When you have guests staying overnight in your home, do you throw them pillow and blanket and show them to the couch? With our family and friends living in different cities (and Ryan and I living all over the country) we get overnight visitors often. It is nice to make them feel welcome and at home.
These easy ideas for outfitting your guest room make hosting overnighters a welcome experience for everyone. A few comforting touches added to your home will make your family and friends feel special when they come to stay. Get guests' bedrooms ready now just in time for the holidays.
Be Prepared
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Being a good host requires some planning ahead and buying some gear. Avoid having to buy everything at once by keeping an eye out for supplies on sale during your weekly trips to the store. Stock up on travel size toiletries, nice towels, and extra bedding. Store them in the guest room or other closet when not in use, so they are not mixed with your everyday items. These items are for guests only.
Decorate sparingly in a guest room. When staying in a strange room, comfort and space are more soothing than a clutter of unfamiliar things.
Don't have a spare bedroom? Invest in an inflatable air mattress. They are inexpensive but a lot more comfortable than sleeping on the sofa.
Before Your Guests Arrive
Outfit your guest's quarters with a tray of necessities: an alarm clock, some favorite books or magazines, the local newspaper, and some bottled water. Even if they are sleeping on the sofa, set up a foldable tray table or park the tray on the coffee table before bedtime.
Stock a dresser drawer or nightstand with the necessities you have bought and fun extras. Examples are: •shampoo, soaps •toothpaste and a toothbrush •lotion •mints •lip balm •band-aids, cough drops •a one-time-use camera •a pen and note pad •fill a basket with some candy, chocolate, nuts, or other favorites of your guest. •you could even get some single serving bottles of their favorite liquor and mixers.
Put a TV in the room. While the point of a visit is to spend time with each other, a television in the guest room acknowledges the fact that your guests may not want to go to bed as early as you do, or may wake up earlier and want to catch the weather forecast.
If you have the room, make sure there is adequate closet and drawer space. Supply a variety of hangers -- at least a dozen good wooden or metal ones. And have full-length mirror hanging.
If you don't have the closet space, give guests a spot to hang clothes by hanging an over-the-door hook and stock it with several slim hangers
Hang another separate hook so you guest has somewhere to hang up their wet towel.
Have an extra blanket on the end of the bed or couch if needed.
Fresh Flowers always make a room feel more welcoming
Ask you guests before they arrive of anything they may want or need. Do they drink coffee in the morning? Stock the fridge and pantry and take into consideration any special food requirements
When Your Guests Arrive
Show guests where to find snacks, drinking glasses, and utensils, and always tell them to help themselves.
In the morning offer a simple, but tasty breakfast. If it's a lazy Sunday, bacon and eggs or pancakes are simple and not something you get to eat everyday. If you don't have a lot of time just get some bagels from the bakery an some fresh fruit. Keep coffee, tea and juice on hand. Even if you don’t drink it, a coffee drinker is always thankful to have the means to make a cup of joe in the morning. It doesn’t have to be anything high-end if you don’t drink it, but make sure it’s fresh.
Relax! If you are, they will be. The most important thing is to enjoy the time that you have with your company.