Recently, my four best friends flew to North Carolina for my birthday, and I set up a little “blow-up” sleepover room so that we could have a good old-fashioned slumber party. I shared a little bit about this sleepover room when I tested and ranked the best air mattresses on Amazon, and so many of you wanted to know more about how I set this all up, including the cute welcome baskets. So here are all of my tips for making a temporary guest room feel cozy and comfortable!
1. Use a Double-Height Air Mattress
Rug | Air Mattresses | Comforters | Sheets | Side Table | Armoire | Baskets | Flush Mounts | Pendant | Baskets
There's nothing wrong with blowing up air mattresses for your guests, especially when it comes to hosting around the Holidays! However, not every air mattress is created equally, which is precisely why I decided to conduct a test to find the best of the best! In my opinion, the best air mattresses have an internal pump and are double height. Nobody wants to have to crouch down to the ground to get in and out of bed! The mattresses we tested have a really comfortable height, and with all the bedding, they look just as comfortable and welcoming as a regular bed!
One tip we received from a reader is to always have carpet or a rug under air mattresses to retain heat! You can also add a mattress topper for some added insulation and comfort.
2. Comfy Bedding
Speaking of comfort! Don't skimp out on the bedding just because it's an air mattress. Four of these air mattresses have a 20" height, and one has an 18", and the twin 18" deep sheets worked perfectly for all of them. Like I said before, if you want some extra cushioning and warmth, you could add a mattress, but they were still perfectly comfortable without them. In addition to comfy sheets, each bed was equipped with two pillows, a queen-sized comforter (I recommend sizing up), and a top blanket for extra warmth and coziness.
3. Don't Forget the Nightstand!
Just because your guests are sleeping on an air mattress doesn't mean you can't take the extra step to make them feel at home. In fact, I would maybe even suggest you go more out of your way to accommodate them. Setting out a nightstand or simple stool next to their bed to set their phone and belongings on goes a long way! Bonus points if you can get them a lamp.
4. Set Out a Welcome Basket
Perhaps one of my favorite things to do for guests is to prepare a welcome basket full of goodies! Here's what I included in these baskets!
Something Cozy:
Slippers, Scrunchie, Socks, Sleeping Mask
Beauty Products:
Dry Shampoo, Rosewater Facial Spray, Lip Mask, Makeup Wipes, Lotion, Toothpaste
Useful Items:
Water Bottle, Portable Charger
Something Sweet:
Smart Sweets, Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzels, Mints
Are you hosting any guests this Holiday season? What are some of your tips?
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So cozy and beautiful! I love the armoire. The link sends us to a much lighter one. Is yours a different color? Or have you stained it?
Thank you!
we stained ours! Check out this post!
I love the idea of adding a gift basket and some kind of nightstand for guests. I am not hosting anytime soon but will add these little nuggets for future guests. Thank you!
Thank you for the tips! Great idea and affordable.
This looks like so much fun and you could go all out or keep it simple. I'd love to do this with my girls.
By the way, I just wanted to mention how much of a noticeable improvement you've made by removing mid-post ads (both against your previous set up and other blogs I read). I am sure it has economic effects, however it is a huge positive difference in the user experience and very much appreciated.
A sleeping bag also makes a great air mattress topper in colder climates. We have a queen size air mattress (King Koil, and it's as good as you said!) so I unzip a sleeping bag and put it flannel-side up before adding flannel sheets and an electric blanket, because Midwest winters. I know it's comfortable because my kiddo insisted on "camping out" in the basement family room every weekend during the pandemic - but tbh I think it's a great idea to spend a night in your guest bed as a test run before guests show up. The little basket is cute, I'm going to borrow that idea.
I am really curious if these air mattresses hold up when they are queen size ? I have never met a air mattress that worked well for a couple . We prefer camping mats on the floor to a air mattress
Honestly, I don't think ANYONE enjoys sharing an air mattress which is why we bought twins instead. It's much more comfortable for everyone.
I've had a King Koil in a queen size since 2020 and it's still going strong. We use it A LOT, including sleepovers and couples and it gets great reviews.
I love how you went above and beyond for your guests and included a basket at the end of their bed.