Prepare Your Home For Overnight Guests
Having guests stay over at your house can be intimidating even though having house guests can be so much fun. Being a military family that lives in a different state than most of our family & friends, we have a lot of house guests & each time they visit we get so excited to spend time with our loved ones. Me, being the perfectionist when it comes to our house, wants to be totally prepared for the visitors so that they will be comfortable & have a nice stay. This past weekend my beautiful mother-in-law came to stay with us & before she came as I was getting her room ready I couldn’t believe that I never shared my tips & tricks for ways to prepare your home for overnight guests since we have people staying with us quite often. Here are some of my tips & tricks to make guests comfortable. If you have any be sure to share them with me in the comments below!
Have a light & a nightstand by the bed.
Guests are not used to the new space so ample lighting is great for them to be able to move comfortably around the room. Lights on end tables by the bed that they can easily turn on in the middle of the night are perfect. In addition to good lighting in the guest room, leave key small lights on throughout the house at night so guests can find their way around at night. Also, a nightstand by the bed allows the guest to be able to keep their phones & other personal items by their bed at night.
Lots of Pillows & extra bedding.
Have lots of pillows available so that the guests can choose how many they want to use at their own liking. Having an extra throw blanket at the end of the bed is also great if they get cold. Along with that you can tell your guests where you keep your extra linens so that they can grab them as they please.
Have extra toiletries available.
Sometimes guests forget things, or do not have room to pack some things. One way I like to provide guests with any toiletry item the guest may need is I have a glass container filled with lotion, shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, & more samples in the guest room available for the guests to grab & use whenever they need them. This is also great storage for all of the samples that I receive as well!
Have Towels & washcloths easily available.
To avoid the whole “guest didn’t have a towel when they went in the shower now I have to hand a towel to the guest while they are naked in the shower” situation, have towels visable & easily accessible for guests. I like to have the towels and washcloths on the bed so they do not even have to ask for a towel & it makes everything really easy.
Provide a place for guests to unpack.
Have an area where guests can unpack their bags. We have a dresser & a closet in the room that guests can use, but if you do not have areas like this a simple stool or place where they can set their suitcase to have e asy access to their items.
Provide privacy & a fan.
If you do not have a guest room, try giving them an area of the home that they will have some privacy. Whether it’s a separate living room or if you give them an area of the house for their stay. Your guests will thank you! Also, if they are in their own room be sure they have privacy on the windows with curtains or blinds so that they feel safe & secure. A fan is another great idea to have in a guest room for those that need a fan to sleep & for when temperature control in the guest room.
Kitchen things.
Ask you guests if they have anything they want anything specific to eat or drink while they stay with you. Have coffee, tea, milk, water available. Stock other staples that you think your guest could need or want & have them easily available. Also, to make things easy, have a meal plan before the guests arrive. By planning out the meals you will be cooking before they come it ensures you have all of the food in the house & it will allow more time to spend with the guests.
Bathroom Things.
Have the shower & toilet super clean so that your guest feels comfortable using the facilities. Clear out your personal things so that they do not have to tiptoe around your items if the guests will be using their own bathroom. Along with number 3, having shampoo, soap, & other bathroom needs available will make your guests feel comfortable & loved. & of course have extra TP & a plunger available to avoid any embarrassing moments with your guests.
Living Room Things.
Have this space de-cluttered because you will be fitting more people into the living areas. Have books, magazines, & other entertainment available for your guests so they do not get bored during their down time. Also, provide them with the wifi password so that they can stay connected with world wide web. Have extra pillows & throws laying around so everyone can feel cozy & comfortable in your house.
Relax!
It can be a little stressful at times having guests because you want them to have a good time & you worry if they are comfortable enough. If they are guests in your home they are most likely comfortable enough to tell you if they need anything. So don’t stress. Have a great time with your house guests & enjoy!
liz marie: 10 ways to prepare your home for overnight guests. https://www.lizmarieblog.com/2014/02/10-ways-to-prepare-your-home-for-overnight-guests/
