13 Things To Toss From Your Guest Bedroom Immediately

If you have a designated guest bedroom in your home, chances are you love having visitors and want any overnight guests to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible. As a good host or hostess, you may pore over the little details, such as choosing the most calming paint shade for your guest room walls, or stress over ways to make it extra cozy. But what not to include in your guest room is just as important as what to add — perhaps even more so.

Ultimately, any guests in your home are most likely there to spend time with you, so anything beyond that is just extra. In fact, most guests are simply looking for the essentials in a guest room — i.e., a clean place to seek respite at the end of the day — and without proper care, certain aspects can get in the way of that. So go back to basics, and clear your guest room of these 13 things that simply shouldn't be there.

Are the pillows in your guest room looking a little worse for wear? Even if you're diligent about cleaning and replacing pillowcases in between visitors, drool, sweat, and oils from skin and hair can seep through the pillowcase and contaminate the pillow itself. That's why it's a good idea to replace pillows every one to two years so that they stay clear of debris as well as allergens such as dust mites and mold.

Plants can be fantastic for wellbeing; they can improve air quality, reduce stress, and even improve cognitive health, so keeping some greens in your guest room may seem like a hospitable choice. However, if the plants have been neglected and are dead or dying, they may have the opposite effect. In fact, one study found that unhealthy houseplants reflected negatively on how people perceived their environment. So get rid of any guest room plants that are no longer thriving, and try replacing them with one of these 25 easiest houseplants that anyone can keep alive.

You may love to reminisce looking at those mushy photos from your honeymoon in Paris, or of those beach vacation photos where you're stripped down to your skivvies. But your overnight guests almost certainly do not want to have those intimate photos hanging over them as they sleep. Keep the personal photos for personal spaces, like your own bedroom or home office.

On average, a mattress can last for about a decade. Even once it has started to get a bit discolored, you can hang onto it as long as it is comfortable and supportive. But if the mattress has started to sag, has become extra squeaky, or causes allergies to flare up from accumulating too much dust and debris over the years, that means it's definitely time to get your guests an upgrade.

You may have a habit of keeping the fancy clothes you rarely wear stashed away in your guest room closet. After all, you only whip them out for special occasions, so why have them taking up space in your own bedroom closet? But if you have nice items stored in your guest room, you run the risk of something happening to your best suit or favorite dress — especially if there are children or furry visitors in tow. To keep nice things from getting damaged, pack them away somewhere else.

Is there a giant treadmill or stationary bike in your guestroom that's just collecting dust? Even if you are using it regularly, exercise equipment tends to be bulky, takes up space, can be a tripping hazard, and doesn't jive well with a relaxing ambiance — to name just a few of the many reasons why you shouldn't keep gym equipment in your bedroom. Plus, if you get the urge to squeeze in a workout while you have guests staying over, it will be difficult to do so if your equipment is in your guest's private space.

You may think you're doing your guest a favor when you light up a cozy scented candle, but remember that scents are subjective; what smells wonderful and inviting to you may smell awful to someone else. Also, the chemicals in scented candles may be hazardous, especially to those who are particularly sensitive to them, such as people with asthma or allergies. So skip the scented candles and other overpowering aromas and look for other ways to make your guest room inviting, such as ambient lighting.

Sheets can last for about five years if you take care of them properly, but anything beyond that and they will likely start to look a bit raggedy. So if your guestroom is stocked with the same old bedding you've owned since college, it's probably time for an upgrade. Do a little research on everything to know before you buy new sheets, such as the merits of natural versus synthetic fibers and what thread counts mean. Good sheets don't need to be expensive, but the right ones can make all the difference and help your guest get a great night's sleep!

Kids toys, boxes of holiday decorations, those stacks of junk mail you've been meaning to sift through for ages ... Has your guest room become less like a spot for visitors and more like a dumping ground for all that stuff you don't know what else to do with? If so, it's time to start cleansing your guest room of excess clutter. Too much clutter can cause stress and anxiety, which is the opposite of the relaxing atmosphere you want to set for sleeping. If you need some help getting started, check out some smart organization tips that even HGTV stars swear by.

One thing that Gen Zers and Millennials can agree on is that the "big light" (i.e. that excessively-bright overnhead light, often found in recessed lighting or ceiling fans) is a bad look for bedrooms. Not only does it kill the ambiance, it can also strain eyes and cause migraines, making it difficult to wind down and get a good night's sleep. Instead, provide overnight guests with multiple little light sources such as bedside lamps and sconces, or install a dimmer switch so they can customize the lighting to their own preferences.

Keeping cleaning supplies in your guest's sleeping quarters doesn't exactly promote a relaxing mood, and cleaning chemicals can be harmful to sleep near. Plus, you don't want to store anything in your guest room that you use regularly and would require you to poke around in your guest's room while they're staying there. So just in case there's a spill or mess that needs tackling during your guest's visit, keep the mop, multipurpose cleaner, and any other supplies somewhere else.

Your W2s, old bank statements, personal health records ... As much as you may know and trust your overnight guest, some people may find the impulse to snoop simply too difficult to resist if the opportunity is right there. So instead of keeping personal papers in your guest room closet or dresser where they're easy for someone to stumble upon, remove the temptation from prying eyes and keep your private information private by filing them away somewhere safe.

As a thoughtful host, you may want to keep your guest room stocked with a little basket of toiletries or personal care items, such as hand lotions, toothpaste, and shampoo, to make your guest feel at home. However, if those items are out-of-date, it could give your guest the impression that the guest room is simply a repository for expired goods. Plus, expired toiletries can be less effective, and even cause irritation. Double-check the expiration date on any items before offering them to your guests!