Thoughtful touches turn a spare bedroom into a guest’s holiday home away from home

In Martha-Carol Stewart’s home, even the guests get the good crystal. Before overnight visitors arrive, she sets an heirloom liqueur glass and a crystal decanter beside the bed. Fresh flowers go nearby, along with a little something sweet like a dish of chocolates or pralines.

“I believe in Southern hospitality,” says Stewart, CEO of Chaos Organizing and co-author of Southern Chaos: Organizing the Southern Home. “I want my guests to come in and feel welcome.”

Stewart knows a little about how to create a sense of calm. A mother and former teacher, she launched her professional organizing business over a decade ago. She says her lightbulb moment was the realization that the systems she relied on to manage her own busy household could help others.

Today, she and her team organize homes across the Capital Region with a guiding  philosophy: When everything has a place, home can become a place for peace.

Her guest room is no exception. For years, Stewart’s in-laws traveled to her home for holidays and LSU games. Friends regularly come to stay, too. She wants them to step into a room that feels less like a spare room and more like a retreat.

That starts with a freshly made bed. She layers quality sheets with extra pillows and blankets. She wants to ensure that guests who sleep hot, cold or somewhere in between are comfortable. But it’s not just about the bedding, she says.

“An overall vibe of the room needs to feel cozy and comfortable and welcoming,” she says.

That also means leaving room for the guest. Stewart keeps bedside tables mostly clear, save for an antique dish or a silver baby cup for stowing jewelry or watches. Charging cables for every type of device are tucked inside drawers. A luggage rack keeps suitcases off the floor, while closet and drawer space allow visitors to unpack.

The clutter-free space inspires zen while preserving space to add the details that really make a stay memorable.

When friends from across the country visited Louisiana, Stewart left Mardi Gras beads in their room and served king cake. She welcomed another visitor with a Louisiana ornament—a little memento to bring back to their own home. 

Guest room go-tos:

Fresh, quality sheets: Start with a crisp, clean bed.

Extra pillows and blankets: Give guests options for comfort and temperature.

A place to sit: Add a chair or bench for putting on shoes or relaxing.

Travel-size toiletries: Stock forgotten necessities so guests don’t have to ask.

Fresh guest towels: Reserve a clean, fluffy set just for visitors.

This article was originally published in the November 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.