A guest room is rarely a room that is used daily – and that is exactly where the challenge lies. Guest bedding often sits in the closet for months, but in case of need, it should be immediately ready to use, fresh and comfortable. A little planning here saves you hectic washing on the day before the visit and creates a sleep experience for your guests that will stay in their memory. In this guide, we show you what matters when it comes to material, size, color and care.
Which material is suitable for guest bedding?
The most important rule is: your guests have a different perception of warmth than you. While one visitor sleeps perfectly at a room temperature of 18 °C, the next one freezes under the same blanket. That is why, for guest bedding, a quality that covers as wide a range as possible makes sense – or better yet: two sets for the cold and warm seasons.
For the whole year, Renforcé is the easiest choice. The densely woven plain weave made of pure cotton is light, breathable, skin-friendly and robust in care – a classic that no one is unfamiliar with. Those who prefer it smoother and slightly more elegant opt for Mako-Satin: combed cotton in a 4/1 sateen weave, pleasantly cool and smooth on the skin, with high-quality zippers. This quality acts like a little hotel upgrade in the guest room.
For the cold season, Flannel is our classic: 160 g/m², very high fluffiness and loft, noticeably cozy and warm. One step softer is our Melange-Flanell – a proprietary Flannel development made of 100% cotton, which we manufacture fully in Germany. And if your visitor tends to sweat at night, Seersucker with its airy crepe structure is ideal – with the pleasant side effect that it is 100% wrinkle-free.
The size: measure first, then buy
Guest beds are often special cases – sofa beds, folding beds or older models with different dimensions. Therefore, before you order bedding, measure the blanket and pillow yourself instead of relying on memories. The common German standard size is 135 × 200 cm for the duvet cover and 80 × 80 cm for the pillow; 155 × 220 cm as well as the flatter pillow format of 40 × 80 cm are also common. You can find a detailed overview in our guide Bedding sizes explained.
With a fitted sheet, it is worth taking a look at the mattress height: guest mattresses are often thinner than the main bed, so a sheet that is too large will fold. Jersey fitted sheets are practical here because they adapt to different heights thanks to their elasticity.
Color, design and the right amount
Restraint works well in the guest room. Quiet solid colors, soft natural tones or subtle patterns look inviting without forcing a very personal taste on the room – and they can easily be combined with a second set later. Light tones signal freshness and cleanliness, but are more maintenance-intensive; medium natural tones are the practical compromise.
As basic equipment, we recommend two to three sets per guest bed: a light one for spring and summer, a warm one for autumn and winter and ideally a third one in the closet, so that you do not have to wash it immediately after a departure. How to plan the overall inventory, you can read in our post How many bedding sets do I need?.
Storing and caring – so nothing gets musty
The most common mistake with guest bedding: it is washed, neatly stored – and still smells stale months later. The cause is almost always trapped residual moisture or airtight storage in plastic boxes. Therefore, store bedding completely dry and breathable, for example in an open closet compartment or in a fabric bag. Before the visit, a day of airing out is usually enough. We go into detail about this in Storing bedding correctly.
When washing, the following applies to cotton qualities: colored bedding feels comfortable at 40 °C with color detergent, white laundry can handle 60 °C with full detergent. It is better to do without fabric softener – it forms a film on the fibers and reduces the absorbency and fluffy feel, especially with Flannel. You can find all the details about this in our 7 professional tips for washing and caring.
One last tip from practice: wash new guest bedding once before storing it. This removes production residues, makes the feel softer – and the set is really ready immediately in case of need.
Small gestures with a big impact
Freshly made beds are the basis, but a few details make the difference: a second pillow in a different height, an additional blanket readily available at the foot of the bed and a mattress protector that hygienically protects the mattress between visits. Who equips their guest room like this only has to make the bed before a spontaneous visit. Feel free to browse through our entire selection of bedding – original quality from the inventor of Biber bedding (brushed cotton flannel), always delivered free of shipping costs.
Frequently asked questions
Which bedding is best suited for the guest room?
For year-round use, Renforcé made of pure cotton is the easiest choice: light, breathable and easy to care for. Those who want to give the guest room a more elegant character choose Mako-Satin; for winter, Flannel or Melange-Flanell is the warmest option.
How many sets of guest bedding do I need?
Two to three per guest bed are a good guideline: a light summer set and a warm winter set as well as a reserve, so that it does not have to be washed immediately after departure.
Do I have to wash guest bedding if it was only in the closet?
If it was stored dry and breathable, a day of airing out is usually enough. If it smells stale or was in an airtight box for a longer time, it is better to wash it again – that is also the best prevention against a musty smell.
