A Bed & Breakfast Inn is often a private home with shared common areas and private sleeping quarters for guests. Generally, guests are accommodated in private bedrooms with private bathrooms, or in a suite of rooms including an en suite bathroom. Some homes have private bedrooms with a bathroom which is shared with other guests.

B&B's usually offer guests the opportunity to meet and mingle during regularly scheduled events such as a morning breakfast gathering, afternoon wine tastings, group excursions to local attractions, etc.