The words "house guest" usually conjure up feelings of privacy being invaded, coffee cups being left on the table, and the bathroom being unavailable when you need it most. That's why they make inns, and bed and breakfasts, and hotels. In a weird turn of events that can only be described as fallout from the DIY blogosphere and an impulse to live up to the standards of Martha Stewart Living, which have been made "affordable" by the DIY blogosphere. Now not only can your guest room look nice, it can look like a room in a fine inn, and you should totally be able to redecorate it for under $200. Just kidding. You might need to spend more if you don't already have a stash of amazing thrift store finds and special paints at the ready.

Truly, the reason to upgrade your guest room is to make your own life easier. When your guest room is well equipped (even better if you have a guest bathroom to offer), your guest will be less reliant on you, and more reliant on all of the wonderful amenities that are already in the room and in the guest bathroom. Also, having a sweet guest bedroom is a good boost to the ego. Just saying.

Neutral guest bedroom: LiveLoveDIY shows us all how to use neutral colors to make a guest bedroom look really luxe. Neutrals are both a starting point and an entity unto themselves. A chandelier, crisp white bedding, a silver-framed mirror, and matching white end tables with matching silver lamps make off white walls look unbelievably fresh (painting contractor for the walls not included). Does it look like it cost an arm and and a leg? The mirror? Spray painted. The bedding, curtains, and pillows? TJMaxx, Target, and Marshall's. One thing that solid, neutral-colored walls and textiles allow you to do is mix and match without having to be too, too picky.

*Guest room tip: provide a luggage rack at the end of the bed for your guests to rest their luggage on.

Yellow walls and antique plates: This is the quintessential old fashioned inn look, and you can follow the lead of The 2 Seasons blog. A four poster bed set against old fashioned yellow walls sets an example for guest rooms. Classic, contrasting pillow designs really make the room look special.

*Guest room tip: Use a desk or narrow table along a wall as an amenities table. Place stacks of clean towels, a coffee pot, and some disposable cups there. Place a list of important information, like your wireless network code and the number for local taxi service, on the amenities table.

The seven-layer approach to guest bedding: Authentic Living Interiors, a designer who works with Atlanta remodeling contractors, gives a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a hotel-worthy bed. When i say "hotel" here, I mean top of the line luxury. You can do it at home. All you need to do is just click through to Hometalk to see her tutorial.

*Guest room tip: Leave not one, but two, sets of keys for your guest, so that she can never lock herself out.

Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.