Decorating ideas for Christmas: Upgrade your guest bedrooms with Josephine Home
Christmas takes us back to our childhood and when the Holiday season draws near, we remember the welcoming comfort when we crossed the threshold to our grandparents’ home; scented candles wafting a warm aroma, fluffy cushions upon the inviting sofa and freshly baked treats cooling a kitchen dresser. Christmas was always a magical affair, with every generation of the family coming together under one roof to share in the festivities. We all love to embrace the holiday spirit – with an abundance of gifts, a mountain of delicious food and jovial decorations – but Christmas is a time to relish in the company of the ones you love. If you have the fortunate task of hosting the clan this year, it is important to make your friends and family feel comfortable and at home. And is there anything more inviting than pretty guest bedrooms?
Former lawyer, turned interior designer, Stephanie Betts, appreciates the significance of immersing the home in luxury and comfort to a standard befitting of the finest boutique hotels. Since starting her own company, Josephine Home in 2006, she has drawn inspiration from the welcoming nature of her own grandmother’s home, alongside the luxurious linens and towels from some of the world’s grandest hotels, to produce items which she hopes will enhance your quality of life. As she told YCB earlier this week: “My very first student flat was furnished with a few “borrowed” antiques from my parents’ house and amongst those was my grandmother’s old kitchen table on which I had done all my homework as a child; a 18th century polished walnut round, foldable table, which I still have! I thought, why can’t I find the equivalent of this lovely but robust table in bed linen? And that is how it all started.”
Seven years later, after the birth of both her adorable son Tristan and Josephine Home, Stephanie’s bespoke work can be found in the priciest rooms of the Mandarin Orientals in London, Hong Kong and Paris, as well as Babington House and other Soho Hotels. However, this level of success hasn’t deferred her from the central vision. “A welcoming, well-appointed yet unpretentious home with many small details which reveal a taste for the good things in life and the personality of the owners. Comfort, light and attention to detail would be my key components.” Stephanie told us about her design.
Tensions can sometimes run high in the holidays, and the best way to avoid any unwanted grumpiness is to ensure your guests have an outstanding night’s sleep. While the guest bedroom may sometimes be overlooked or forgotten if scarcely occupied, it is key to add those personal touches, such as a scented candle to freshen up and welcome. Aside from the most important starting point – the most comfortable and inviting bed that you can muster, decorated with cosy throws for a splash of colour and much needed extra warmth in this harsh winter – Stephanie divulged her secrets to unleashing that extra dose of comfort to your guest room: “a small bouquet of wild flowers and herbs, a nice scented candle and a special book or recent magazine.” You may also want to add lamps to each bedside table so that your guest can seek some alone-time with a good book. However, make sure your choice of reading material is personally catered to the guest in question, for that further attention to detail.
From the colour of the bedding, to the level of light beaming into the room, the tiniest of details can have the largest impact. Try to envision the way a bed is presented in a hotel, with neatly laid high thread-count sheets, and plenty of plump, inviting pillows, before adding your own homely touches. Josephine Home’s Silver Classic Hemstitch 500 thread count 100% Egyptian satin cotton bed linen are an ideal choice for giving a modern edge to grown-up elegance. For the ultimate level of extravagance, the Bespoke Rib Cashmere can be made to measure in up to 400 colours, and are gracing homes in every corner of the globe.
However you choose to decorate your guest rooms this Christmas, be that drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs with an empty, zen room, with only a few perfect pieces, or grand and over-decorated in a very charming British way in the style of Nicky Haslam’s, ensure that it is personalised with the same care and attention as the rest of your home. Be sure to remove all the clutter, and perhaps add some mini toiletries and even some miniature chocolates for that hint of hotel comfort, so that your guests can feel utterly pampered this Christmas.
For more information on Josephine Home, visit the website: http://www.josephinehome.co.uk/ or call +44 (0)20 7751 0100
