A 2027 Checklist for Furnishing a Guest Bedroom on a Budget
A guest bedroom doesn't need to cost a fortune to feel welcoming. What guests notice is a comfortable bed, clean bedding, somewhere to put their things and a room that's been thought about. This checklist takes you through the essentials in order of priority, with a budget-friendly Simba suggestion at each step, so you can furnish the room well without overspending.
1. Start With the Mattress
The mattress is where your guests will spend most of their stay, so it comes first. A guest room mattress needs to suit anyone who sleeps on it, and a medium-firm feel is the one that works for side, back and front sleepers alike. With every Simba mattress designed to feel medium-firm, you should choose based on the level of support, comfort and luxury you want to offer your guests, as well as how often the room will be used.
For a room used a few times a year, our Hybrid® Essential is the one to look at. It's our most wallet-friendly mattress, with Aerocoil® microsprings, Simbatex® foam, five support zones and a washable cover, in a slim 20cm depth. If you'd like to invest in a more premium sleep experience, our Hybrid® mattress range offers another option to explore. And, if you'd prefer to spend even less, our Simba-certified Refurbished range offers the same technology at a lower price, with a 30-night trial and a 1-year guarantee.
2. Or Refresh the Mattress You Have
If the guest bed already has a mattress that's still supportive, a topper is the cheapest way to make it feel new. Our WaveCell Topper is the lowest-priced option in the range, while the Cool Foam Mattress Topper adds 6.5cm of Simbatex® cushioning, with a washable cover and elastic straps. If you'd prefer springs as well, the Hybrid® Essential Topper adds up to 1,500 Aerocoil® microsprings. You can compare all three toppers side by side before you choose.
3. Choose a Bed That Earns Its Space
A guest room often doubles as an office or a store room, so it helps to choose furniture that serves more than one purpose. Our upholstered beds can be configured with two drawers, four drawers or an Ottoman base, and a double is the most flexible size for guests. If the room is small, a single or a small double mattress on an existing frame keeps costs down.
If you're buying a bed and mattress together, our bundles are priced as a pair, and you can spread the cost of any order over £150 with interest-free finance, subject to affordability, age and status.
4. Protect the Mattress
This is the least glamorous item on the list and one of the most useful. A waterproof mattress protector keeps the mattress spotless between visits and goes straight in the washing machine. Our TripleShield Bamboo protector is the most wallet-friendly of our three, and it fits mattresses up to 40cm deep.
5. Bedding for Every Guest
Guests arrive in every season, so a duvet that adapts can save you buying separate options for different temperatures. Our Hybrid™ 3-in-1 Duvet combines a 3.5 tog and a 7 tog duvet that fasten together to make 10.5 tog, so you can adjust the warmth to suit the time of year. Pair it with Egyptian Cotton bed linen for a smooth, luxurious finish, and our Hybrid™ Pillow, which has an adjustable core so guests can customise its height and firmness to suit their preferences.
6. The Small Things That Make a Big Difference
None of these cost much, and guests remember them:
- A bedside table or shelf with a lamp
- Somewhere to hang clothes, even a row of hooks
- A spare throw folded at the end of the bed
- A glass and a jug of water
- Clear space in a drawer for their things
- The Wi-Fi password written down
7. Ways to Bring the Total Down
- Check for a discount. Key workers, education staff, charity workers, students, carers, military personnel and others can save up to 26% on everything.
- Buy refurbished. Mattresses, toppers, protectors, duvets and pillows are all in our Refurbished range when stock allows.
- Spread the cost. Interest-free finance is available on orders over £150.
- Enter the draw. Subscribe to our newsletter, order your first mattress online, and we'll enter you into a monthly draw to win back the entire cost.
The Checklist In One Place
- A medium-firm mattress, new or refurbished
- Or a topper on a mattress that's still supportive
- A bed with storage if the room does double duty
- A waterproof, washable mattress protector
- A 3-in-1 duvet, two pillows per side and cotton bedding
- A lamp, hooks, a throw and a glass of water
- Your discount code and finance option at checkout
FAQs
Yes. Every refurbished mattress is deep cleaned and sanitised to hospital standards, and any parts that need replacing are swapped for brand new Simba parts before it's certified.
Our toppers are 6.5cm deep, which we've found is the ideal depth for a topper. It makes a real difference to comfort and still lets a standard fitted sheet go on.
Yes. They're two complete duvets, so you can use the 7 tog on one bed and the 3.5 tog on another, then snap them together for a winter guest.
Every new Simba mattress comes with the 200-night trial and the 10-year guarantee, however often the bed is used.
