Creating little vignettes to linger in doesn’t have to be complicated but rather just need to feel inviting. Cushions for comfort and seasonal decorations such as dried flower arrangements can also add more seasonal depth to your space.

Hosting at Christmas

If you are hosting someone this Christmas, you’re likely trying to think of how to make your guests feel welcome. What works best is simple pleasures: a freshly made bed with quality sheets, soft blankets left around to encourage naps, a variety of warm drinks on offer, analogue activities such as boardgames, puzzles or crafts, and maybe some light Christmas music in the background.

When thinking about preparing your guest room, we always recommend the highest quality of sheets you can afford. Getting into fresh sheets is one of the best feelings in the world. By choosing high-quality bedlinen, you are giving your guests that feeling night after night and creating a sensory memory for them.

We always recommend two pillows each for maximum comfort, adding layered blankets towards the bottom of the bed or styled on a chair in their bedroom in case your guests feel chilly throughout the night. Think about the little things that may make their stay even better. Is your guest an avid reader? Imagining how they are likely to spend their time in the space will help you cater for their needs. For example, a reader may sit up in bed for hours before sleep.  Accessories such as bed cushions for example not only look nice but can offer your guests extra back support while they unwind with their book.

If you want to go all out, offering cosy pyjamas, bed socks and a robe to wear around the house is a really thoughtful touch.

Plush, soft towels are a must, ensuring you have left enough for their entire stay. Keep your bathroom stocked with the essentials, no need to panic search for toothpaste at the end of the night. Other small touches such as bath or body oils can make their stay even more luxurious.

You’ll want your guests to feel looked after. Little details like this enable them to relax, removing the pressures of formalities or needed to ask for things. With that in mind, it can also be nice to have a small card with household practicalities by their bed, and although we do encourage a restful bedroom, this will likely include the wifi password.

Christmas Nights In

Whether you’re hosting friends, family or just yourself this year, enjoy your time at home. Create opportunity to get comfortable, perhaps playing games or watching Home Alone for the one millionth time, buried under your favourite throw while eating your favourite Christmas snack. From Christmas Pudding to gingerbread or even turkey sandwiches, food is a fundamental part of the festive experience. Treat yourself to something you truly enjoy and make this Christmas at home one to remember.