Create a gorgeous guest room in one weekend

"My housemate moved out at the end of last month and I've decided not to re-rent and keep the room as a spare instead. Both my sisters live abroad so it would be great to have somewhere nice and cosy for them to stay when they visit. The room is a good-sized double with built-in wardrobes. At the moment it's painted yellow, which looks dated. The carpet has recently been replaced and is a light, sandy colour. I’d love some suggestions on how I can create a functional bedroom suitable for guests!"

Susan Curran, Ballyphehane

It may not be possible to transform your spare room into one that resembles a five-star hotel but it is possible to create a bedroom for guests that is functional, modern and welcoming. Painting is an extremely economical way of updating any room, so I would start off with that task and work towards completion.

It is easy to avoid a clinical look or cold feel by introducing textured accessories and warm furnishings. A perfect shade is Mascarpone from Crown’s Indulgence range. This milky white has cream undertones, which makes it nice and warm and perfect for bedrooms.

Choosing an all-over white colour scheme for your spare room may seem like a dramatic statement to make but it will bring that fresh, new feeling you are hoping to achieve. A guest bedroom is the perfect place to embrace white. White bed linen and walls create a crisp, modern environment and can create the ultimate tranquil haven, perfect for weary guests. Shades like Mascarpone or even Sail White from Crown’s Matt & Silk range mean the room won’t have a completely whitewashed look.

The fact that your spare room will predominantly be used by your two sisters allows you to add a feminine flare, so you may also want to consider a shade called Culture Cream from Crown’s recently released Vintage range. It is a very sophisticated and pretty pastel shade and I think it would update the room to a very high standard.

You can modernise the shade and maximise the sense of space by painting the ceiling and skirting boards in Pure Brilliant White for wood and metal. If you are unsure about what colour to paint, why not pick up some samples or a colour card in any Crown Paints store and have fun choosing?