17 Guest Bathroom Ideas That'll Make Your Visitors Feel at Home

If you've got long-term guests, a small hamper can help them corral dirty laundry they'd like to wash before packing their suitcases back up. Even for quick visits, though, a small basket can keep things orderly in the bathroom by collecting any towels and washcloths that need to be laundered. As seen in this Eneia White bathroom, natural fiber baskets not only are functional, but they also bring some texture to the space.

It's the small things, like checking into a hotel and discovering they have your favorite luxury brand of soap stocked in the bathroom. Take a cue from the hotel world and set out some Le Labo or Aesop hand soaps and lotions for your guests. This Studio Osklo built-in just calls for special suds.

A skirted dressing table like this one from a bathroom designed by Justine Cushing is a guest bathroom luxury, especially if there's a window letting in natural light, a tabletop mirror, and plush seating to relax on getting ready. Invite your guests to tuck their toiletries in storage behind the skirt.

Keeping things neat and tidy is a golden rule for house guests. To help facilitate those Emily Post-like manners, provide ample storage space for hair tools, makeup, grooming goods, and other toiletries. Take a peek at all the built-in storage in this Studio Shamshiri bathroom.

Fresh flowers brighten up a room and offer a warm welcome. Divvy up the blooms between vases and add some to the bathroom, too. The white florals in this Alexandra Kaehler-designed bathroom make the space look extra chic.

It's an age-old trick: Lighting a match can diffuse bathroom smells. Stash some in a gorgeous match cloche. You can also add a nice candle to a tray as Mallory Kaye did in this nature-inspired bathroom. For some scent inspiration, check out these candles that are favored by House Beautiful staffers.

If you want something a little bigger than a bath mat, opt for an area rug as Amity Worrel did with this fluffy piece that matches the shower curtain's shade. Bath mats and rugs are absorbent and can prevent slips and falls, but they can also be a key element in your bathroom, providing an added layer and some texture.

Place easy-to-find, fluffy towels out, perhaps in a basket like the one in this Anna Spiro Design bathroom. If you're feeling extra hospitable, hang a plush robe for your guest to use during the stay.

In the battle of pristine white fluffy washcloths vs. mascara, the odds, unfortunately, favor the latter. Ease the anxiety of getting makeup on fresh guest linens by providing visitors with make-up remover pads, cotton swabs, and the like. We love an antique trinket box for these types of necessities. Use a ledge or cabinet like the ones in this Alexander Reid-designed bathroom to stash all the goods.

Stash some extra rolls of toilet paper under a skirted sink a la this Lisle McKenna-designed bathroom that makes smart use of tricky spaces. Don't forget to set out a box of tissues, too.

Prevent wet towels from dampening the floor by adding some easy-to-install towel hooks near the shower. Take note of how Heidi Caillier matches the shower hooks to the bathroom's hardware, hinges, and sconces for a streamlined look.

Humidity-loving plants thrive in bathrooms. Follow the lead from this Gordon Dunning bathroom, and add some greenery to open shelves in a guest bathroom. If you're in need of some inspiration, here are 23 plants that do well in bathrooms.

You know that feeling of putting on a sweatshirt as soon as it comes out of the dryer? Re-create that cozy feeling for guests with a towel warmer, an understated luxury you can have on hand in the guest bathroom. Or, if you're renovating a bathroom, consider heated floors. They're the epitome of luxury.

The hooks in this Robert McKinley-designed space are perfect for a guest bathroom, providing a place where your visitors can hang their hats, washcloths, and other spare items. Take note, too, of the tumbler, which is perfect for stashing a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Even if you are loyal to your electric toothbrush, don't turn your dentist office down when they ask if you want a toothbrush and some floss to take home. You can build up a stash for house guests and place the spare hygiene items in a tray or on a built-in shelf like this one from an AP Design House bathroom.

Doesn't sinking into a tub after a long day of travel sound absolutely divine? If you've got a garden tub in your guest bathroom akin to this gorgeous piece from a Leanne Ford-designed bathroom, greet your weary travelers with some bath salts or bubble baths. The rolled towels on the nearby open shelf add to the spa-like experience.

If you're short on counter space, pull some pretty tea cups or creamers from your kitchen and add them to a shelf akin to this idea from an Anna Spiro Design bathroom. That way, your guest has somewhere to corral their makeup brushes and travel-sized toiletries.