It feels like summer is flying by. I’m trying to slow down and savor the season. We added some fresh, summery bedding to the guest room, and it’s been a pleasure to welcome visitors again. After a quiet 2020, it’s been lovely to use the space as intended.
Funny memory: as a child I dreamed of having a house with a guest room. I pictured making the bed and preparing a comfortable space for visitors. It sounds odd for a kid, but most of my big dreams have always involved decorating and creating cozy rooms.
This summer has felt more like our normal life, with family get-togethers returning. Still, the last couple of years have been full of comings and goings — moving grown children in and out, rearranging rooms, and adapting to changing routines.
Between Courtney moving in and then out again, Kylee and her husband moving in this spring (and preparing to move out to their own place soon), and our son Luke moving to dorms, returning home mid-year due to Covid, and now preparing to move into a house with friends in August, we’ve had a lot of transitions.
All that shifting has meant reorganizing the house to welcome everyone. While I appreciate feeling settled, the extra time with family at home has been a gift.
I’m looking ahead to the next season of life. We were empty nesters only briefly in 2019, so we didn’t have a chance to settle into new routines. This time it feels more permanent, so I’m thinking about rearranging and settling the house in a way that will last.
We also treated the guest room to a new mattress — and we love it. We chose a non-toxic mattress on a recommendation and it’s incredibly comfortable. Ordering and setting it up was simple; it arrived in a box and expanded quickly. I added two down-alternative pillows to complete the bed.
Lately I’ve been simplifying the house, keeping only items we use and love. New, fluffy pillows for guests make a noticeable difference — goodbye flat pillows.
Comfortable mattresses, plush pillows, and pretty bedding transform a guest room into a welcoming retreat. Jack seems to approve — he thinks it’s his room. Don’t worry, we tuck him out of the room when guests arrive.
I’m really enjoying the new bedding: a blue-and-white sheet set paired with a white-and-red dotted comforter that reverses to a floral pattern, and a lightweight white waffle knit blanket layered on top. I shared another summer bedding set in a previous post.
For now, the guest room will stay arranged for family visits over the coming weeks, though I’m considering a few room swaps once Luke moves. I’ll share those plans when they come together.
I’ll leave you with this photo of Jack — sometimes his expressions are so human it’s uncanny.
Thank you to the mattress and pillow brand that provided products for our guest room; the support helped make this refresh possible.
Sources and similar items are available on the site for those interested in recreating this look, including comparable upholstered beds, lighting, curtains, art, and bedding options.