Do you, even periodically, have overnight guests? When you do, where do they sleep and keep their belongings? Do you give up your bedroom to them to assure that they are comfortable? Or, perhaps, do they simply crash on a couch or sofa sleeper and place their belongings any place they can find?

Having a guest room can be a luxury. But if you're lucky enough to have the space for one, why not do it up right? Your guests deserve it, and you can create a comfortable guest room easily and affordably. Begin by jotting down some ideas for your guest room, using your responses to the following questions as your guide:

• What kind of atmosphere do I want to create in my guest room? (Calming and restful? Fun and exciting?)
• What furniture is essential to this room (e.g., a bed, dresser, night table)?
• Do I already have furnishings and accessories that I could use?
• Is there anything I need to purchase to complete the space?

Once your wishes for the room are clear, empty out the room, if it isn't already. Paint, if that's part of your plan, and take care of any flooring needs, such as laying down an area rug. Bring in the furniture you already own or have purchased, then take a step back. Before you begin accessorizing, go back to your answers to those questions, and contemplate the mood you're going for. Your accessories are the items that will help you meet your goals and establish the mood, so choose them carefully.

For instance, if you're hoping to create a tranquil, relaxing mood, try some of these simple, low-cost ideas:

• Purchase clearance rack fabric in soft tones like light blue and soft pink, and re-cover throw pillows instead of purchasing new ones.
• Gather accessories according to color, and display them in new ways. For instance, if you're going for an all-white color palette, gather up all the books you have with white covers and stack them on the night stand.
• Add calming touches such as scented candles, a light with a dimmer bulb, and soft fluffy pillows.

Choosing where to place your television and stereo system is as important as selecting the equipment itself-follow a few simple guidelines to make sure you get the best out of these home-entertainment purchases.

Almost every household has a television and sound system, from the smallest CD player with miniature speakers to large-scale televisions with stereophonic sound. Getting the best from your home-entertainment equipment depends as much on how you position the units as on the systems themselves.

Once you've decided where to site your stereo and television, you need to decide how to store and display them. Many living-room storage systems offer a module for the television, separate video or DVD recorder, and stereo; some stand-alone units are specifically designed to house them.

If your home is high-tech and modern you can make a virtue out of your viewing and listening equipment and choose it to suit the style and decoration of the room. However, for more traditionally furnished homes, the overwhelming modern style of audio-visual systems can spoil the atmosphere, so you may decide to hide the equipment away completely.

Before you buy storage for a stereo system, think about how you use it, whether there is adequate access to it - stereo systems often require access from the front and top - and where in the room you want to place it. The key to enjoying your system at its best is to position the speakers where they give the highest quality sound. This depends to a large extent on the shape of the room and the type and size of speaker - some are designed to sit on the floor, some on a shelf or mounted on a wall, and others are designed to be used with a rigid stand.

The most important aspect of television storage is to make sure it is located where you can see the screen easily. When you buy a storage unit, check that it is the right size and height to house the television and the video recorder if that is separate.

Positioning the Stereo

The operating height of the stereo is an important consideration. You should position the system either low enough so that you can kneel in front of it or high enough for you to stand comfortably while loading CDs.

Some storage units include room for speakers, but while these look neat, they probably don't give you the best sound quality. The most effective position for the speakers is on the floor or high up on a wall in a corner of the room. Here, the sound output is reflected by the corner walls and the floor or ceiling. If this is not possible, the next effective option is to position them on the floor or near the ceiling against one wall. The further the speaker is from the corner, the more the sound is reduced.

In a small room, the speakers are often so close to the seating area that it is impossible to have any background music without it interfering with the conversation. In such a case, placing the speakers off the floor - either wall-mounted or on a shelf-can help. Wherever you decide to place your speakers, it's a good idea to take time to experiment with a few arrangements to find out by trial and error which one suits you best.

Some of the more expensive speakers are supplied with detailed instructions about where they should be placed. These are the result of exhaustive listening tests by designers, so it's as well to follow them to the letter.

Carpets, curtains, even items of furniture can all affect the quality of sound from the speakers. Bare walls and floors reflect the sound, making it much clearer and bigger, while thick carpets and curtains have a muffling effect.

Positioning the TV

Your television should be easy to view from the most comfortable seats in the living room, but it shouldn't dominate the room. You can meet both of these conditions by placing it on a cart or keeping it in a cabinet or cupboard with closing doors. However you house it, do make sure that it is on a stand of some sort or placed on a surface to keep it off the floor. The recommended minimum height from the base of the set to the floor is 48in (120cm). This allows you to maintain a good seating posture while viewing. Unfortunately, some commercial stands are much lower than this, forcing you to crane your neck forward or slump in your seat in order to see the screen.

Make sure the television is positioned so that there is minimum reflection off the screen from both the window and any lighting. At the same time, though, it is a good idea to have some lighting near the television when viewing, as looking away from the screen from time to time helps to reduce the eye fatigue caused by focusing on it for a long time. This relief is most effective if you look at something of a similar brightness to save your eyes from having to readjust to different levels of light.

Brightening up your bathroom needn't be a time consuming or expensive business - with a little imagination and effort you can spruce up the most lackluster of rooms.

If the room leaves a lot to be desired, work according to short- and long-term aims. You will then have the immediate satisfaction of seeing some quick improvements - towels in fresh colors, for instance, or a new bath screen or shower curtain - while you wait for other longer term jobs to be finished, such as a new tiled border or built-in bathroom cabinet.

Practicalities

Deal with anything that's even remotely dangerous first: put a non-slip finish on the bathtub base, and provide a mat for ceramic floor tiles that get slippery when wet; install a childproof medicine cabinet if necessary; and if there's room, install a grab rail by the bath.

Once the safety work is completed you can set to work on the irritating inefficiencies: replace the waterproof seal around the bath or basin; stop drips and dribbles by replacing washers or faucets and installing a new shower hose, and consider installing an exhaust fan if condensation is a serious problem. In a small room, rehanging a door with hinges on the other side may make better use of space.

With the room in working order, you can set about improving the style and adding color.

Walls

Tiles are the most practical of finishes for bathroom walls, but what if they're in an uninspiring design or color you no longer like? With tiles that are in poor condition, either remove them completely, or cover them with some form of paneling - wooden tongue-and-groove panels for example.

There are two ways to tackle tiles that are sound but unattractive: remove them and put up new tiles, or - much quicker and often just as satisfactory - simply tile over them. A third option, not normally recommended for an area subject to damp but worth considering as a short-term cover-up, is to cover the offending tiled surface with a tile paint. This solves the problem if you are planning a complete overhaul but have other priorities to see to first.

If the tiles are merely dull rather than an eyesore, make them more interesting by adding a tiled border to the existing tiles or, for a low cost facelift, experiment with tile transfers.

If you prefer wallpaper, choose a waterproof vinyl, which copes well with condensation and damp zones. Alternatively, paint is a quick way of freshening up walls - look for a type that's specifically made for bathrooms.

Floors

Carpet tiles are easy to lay and comfortable underfoot - choose a type suitable for the damp conditions in a bathroom. Also worth considering are well-sealed, floor-quality cork tiles and vinyl sheet flooring or tiles.

Before buying a new carpet, it's vital to find out as much as you can about the different types - how they're made, what they are made of, and how well they'll wear- to be sure of choosing the right quality for each room.

Ideally, choosing the carpets for your home should take priority over any other decorating decision. As well as providing a warm, hard-working covering for your floors, a carpet contributes a significant area of color, texture, and sometimes pattern to a room.

Whether you are starting from scratch or replacing an old carpet, selecting a new one that suits your lifestyle and meets all your preferences - for color, pattern, texture, warmth, sound insulation, quality, and cost - is one of the most momentous and expensive choices you ever have to make for your home. Reconciling all these factors with the bewildering variety of carpets available can seem daunting for the first-time carpet buyer. To ensure you make a suitable choice and get the best value for money, it pays to do your homework.

Buying Carpet

Check through the following points to make sure you have all the information you require to make the right choice for you.

Do I want a wall-to-wall or an area carpet? Wall-to-wall carpet is the most popular choice for providing luxurious comfort and style in a room. If you are intending to move soon, or want to feature an attractive floor, an area rug is a more practical solution.

How much can I afford to spend? Always buy the best quality carpet you can afford; cheap carpets are a false economy because they wear and stain badly. Bear in mind that you will probably have to buy more carpet than the area of the room to allow for fitting around awkward shapes, such as a chimney breast.

Will I have to pay for the installation? It's always wise to have a carpet installed professionally to get it stretched properly so that it wears well. Many suppliers offer free installation.

Where do I buy carpet? Carpet is available from large department stores, furniture or carpet showrooms, and local flooring specialists.

How do I buy carpet? New carpet is sold in one of four ways:

Bodywidth is usually 2 ¼ , 3, or 3 ¼ ft wide, to minimize waste on stairs and in hallways. Broadloom comes in a range of widths over 3 ¼ ft - 12ft and 15ft are the most common sizes

- for fitting wall to wall.

Carpet squares or rectangles are room-sized rugs with tightly bound or fringed edges.

Carpet tiles are small squares of carpet that are laid and lifted individually.

Book a time for installation when you place your order, allowing a few days for delivery.

How much carpet will I need? Some suppliers will bring samples to your home and measure before quoting a price. When visiting showrooms, measure the room first and take along a sketch plan giving the dimensions to discuss with the sales staff; they will advise on how to arrange widths for minimum waste, and where to position any seams inconspicuously and to avoid wear.

What type of carpet do I need? Jot down any questions you want to ask the sales assistant about wearing qualities, soil, stain, fire resistance, pile fiber, and density. When appropriate, check whether the carpet is suitable for installation in a bathroom or kitchen.

What color carpet do I want? Take samples of wall coverings, paints, and fabrics you want to match to the shop. Then take a swatch of carpet home to check it in daylight and under artificial lighting. At the same time, think about any special effects you want to achieve, such as warming a cold room or lightening a dark one, making a large room look cozier, or adding a pattern.

Can the carpet be fitted on my floor? For even wear, the floor must be perfectly clean and smooth. Make sure that all loose floorboards are fixed, planed, or covered with plywood, and solid floors are level and dry. When you have any doubts, ask your carpet retailer for advice.