How to DIY a Guest Room with Lighting Upgrades
Hosting overnight guests is a luxury—but it doesn’t have to come with a luxury price tag. If you’re lucky enough to own a home, or even just have an extra room, you’re sitting on something pretty special these days: a place where friends can crash after a long night of talking, where family can stay without juggling hotel bookings, and where real community gets to happen. And while you don’t need a full-blown renovation to make guests feel welcome, lighting is one of the easiest ways to upgrade a “meh” spare room.
Lighting Sets the Mood Before Anything Else
Before you spend hundreds on new furniture or art, it’s worth understanding this: lighting quietly decides how a room feels. Too bright, and your guest feels like they’re sleeping in a dentist’s office. Too dim, and they’re left navigating the room uncomfortably in the dark.
A guest bedroom should feel calm, flexible, and forgiving—because everyone relates to light differently. Some guests want bright, energizing mornings. Others want cozy, low-lit evenings. Thoughtful lighting gives them options, and options are what make people feel genuinely well taken care of.
Replacing Outdated Fixtures with Recessed Lighting
Let’s talk about the big upgrade that makes everything else feel intentional: replacing outdated ceiling fixtures with affordable recessed lighting. If your guest room has a bulky dome light, a ceiling fan that wobbles, or a chandelier that feels too heavy for a relaxing space, recessed lighting is your best glow-up option.
Sunco’s slim recessed LED lights are especially DIY-friendly because they’re thin, lightweight, and don’t require bulky housing. Plus, Sunco offers color selectable options, means that you can choose warm, neutral, or daylight tones depending on the vibe you want—no commitment issues required.
If you want something with a little more personality, Sunco’s 4-inch Gimbal Lights are a fantastic option. These are adjustable, meaning you can tilt and direct the light toward artwork, a reading chair, or even away from the bed for a softer glow. They’re especially great in smaller guest rooms where every inch counts.
Layer It Up
Here’s a design truth that’s also just practical life advice: relying on one overhead light is asking too much while still not doing enough. Spaces need layers. Soft light, focused light, ambient light—the whole cast of characters.
Adding a fun floor lamp from Sunco is an easy way to bring in warmth and a little personality. Floor lamps are great because they add height and create a hotel-like feel without taking up precious surface space. Place one near a chair or in a corner to soften the room and make evenings feel slower and more relaxed.
For nightstands, skip anything bulky or overly bright and opt for Sunco’s portable rechargeable table lamp. This little lamp is a guest-room hero. It’s cordless (no outlet gymnastics), emits a cozy 2700K warm glow, and is perfect for late-night relaxing. It’s small, thoughtful, and feels way more luxurious than it costs.
Smart Lighting Options
Sunco’s smart lighting options let you control brightness and color temperature from an app or voice assistant, which means you can preset scenes based on who is staying in your space. If you know that your cousin who’s crashing LOVES bright, white light, create a scene just for them right from your phone.
Smart lights also give guests control without confusion. Smart lighting is one of those upgrades that feels incredibly modern while being surprisingly affordable—and it’s especially useful in a guest room where flexibility is everything.
Beyond Lighting
Lighting isn’t the only thing you can upgrade to elevate a space (even if it might be the most important, in my opinion). If you’re looking to take your guest room to the next level, you may want to give some of these tips a try.
1. Refresh with a new coat of paint
A fresh coat of paint can instantly transform your guest bedroom without being very costly. Paint typically costs between $20-$40 per gallon, enough to cover a standard-sized bedroom. You can save even more by checking the “oops” paint section at hardware stores where mixed colors that customers didn’t purchase are sold at steep discounts.
2. Update bedding for maximum impact
Quality bedding makes a huge difference in how your guest room feels. Instead of purchasing expensive designer sets, look for sales at discount home stores or online marketplaces on high thread count, breathable bedding.
3. Repurpose furniture from other rooms
One of the most affordable things you can do to decorate a new space is to shop your own home before heading to stores. That side table gathering dust in your basement or the unused lamp in your storage closet can find new life in your guest bedroom.
4. Add greenery with low-maintenance plants
Plants bring life and freshness to any space without costing much. Choose low-maintenance varieties like snake plants, pothos, or ZZ plants that thrive with minimal attention—perfect for a room that isn’t constantly occupied.
Lighting Is Hospitality, Actually
At the end of the day, upgrading your guest bedroom lighting isn’t about perfection—it’s about generosity. Having space to host people is a gift, and good lighting makes that gift feel warm, thoughtful, and welcoming. It says, I thought about you. I wanted you to be comfortable.
With affordable, DIY-friendly lighting options from Sunco, you can create a guest room that feels calm, flexible, and genuinely inviting—without blowing your budget or your weekend.
