Christmas Guest Bedding Ideas

Having guests stay at Christmas makes a home feel full, happy and let's be honest, slightly chaotic! A comfortable, thoughtfully made guest bed will do more for your visitors than any extra side dish or perfectly wrapped present.

Here at Laud Sleep, we have created a simple guest bedding checklist to help you prepare for overnight guests this Christmas, with cosy winter bedding, breathable fabrics and a few hotel style touches that will make everyone feel looked after.

1. Start with a fresh, breathable base

Before you even think about duvets and throws, give the base of your guest bed some attention.

• Air the mattress for a few hours, especially if the spare room is rarely used.

• Add a mattress protector for extra comfort and hygiene or if you are worried the mattress is uncomfortable consider a mattress topper to add a layer of extra comfort.

• Use a fitted sheet in natural, breathable fabric such as cotton, linen or bamboo rich blends. Giving the sheet an iron before putting on the bed will ensure a neat appearance and can also improve the feel of the fabric.   

Breathable bedding is essential in winter, guests often arrive tired, slightly overheated from travelling, and a synthetic sheet that traps heat will make the bed feel stuffy. Natural fibres help regulate body temperature, so your guest bedding feels fresh and cosy, not hot and clammy.

2. Choose a winter friendly duvet for your guest bed

The right winter duvet is the heart of your guest bedding. You want something that feels warm, cloud like and inviting, but still breathable so guests do not overheat.

A feather and down duvet is ideal for Christmas hosting because it:

• Traps pockets of warm air, which keeps guests snug in a cooler spare room

• Feels light on the body, not heavy or suffocating

• Offers excellent breathability, which helps prevent night sweats

If your guest bedroom is chilly, choose a higher tog feather and down duvet. If it is fairly warm, a medium tog duvet combined with good layering will usually be enough. The aim is winter comfort, not maximum thickness.

Our top selling duvet at Laud is the Laura Ashley Superior Goose Feather and Down duvet which comes in a choice of 10.5 or 13.5 togs. 

3. Layer your guest bedding for different temperature needs

You never really know what kind of sleeper is staying, one visitor might always be cold, another might sleep hot. Layered winter bedding gives you flexibility, so every guest can find their sweet spot. 

Think of your Christmas guest bed in layers:

1. Fitted sheet in cotton, linen or bamboo rich fabric

2. Mid to heavyweight duvet as the main source of warmth

3. Duvet cover in breathable cotton or bamboo silk, soft against the skin
   

4. Extra blanket or throw folded neatly at the foot of the bed that can provide extra warmth on a cold night but also add an aesthetic accessory. 

5. You could also consider leaving a flat sheet neatly folded as an alternative to a duvet for hot sleepers. 

This layered guest bedding setup means your visitors can easily add or remove warmth without disturbing the whole bed. It feels generous, thoughtful and quietly luxurious.

4. Don't forget pillows and pillowcases

Tired Christmas guests will notice the pillows first. Flat, lumpy or yellowed pillows instantly make a bed feel neglected, even if the duvet is perfect.

For guest ready pillows:

• Use plump feather and down pillows or supportive alternatives that bounce back

• Dress them in smooth, fresh pillowcases, ideally in cotton or bamboo silk

• Offer a mix if you can, one softer pillow, one slightly firmer, so guests can choose

Bamboo silk pillowcases are especially lovely in winter. They are gentle on skin and hair, naturally breathable and help regulate temperature around the head and neck. Paired with a breathable pillow, they will give your guest bedding that boutique hotel feeling.

5. Add cosy, winter ready touches

The little details are where your Christmas guest bedding truly feels special. A few simple additions can turn a basic spare bedroom into a welcoming retreat.

Consider adding:

• A neatly folded blanket or quilt at the end of the bed for extra warmth.

• A pair of soft pillow shams or cushions, so the bed looks dressed and inviting.

• A hot water bottle placed on the pillow or bedside table as a cute winter gesture.

• Clean bathroom towels folded at the foot of the bed. 
  

• A light, relaxing pillow spray, diffuser or candle to provide a fresh scent.

These finishing touches don't take long, but can transform the guest bedroom into a calm, cosy space where visitors can properly unwind after busy festive days.

6. Make sofa beds and daybeds just as comfortable

Not everyone has a dedicated guest room but that doesn't mean your Christmas guests need to feel like they've roughed the night. If your guests are sleeping on a sofa bed or daybed, thoughtful bedding matters even more.

• Use a mattress topper to soften any awkward springs or joins

• Choose the same breathable winter bedding as you would use on a regular bed

• Add a high quality feather and down duvet so it feels like a real bedroom setup

• Stack pillows and blankets nearby, so guests can adjust their own comfort level

Presenting a sofa bed with proper guest bedding instantly lifts the experience from “makeshift” to “intentional”.

7. Simple guest bedding checklist for Christmas

Use this quick checklist before your guests arrive, so you know everything is ready.

Guest bedding checklist

• Mattress aired and, if possible, topped with a protector or mattress topper

• Fresh fitted sheet in breathable cotton, linen or bamboo rich fabric

• Winter appropriate feather and down duvet, fluffed and evenly filled

• Clean duvet cover in a soft, cosy fabric such as cotton or bamboo silk

• Two plump pillows per guest, with fresh pillowcases, plus spares if you have them

• Extra blanket or throw folded at the end of the bed

• Spare towels placed on the bed or chair

• Optional extras, hot water bottle, pillow spray, small welcome note

Give your guests the gift of good sleep

Preparing for guests at Christmas is about more than decorations and dinner plans. When you take the time to create a cosy, breathable, winter ready guest bed, you are giving friends and family the gift of real rest, which they will genuinely remember.

With soft, natural bedding, a warm feather and down duvet and a few careful finishing touches, your guest room, or sofa bed, becomes a calm retreat in the middle of festive chaos. That is the kind of Christmas hosting that feels luxurious, not stressful, for you and for them.

If you would like to build a simple guest bedding set that works all winter, the Laud Sleep collections of bedding, duvets and pillowcases are designed to keep every guest cosy, comfortable and well rested over the festive period.