……Surrounded by all their personal items with a bank of doorless wardrobes made me feel uncomfortable. The owners thoughtfully had cleared a section of hanging space and a couple of drawers for us but it didn’t feel right for me. I absolutely didn’t pry, but I felt like an intruder. However, the bed was very comfortable!
This was our first sit and as a result, I think in future I will look for sits where we will be in a guest room.
How do others feel about sleeping in another person’s personal space?
In a previous sit I was offered the choice: their bedroom or the couch in the living room (there were no pets in that room). I chose the couch.
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@Home While we would prefer a guest room, if that isn’t an option, we’re fine with the owners room. Having a little space for your own things is great. I wouldn’t make it a dealbreaker, but you can certainly look for guest room opportunities.
Dan and Nan
I understand what you mean but I have been given the owners’ bedroom on a few occasions and it’s been fine, although much prefer a guest bedroom. When I’ve had the owners’ bedroom itKs because there wasn’t another bedroom or because the other rooms were their children’s so maybe they didn’t think they were appropriate.
We only do sits where two bedrooms are available so one of us invariably often gets to sleep in the master bedroom. That person (read him not me!)always does best from the deal! - biggest bed, best quality mattress, often en-suite
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I know what you mean, we didn’t like the idea of sleeping in the home owners bed originally, however now we feel the complete oppositive. The guest bedroom is always less comfortable, because a home owner spends a lot more money on their own mattress, than they do with a one that is in the guest bedroom. It’s waaaaay more comfortable.
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@HappyDeb this is true. As a HO we allow the sitters to have that option, but we let them know our bed is more comfortable and the main bedroom and bathroom are more spacious.
We have a sofa bed in the guest room, and it cost just as much as our own bed. It’s highly rated as one of the most comfortable, but the guest room is just small and is fine for younger people or small family with a kid or two, but not for older people.
Are photos of them also a thing that make you all feel uncomfortable?
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I am pleased to be offered the host’s bedroom, as it’s usually the more comfortable bed. I’m not picky, really. I’m happy wherever there’s a comfortable bed in a dark room.
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I was a little weirded out the first couple of times I slept in an owner’s bed but then I figured I was probably being exposed to a lot fewer cooties than in the hotel beds I’ve slept in after hundreds or thousands of unknown people. 
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Years ago, and not affiliated with THS, I dog sat for a couple whose main bedroom was ahem, decorated with a very large array of “adult” toys and body oils on open shelves above the bed . I chose to sleep in the guest room though both beds were offered , haha. Since then I’ve slept in the home owners bedrooms and never encountered anything particularly personal like that out in the open, and I never open drawers etc. it’s been just fine.
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I would feel more comfortable in a guest room but since there are five of us, most of the time we use the master bedroom unless the animals sleep on the same bed. Then one of my teens will sleep in the master with the animals. I lost enough sleep with 3 kids in diapers. I need my beauty rest now
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I don’t think any sitter would mind photos whether it was in the bedroom or anywhere else. It feels more like a loved family home with a loved pet, and that’s what we as sitters love.
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After a few dodgy rooms/beds we now always prefer the biggest & most comfortable bed- which is usually in the hosts own room. We don’t mind- as long as the sheets are clean! Right now we are staying in a lovely guest room with ensuite which feels like a hotel room- lovely. Bed is not the biggest but the mattress is superb. Its very hot where we are right now so the Hosts offered us their room too because the AC is better but the bed is exactly the same so we are staying where we are & its fine. Its always nice when the host offers the best bed/bedroom they have. It makes us feel cared for as sitters
On a recent sit we were offered an office/guest room with pull out sofa bed- which previous sitters had used- plus use of HO ensuite bathroom (as the other bathroom had the cat litter) Our allocated room had no AC- in a hot country mid summer- only a fan, or keep the door open to access living room AC and have cats jumping on us all night…A couple of weeks after confirming (and still a couple of months pre-sit) we started to regret accepting these conditions when the hosts had a lovely comfortable bedroom & ensuite with a door to close on the cats!
So we, tentatively, asked them if they’d ever had guests in summer stay 3 weeks in the office room & had they been comfortable with the fan/open door arrangement? They obviously read between the lines -our hesitation-and immediately changed plan and offered us their room/ensuite. Phew! What a relief that we didn’t have to ask directly! It ended up being a great sit but we had such extreme temps 40°c plus that we would have really suffered in the other room. We were very glad we had spoken up!!
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That’s good to know because there are photos of us three (our dog included) everywhere! (except the bathrooms) 
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I don’t like sleeping in the hosts bedroom and try not to unless it’s avoidable, eg. One bedroom home. As you have pointed out i feel it’s intrusive being surrounded by all their personal things.
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Why don’t you take it in turns? You really are a softie @Colin 
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Hotel room beds have had hundreds of people sleep in them and doing all kinds of imaginable and unimaginable in them. Not many would bat an eye at sleeping in them.
If I were to arrive at a sit and found the sheets and pillows/cases not completely and obviously freshly changed, I would just change them. Easy…
You’ve sat on far, far nastier things on a bus/taxi/airplane seat than you’re likely to experience in a homeowners bed.
We’ve encountered all types of sleeping arrangements, as I’m sure everyone else has too. Our main priority is a comfortable setting that results in a good night of sleep. We would hope that all pet owners understand how important sleep is for each of us. Couldn’t agree more that….
Getting enough sleep each day is one of the most important things you can do for your health and wellbeing and to reduce your risk for ill-health .
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I prefer to sleep in their bedroom. It’s usually the most comfortable room in the house, and it makes me feel welcome and at home. However, I guess its a very personal preference so its good that you listen to your needs and choose your sits accordingly.
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Not always! Our mattress and the guest mattress are the same quality and bought at the same time, only difference is guest bed is double and ours is king.