Make your overnight guests feel at home
Do you have overnight guests coming for the Holidays? Pretend for a moment that you’re the guest. What makes you feel welcome and comfortable? What makes a room feel cozy and inviting? Just a few extra touches here and there can make your guests feel at home. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.
Free
- Vacuum the bedroom they will be sleeping in, and scrub the bathroom they will be using.
- Remove any clutter from the flat surfaces, including the knickknacks.
- Make sure the bed is made with fresh, clean sheets — and extra blankets, in case a guest becomes a little chilly.
- Clean out the dresser drawers and closet, in case they’d like to unpack their suitcase and get comfy. (Have several wooden hangers available.)
- Leave a little basket with snacks and water bottles, or a tray with a pitcher of water and a water glass. (Add several slices of lemon to the pitcher for a special touch.)
- Put a box of tissue and a decorative bowl to contain keys, jewelry, pocket change on the night stand.
- Remove personal items from the bathroom, and make sure there is extra toilet paper and plenty of fluffy towels available.
- Put a waste bin and a laundry hamper in the closet for dirty clothes.
- Provide ample lighting with lamps on end tables by the bed and small lights throughout the house, so guests can find their way around at night.
- Plug in a night light. (For a festive touch, drape a strand of white Christmas lights over the window or a piece of furniture.)
$25 or Less
- Leave a basket in the bathroom counter with sample bottles of shampoo, hairspray, mouthwash, shower gels, disposable razors, toothbrushes, hair clips, soap, and a hair dryer.
- Put a decorative holiday pillow on the bed for a festive touch.
- Get a simple tray for the bed. Stack with books and magazines.
- Purchase a fluffy white towel and washcloth set, and leave it on your guest’s bed.
- Make sure your room has a reading light or table lamp.
- If there is room, put a chair in the corner for your guest’s comfort.
- A clock is a must have!
- Buy hypo-allergenic pillow and mattress covers. Your allergy-prone guests will thank you.
- Put fresh flowers in a vase.
- Add a spritz of linen spray on the bed sheets to make the room smell inviting.
$50 or Less
- Buy new linens. Purchase cotton sheets with a high thread count for a luxurious feel.
- Story an ironing board and iron in the closet.
- Put a luggage rack or small ottoman at the end of the bed for your guest’s luggage.
- Hang a fluffy XL robe in the bathroom.
- Purchase new hypoallergenic pillows. (Your allergy-prone guests will thank you.)
- Buy a spa basket filled with bubble bath, scented lotions, a loofa sponge, and more.
Splurge
- A down blanket or comforter.
- New curtains.
- A new mattress. (If you wouldn’t want to sleep on the guest bed, it’s time to splurge.)
- A television and DVD player.
Select what works in your own holiday inn. Then remember your guests are not coming to inspect your home; they are coming to spend time with you and to celebrate the holidays.
No Room in the Inn?
Even if your “guest room” is occupied by a child or by your office furniture, you still can create a space that is warm and welcoming. Here’s how:
- Arrange one of your children’s rooms as a temporary guest room. Your child can bunk with another sibling or on a pallet in your room.
- If you have a sleeper sofa, turn your den into a guest haven.
- If good friends are away for the holidays, inquire about having your guests stay in their home.
- If you don’t have a sleeper sofa, air mattresses are comfortable and can turn almost any room into an instant bedroom.
Sources: HomeLife Magazine, RealSimple.com and SouthernLiving.com
Photo Credit: DollarPhotoClub.com
