I'd shoot for the light blue shade from your headboard, to help make it feel more grounded, as indeed, it isn't perfect with the walls on its own. Your tan shade is probably ok (although you'd want to see them side by side to be sure!), but I think if you go blue you can always bring in some tan pillows or chair upholstery or whatever.

Beautiful headboard. You're right, the paint and headboard don't "sing" (my daughter's term for when two things combine gloriously. Imagine a tenor hitting a high note, that's the idea but visually!!) but they don't necessarily clash either. I think it will be a pretty, welcoming, cozy room for your guests.

How crafty are you? It's relatively easy to sew two flat sheets together to make a duvet cover. You can spend as much or as little on the sheets as you like; I'm thinking natural linen would be lovely but it's pricey too. A good quality cotton would be reasonably middle of the road, and poly-cotton blend is cheapest but infinitely washable. Then you can put the lightest duvet you can buy in it, and add a couple of throws of different warmness. People like options! Those can be added later as budget allows.

Unbleached Linen look drapes for the window would add texture and blend beautifully with both wall and headboard.

Thank you, lindsey for your thoughts. I too like the idea of a clean linen look, but I keep missing the mark with the right shade. White doesn't sing with the creamy headboard, and most of the linen options I'm finding are closer to khaki or sandy beige, rather than peachy, creamy off-white.

I have a mile-long list of other home improvements and only two weeks before house guests come to visit, so crafty options are not my first choice, unfortunately.

We found a pale green linen sheet once. Lovely colour, I think they called it sage but it wasn't truly. Something like that might work, though it may throw the room too much toward Easter-y for your taste.

Blush?

https://m.bedbathandbeyond.ca/m/product/wamsutta-reg-vintage-washed-linen-pillow-sham/3272473?skuId=46861108&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand__&adpos=1o5&creative=40377512970&device=m&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQiAzsvEBRDEluzk96e4rqABEiQAezEOoDh5yobgwrey6eixsk-XF4iOOv7tgoK2aAiMvcRCSjkaAk6L8P8HAQ

Restoration Hardware has several shades of "white". White, bone, natural, ivory...one may work for you.

I wanted to add, as a guest I don't care nearly as much that the room is gorgeous as that the hostess wants me there and enjoys my company. It's unlikely the guests are coming for a home inspection. They're coming to be with you. Be sure to give yourself a break and allow yourself to enjoy the visit. It is impossible for everything to be perfect, and it's ok to let some stuff slide! Your guests will have more fun if you're relaxed, I promise.

Thanks so much for the reminder, @lindsey, good thoughts to keep in mind. And the blush could be a great option if it doesn't read to frilly-girly with the lilac and the floral.

@Blue Booby I will give those a look! Thanks for taking the time to contribute.

I love Steinmart for quilts. They're very reasonably priced and have several styles and colors from which to choose. Here's the link: https://www.steinmart.com/category/bed-bath/bedding/quilts.do

I've learned through the yrs that anything I rushed to get, did not make me happy in the long run. Ask yourself, if you were going to be a guest in this persons house and they gave you a lovely room to sleep in but told you that they just haven't found the right comforter and hopefully next time you visit you'll have found it, how would you feel? You probably wouldn't care, right?

Yes, it is nice to have it all "done" but not if you have to stress about it. It should get done on your terms when you are relaxed and can think things through and not based on a time limit. It will be gorgeous. And I would try some different blues and then pick up another color for the decorative pillows. Lindsey is spot on. Relax and enjoy your guest.

Love that headboard! I echo katinparadise's comment about Steinmart for quilts. They're SO inexpensive ($24-$30 for a queen), and have an array of solid colors. It may tide you over for your guests even if you don't stay with it long term. Just be sure to double check the width if you have tall mattresses.

In the Behr's coordinated palette for Paparazzi Flash, Kalahari Sunset is shown, a warm red that appears to work with the headboard. I see a lot of color in your ideabooks, maybe a consideration at least short term? Another consideration may be the Anderson Geo Paisley Quilt in Blue Haze.

http://www.behr.com/consumer/PaletteDetailView/MQ3-05,MQ5-18,MQ1-25,MQ3-34

https://www.steinmart.com/product/anderson+geo+paisley+quilt+62423298.do?sortby=ourPicksAscend&page=2&ecList=14&ecCategory= 

@katinparadise, will definitely check Steinmart, thanks a million!

@tedbixby, thank you to you too for taking the time to reply. I completely agree with you and @lindsey and always would rather make these decisions in a less-rushed fashion, but unfortunately the room is as bare as the photo shows. No nightstand, lamps, bedding, etc. Thankfully the bed frame and mattress are en route. But I have got a LOT to assemble in 2 weeks to be bare-bones hospitable.

I LOVE the headboard! Take a look at bedding on West Elm. This coverlet might work
http://www.westelm.com/products/overdyed-chambray-quilt-shams-b1700/?pkey=cquilts-blankets&cquilts-blankets=&group=1&sku=5398792

Such a fabulous headboard! This guest room will be a breeze to complete. In our opinion, nothing would complement this headboard better than crisp white bedding and sheets. Pulling one of the colors out from the headboard as an accent would be a nice addition as well. Here are a few examples found on Pinterest.

Hope this helps! Can't wait to see the finished room.

Love the headboard. I also use khaki or a neutral tan comforter set as the base. Then by season accessories in the fall/winter time pull out the red and gold tones going rich and vibrant. In the summer/ spring you may want white, and pale hues. If you're giving the 5 star treatment to your guest like a hotel suggest a variety of pillows from firm to squishy. Use linens that can be bleached easily for re-use.

You're welcome Lauren. You'll get it done! I hope you'll post pics of the space when it's finished.

Regardless of what you do, I'd love to see a pic of the result! :)

I came across this photo and thought of your room as far as the coloring. Maybe you can glean some color ideas from it..

2010 Colorado Homes & Lifestyles "Home of the Year" · More Info

^crisp white pairs well with peachy beige there. Nice visual tedbixby.

Here is a bedroom we designed for a client. Notice how the bed pairs well with the bedding. The bedding has white and beige elements and might work well with your headboard.

A Hillside Estate · More Info

Headboard is classic. I like the medium blue someone above posted, or consider the wine shade which would also look excellent with the wall color.

Thanks very much to everyone who posted! I decided to repaint the room (and that was almost another Design Dilemma) and have been pulling together bedding using the blue beige combo posted by @er612

I will absolutely post a few after photos as things get wrapped up this weekend. Thanks again!

Hi Lauren,

I actually really like that wall color and headboard together. My suggestion would be to match your duvet/comforter to the wall color, or choose a color from the headboard. Also, if you're going to stick with gray when you repaint, go for something less purple and any color you choose from the headboard to match your bedding to will work well.

What else do you have in the room (or plan to out in the room)? That will help me point you in a more clear direction.

If you need more tips on decorating your guest room, I wrote a blog about that during the holidays. You can check it out here: Decorating A Guestroom by Tiffani Taylor

I'm following up with the finished photos, as promised. The lighting isn't perfect, and are still a few pieces I need to help the room feel filled out. You can see where I took ideas from this thread (bedding from Target and Steinmart, thank you, er612 and katinparadise!)

For my sanity, my husband I decided to repaint with a color that "sings" (lookin' at you, lindsey) a color called Damask by Dunn-Edwards, which I am now in love with and using in my master.

After all of the chaos of pulling this together, our visitors' flight was canceled, and, because of some difficulty getting an alternate flight, they canceled their trip. C'est la vie.

Final note: I didn't post this, but I was simultaneously pulling together our second guest bedroom from scratch; I'm tickled with how that room turned out too, so I'm posting those pictures too.

Thanks again to all for the advice and input. I'm so grateful for the help!

You've done a great job!!! These rooms are beautiful and welcoming, comfortable and just personal enough to feel like home :) Love the pillows and headboard on #2, too. Definitely 'sings'!

You've got a good eye.

Beautiful job Lauren! I love the print pillows in the second guest bedroom. The paint color is soothing and lovely. Lucky guests!

Thank you, lindsey and katinparadise. My husband and I ended up making that beige headboard in the room with the green accents, and we still need to get the nailhead border tacked into it. Otherwise, the rooms just need little bits of personality to make them feel filled out.

we have a wide variety of bedding options that you might enjoy. All our products are 100% organic supima and hypoallergenic!

It turned out great!

Dunn-Edwards Paints Thank you! After these two bedrooms, I am now a loyal customer. I loved how Damask looked in these rooms and have subsequently repainted my master in Gardenia.