The one thing you can do to your spare room to keep your guests happy — and it doesn't cost a thing

On the left, sleep writer Becky George makes a bed in our Sleep Lab. On the right, a woman sits on the floor surrounded by mess, including Christmas presents and cards

(Image credit: Getty Images / Future)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere but my spare room, which looks like a storage locker.

Normally this wouldn't bother me but guests are staying and clutter is bad for your sleep. Yes, really. Mess registers in the brain as an unfinished task and can contribute to nighttime anxiety.

If I really wanted to look after my guests I'd fit my spare room with one of the best mattresses we've tested — but as I'm currently sleeping on our number three pick, I might just let them enjoy a post-dinner nap in my bed.

Why clutter keeps you awake

Your mother-in-law complaining about your messy guest bed isn't just trying to cause trouble: her sleep might have suffered because you didn't tidy.

“Visual clutter is directly linked to increased stress and anxiety," said Dr Leah Kaylor, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist, when we asked her if decluttering can help you sleep.

Young woman is wide awake at night and wants to fall back to sleep fast — (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Clutter serves as a constant reminder of unfinished tasks making it hard for the brain to fully shut down at night,” she explained. This adds more thoughts to what might be an already racing mind before bed.

For guests experiencing the first night effect — disrupted sleep in a new environment — clutter can make it even harder to relax in the spare room.

3 ways to quickly declutter the spare room

With all the other holiday prep, I don't have much time to spend cleaning my spare room (sorry, family.)

So I'm relying on these quick, targeted tips to declutter efficiently while prioritizing the sleep experience.

Consider the eye lines

Start with the areas that are most visible from the bed. Is your dresser dumping ground obvious from the pillow but your laundry load is tucked away when you're tucked in? Then tackle the dresser before anything else.

A woman sat on her bed decluttering her bedroom, tidying away boxes and items as well as suitcases — (Image credit: Getty Images)

And take the hands-on approach: get into bed. It's the easiest way to note mess and make the most of your time.

The Tom's Guide team has found some simple tidying hacks — the tidy tote is a good way to quickly declutter, while the 'set the stage' method integrates small amounts of cleaning into your packed routine.

Remove technology

This one is particularly relevant if your guest room doubles as your home office (or your home gym.)

It's best to keep the bedroom tech-free (unless you're investing in sleep-boosting gadgets) and the last thing you want is for your guests to be reminded of work when they're climbing into bed. So put the laptop away for the holidays.

A man working on his computer late at night wearing headphones — (Image credit: Getty Images)

You should also try to remove any exercise equipment, such as Peloton bikes. These act as a visual reminder of energy expenditure.

These gadgets are also often a source of light pollution, which brings me to the next point...

Check for ambient noise and light

I slept in my spare room a few weeks ago while waiting on a mattress delivery and was shocked by just how much light and noise pollution gets in.

Not only does my surge protector have a bright light indicating it's on but I apparently abandoned an analog clock at some point and it's still ticking away.

These are the kind of annoyances you won't spot during the day when you pop in and out of your spare room but that will be immediately apparent to your guests, particularly as they try to sleep.

More ways to make your spare room more comfortable

The best thing you can do for your guest room is treat it to a good mattress — our guide to the best cheap mattresses has plenty of affordable options, tested and chosen by experts.

But that might not be an option, so here are some other ways to improve your spare bed and please your guests:

Add a mattress topper: Our guide to the best mattress toppers can help you find a top pick but in a pinch, there are plenty on Amazon.
Fluff the pillow: Place a pillow and tennis balls in a dryer on a low heat for 15 minutes, for luxury fluffing (check your pillow cleaning instructions first.)
Wash the bedding: I know you'd never set your guests up with dirty sheets but things might be... dusty. A quick wash freshens it all up.
Layer your bedding: Layering is a trick used to make hotel beds look more luxuriously comfortable and it'll indicate to your guests you've put real effort in.

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Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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