Today I’m sharing some of my inspiration for the guest room design update, in the form of mood boards. Mood boards are an integral part of my design process. They help me figure out how to dial varying design knobs up and down before actually implementing changes in a space. By creating mood boards, you can swap out different pieces and design elements. This allows you to immediately get a sense of how those swaps will affect the design as a whole.

Read on for what we’ve updated in the guest room so far, what’s coming next, and two mood boards that give you a sense of different aesthetics I’m considering bringing to this space.

Guest Room Design Updates We’ve Made So Far

We first updated the wallpaper and trim color in this room earlier this year. Recently, I added a lovely antique dresser from a local antique store, Art and Architecture. This piece adds more character and storage to the space. I also added a different overhead light from the same antique store. Lastly, I changed the layout. The beds are now to the left when you enter the space instead of straight ahead. ⁠The current rug, beds, bedding, and other decor pieces were all either here before or pulled from other rooms in the house.⁠

Sources
Wallpaper: Sandberg (gifted) | Paint: Farrow & Ball | Overhead Light: Art & Architecture | Dresser: Art & Architecture | Rug: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams (gifted) | Table Lamp: Thrifted | Chair: Thrifted | Beds: Casper (gifted) | Rattan Lamp: Thrifted | Nightstand: Target

Here’s What’s Next

I want to continue to focus on adding more character and balancing out the softness of the wallpaper and trim color with bolder design elements. We plan to add blinds, curtains, and artwork. I’d like to swap out the bedding and the rug and potentially update some of the furniture. We may also add crown molding and update or touch up the flooring (it’s in horrible shape right now).

Guest Room Design Mood Boards

Below, you’ll see examples of the kinds of pieces I’m thinking of selecting for this space. These likely aren’t the exact pieces we’ll go with, but by pulling them together on mood boards, I was able to get a better sense of the styles and feelings I want to evoke in our guest room. The pieces I pulled will serve as inspiration for my future shopping for this space.

This mood board direction leans more traditional with punchier contrasts in color and style. I love the idea of having polished furniture classing with a postmodern Italian bamboo mirror, traditional-print pillows, and a geometric wool blanket casually strewn atop a glam Hollywood Regency-style bed. So much fun. It’s still soft and feminine but with an edge. 

Sources
Wallpaper: Sandberg (gifted) | Paint: Farrow & Ball | Overhead Light: Art & Architecture | Art: Chairish | Pillow: House of Jade Home | Bed: Sunday Shop | Table Lamp: In Common With | Bedding Image via TLC Interiors | Mirror: Chairish | Stripe Fabric: Soane | Marble Bench: Muller Van Severen | Desk (from related Instagram post): Chairish

This mood board direction is a little Scandinavian and a little traditional with a splash of prep school. I think it’s all about getting the pattern mix right here—too matchy-matchy or too expected in scale can feel tired. I love the idea of classing a graphic fabric print in an oversized scale with architectural lamps, delicate embossed busts in frames, and marbled paper lamp shades, all highlighting the focal point—a playfully modern wood bed.

Sources
Wallpaper: Sandberg (gifted) | Paint: Farrow & Ball | Overhead Light: Art & Architecture | Bed: 1st Dibs | Table Lamp: Sarah Nedovic Gaunt | Lamp Shades: Chairish | Art Set: Chairish | Books Set: Perigold | Velvet Bench: Chairish | Geometric Fabric: Wiener Werkstatte | Bedding: Heather Taylor Home

Editor’s Note: This article contains affiliate links. Wit & Delight uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. Wit & Delight stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.