Preparing your home for overnight guests is more than simply providing a place for visitors to sleep. It’s about making guests feel welcome and appreciated while spending time in your home. So whether you’re expecting guests for one night or for one week, you should always strive to make guests feel comfortable and at ease in your home. Here are seven ways to make overnight guests feel at home during their stay that will make them want to stay longer, or at least come visit again soon.
Plan meals for your guests ahead of time.
It’s important to do as much as you can to prepare for your guests before they arrive so you can relax and enjoy spending time with them. This including planning any meals you will be cooking in advance. Make a trip to the grocery store so you’ll have all ingredients on hand when it comes time to prepare meals. Talk to guests ahead of time to ask about any allergies or special dietary needs so that you can be prepared.
Have sleeping arrangements ready before guests arrive.
Nobody likes to watch their hostess scramble around to get things done after they arrive, so take care of the guest room beforehand. Make sure it is clean and organized. Make the bed with clean cotton sheets and leave extra pillows of varied sizes and firmness so guests can choose their preference. Leaving a couple of extra blankets in the room, one lightweight and one heavy, along with small fan will help your guests have a comfortable night’s sleep.
Give guests some space to unpack.
Keep the surfaces in your guest room clutter free so guests will have a space to place items during their stay. Provide guests will closet and drawer space to store their clothing along with a set of clothes hangers for them to use. It’s also great to have an ironing board and iron nearby for their use.
Provide toiletries for your guests.
Provide space for your guests to place their toiletries in the bathroom, but also have some items on hand for them to use, too. I think we’ve all packed for a trip and forgotten something at least once, so I like to keep necessities like a bottle of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and face wash in my guest shower and a tube of toothpaste on the counter. I also make sure I have new toothbrushes on hand, too…just in case!
Make things easy to find.
Keep items you know guests will need visible so they won’t have to hunt for them. Stock the bathroom with a set of freshly cleaned bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths, and make sure you have extra toilet paper in the bathroom where it can be easily found if guests need it.
Provide extra touches for your guests.
Stock your guest room with magazines to read, snacks, and small bottles of water. If guests will be exploring the area on their own, leave city maps and brochures for area attractions. It’s often these little extra touches that make guests feel welcome in your home.
Keep it simple.
Most of all, keep it simple and enjoy time with your guests. In my younger days I used to complicate things with a packed schedule to entertain my visitors, but over time I learned that time well spent with guests is what truly makes them feel at ease. There’s no need to rush around from event to event and making complex meals that take up a lot of time. Your guests will be much more impressed by your intentional effort to spend quality time with them.
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