Tips to Make Your Houseguests Feel At Home
A guest room can be easily forgotten, because it’s where you store your winter coats during the summer months, right? Until you have guests coming to stay with you, and now you need to prepare a space for them before they arrive!
Having a room that is set up for guests is one of the easiest ways to take the stress out of their stay, for you AND them! A well-prepared room will make it so they won’t have to ask the sometimes awkward questions like… “do you have a spare toothbrush?” or “where do you keep extra blankets?”
So, fear not, I’m sharing easy ways to prepare your guest room to make your visitors as comfortable as possible.
Your main objective is to think about what you like about staying in a high-end hotel and try to replicate that in your own home.
I normally like to start the process of preparing the room about a week before they arrive, but with these tips, you can get ready in no time!
01. Clean The Guest Space
This may seem obvious, but often the guest bedroom and bathroom get forgotten when not in use, so they may be dusty from lack of attention! You may also want to tidy up other areas that the guests will be using, such as the kitchen, living spaces, and powder room. If this seems like a daunting task, focus on only areas of the home that the guests will be using and skip the rest. For example, if the guest room is in the basement, start there and don’t worry about the second floor bedrooms.
02. Welcome Basket
This is by far the most high-impact thing you can do for your guests (other than the bathroom prep, we will get to that soon). A welcome basket is a way to really make your guests feel at home, and also remove any awkwardness if they forgot something they need. Here’s what I like to include in my welcome basket
A small gift, like a candle, perhaps of a local scent (think pine if you live in the North Woods, Sea Mist if you live on the water). Make sure you include matches so they can use it while they are staying with you!
Travel Size Medicines like Advil, Pepto Bismol and Tums
Emergen-C or Liquid IV is a great addition, especially after finishing the bottle of champagne!
Cozy Socks
Sleep Aids - like ear plugs and an eye mask. Some people have a hard time sleeping in different environments, this will help them get the best sleep possible
Kleenex
Chapstick, especially if you live in a dryer part of the country
Sunscreen if it’s summer or you live in a tropical area!
Snacks - I always include a sweet and a salty snack, your guests may be hungry after traveling and want to munch on something while they get settled
Misc. Items they may forget like a hair brush, hair ties, body lotion and other toiletries.
03. Welcome Toast
Something your guests would not expect, but definitely appreciate is a Welcome Toast. Although, this may not be for every guest this is such a special touch, especially if you have guests celebrating a special occasion. Include a candle, fresh flowers, and a bottle of champagne, whiskey or whatever is special to you or them, and it will be a welcome they will never forget.
04. Sound Machine or Fan
My guest room doesn’t have a fan, and some people cannot sleep unless their some sound. I typically just put a Hatch Nest in their room, since I already own them for my kids, and then they can choose whichever sound they want.
05. Snacks and Bottled Water
Your guests get hungry and thirsty just like everyone else (think midnight munchies!) Leave some bottles of water out so your guests don’t feel awkward going into the kitchen to find a glass in the middle of the night! I also include a sweet and salty snack in the Welcome Basket. I always find myself hungry after a long day of traveling, and it’s nice to have something to munch on while I unpack.
06. Towels
For two guests, make sure you have at least one bath mat, four bath towels, four hand towels, and four wash cloths. I recommend having a separate set of guest towels in a different color than yours for a couple reasons. First, if you have a small home and your guests will be sharing a bathroom with you, it is an easy way to know whose towels are whose. Second, when it’s time to do the laundry, you know which towels go in the guest room and which towels don’t. Lastly, we all know the more you wash towels the more worn down they get. By having a separate set of guest towels, you’re ensuring a long life of fresh fluffy guest towels for years to come.
Even though I keep a fully stocked bathroom, it’s also nice for your guests to also have towels in their room, especially if the bathroom isn’t connected to the room. These Hotel Collection Bath Towels from Macy’s come with my highest recommendation! They are so soft and have kept their fullness for years!
07. Comfortable Bed & Cozy Bedding
The best way to ensure your guests enjoy their stay is to provide a luxurious place to sleep. Don’t make your guests sleep on an old and wore-down mattress, provide a bed that you would sleep on yourself. If your guest room is needing an upgrade in this area, I highly suggest the Zinus Memory Foam Mattress, it is incredibly comfortable, and at under $350 for a Queen, it’s the perfect affordable guest room mattress. We have two of these mattresses in our daughters’ room and are obsessed!
I like to also have a nicely-made bed with cozy and high-quality bedding to make sure my guests can get a good night sleep even if their aren’t in their own bed. If your guests are long term, it’s also a good idea to have a spare set of linens that you can put on while the original set is being laundered.
08. Extra Blankets and Pillows
Everybody has a different ideal sleeping environment, so you will want to make sure your guests aren’t too cold or warm! Make sure your guests don’t have to ask where extra blankets and pillows are; a late-night trip to ask where extras are kept can make your guests feel uncomfortable. I keep a light-weight and heavier blanket in a basket right next to the bed.
09. Guest Book
This is one of my favorite things I have in my guest room. Put out a guest book and ask your guests to write down some of their favorite memories from their stay. It’s so great to look back on old memories, and also your guests will enjoy seeing the experiences of other people who stayed before them! Here is the guest book I own, I love the leather-like material on the cover, it gives it a luxurious vintage feel.
10. Phone Chargers
Phone chargers are another item that is often forgotten at home! Include a couple of phone chargers (I always include an iPhone and Android charger) just in case!
11. WiFi Password
Help your guests stay connected and make it easy to get on your network. Just print and frame a small sign that gives your guests the WiFi Password. This is so easy and makes getting on your network much more convenient.
12. Clear Out As Much Drawer and Closet Space as Possible
When I travel, even for a couple of nights, I don’t like to live out of my suitcase. You don’t want your guests to find every drawer filled with your stuff. Clear out a drawer or two so they can get get unpacked and settled.
Just like the drawers, in order to allow your guests to feel at home, clear out space in the closet and include extra hangers so they can hang their clothes. This is especially important if they are traveling for a wedding or other formal event. You don’t want your guests to have a wrinkly evening gown or suit!
It is also a great idea to have a place for their suitcase, so leave some extra closet space for that. You can also provide a luggage rack, to make it easier and more convenient for your guests to unpack.
13. Clear Off Counter Space
Just like the closets and drawers, I recommend removing any added clutter from your counter tops. There’s nothing worse than having no room to put your stuff when you’re a guest. Keep out only the essentials, a lamp and a clock.
I also like to have some of my favorite coffee table books that my guests can look at to keep them busy if there is down-time or they are early risers!
14. Fresh Flowers
To add a fresh aroma to the room, I recommend a fresh bouquet of flowers. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, and can even be fresh cut florals from your home garden. If your guest is staying for longer than a couple days, I recommend changing out the water after two days and making sure the flowers still look fresh!
15. Stock the Bathroom
Make sure there are plenty of clean towels and also include a basket of necessities. You can find travel size of almost everything you need at Walgreens or Target. Here’s a list of what I include
Q- Tips & Cotton Balls
Men & Women’s Deoderant
Contact Lens Solution & Case
Makeup Remover Wipes
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Shampoo & Conditioner
Body Wash & Loofa
Disposable Razor
Hairspray
Face & Body Lotion
Blow-dryer
Hair Straightener and Curling Iron
16. Robes
If you really want to be “extra,” include two cotton robes your guests can use during their stay. This is the most luxurious of all of my tips, and will have your guests swooning over your hosting skills.
There you have it!! 16 ways to make sure your guests stay is as comfortable as possible! Although this list may seem long, by following these steps you won’t only make your guest’s stay more enjoyable, it will also make their stay more relaxing for you!
Interested in hiring Olive & Pop to redecorate or organize your guest room?
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