Montana is a getaway state. It’s a state that everyone seems to want to visit for our majestic mountains, endless forests, beautiful lakes and wide open spaces. To outsiders, Montana has an allure all about it that people want to experience just once, if not over and over again. Here in the Flathead Valley, our summers are consistently booming with tourists. We have visitors who venture to the Flathead area to water-ski on the many lakes, raft the North Fork, hike the Bob Marshall and take in the sights on Going to the Sun road in Glacier National Park. It’s a happening place – it really is.
Because of this, our house is a revolving door to guests. We host summer guests like a Bed and Breakfast. But our fun doesn’t end there. When fall and winter roll around, we typically see more and more guests as our friends and family want to hike in the changing tamaracks, ski the glorious local hills and drink the local brew. And, like the changing seasons, we as designers like to change the feel of our guest room to match. This fall, we spiced up the guest room keeping these few tips in mind.
Bed Linens – As cooler weather hits, one of the easiest ways to warm up a room is to swap out the summer bedding for heavier linens. Flannel sheets in rich golds, oranges and reds add in a simple rustic fall feel and deep reds and greens are an easy switch for the winter season. Keep a heavier throw rolled up near the bed for added heat if needed. Another quick trick – swap out the throw pillows to match the season. Fall pillows with pumpkins and leaves and holiday pillows with cardinals and ornaments are sure to put a smile on your guest’s face when they enter their room.
Lighting – Summer season is vibrant with bright hues and bright lights but when fall and winter hit, it’s the softer lights and warmer tones that creep in. Follow this simple transition in the guest room. Replace those too bright bulbs for warmer lighting to cozy up a room and make it more relaxing. Ensure you have lamps close where your guests sleep – there is nothing like tripping over suitcases in the dark trying to find the bed.
Accent Pieces – Refresh a bedroom’s look with accent pieces that match the time of year. For fall, place a few small pumpkins on the night stand and window seal. Replace the potpourri with fall leaves and cinnamon sticks and even hang a leaf branched or burlap wreath on the window facing in. Do the same for the winter season with green garland, glass ornaments and pinecones. Accent pieces are the easiest to change without overhauling an entire rooms design and a simple quick swap will keep your guests feeling right at home.
Botanicals – Regardless of the season, every guest room should have some sort of flora in it. Flowers almost act as a welcoming tool and the aroma they set off can’t be beat. For fall, we frequently use sunflowers in our own guest room as most people like them and the pops of yellow match well to the other gold tones in the room. For winter, poinsettias would add in some holiday flare.