Preparing For House Guests
I consider preparing for house guests one of life’s many great joys. I relish in the preparations as I envision how my efforts will contribute to a friend or loved one’s comfort and relaxation. It makes me genuinely happy to have guests stay at my home and I do not take this privilege for granted. I put a great deal of effort into the details and making my home as welcoming as possible in the hopes of making my guests feel appreciated and well cared for. Below is a list of essentials I abide by whenever I have guests coming to stay with us.
Clean & Declutter
This is the absolute most crucial step to preparing for house guests. A clean home is a welcoming home. Make it a point to deep clean the guest bedroom and bathroom as well as any common areas before guests arrive. Additionally, try to clear out as many personal belongings as possible so that your guests have the space to make themselves at home. This includes emptying drawers for them to use as well as putting away any personal toiletry items in the guest bathroom to free up counter space for them.
Leave A Handwritten Note
Welcome your guest with a handwritten note to let them know how truly delighted you are about their stay. Include any information they would benefit from knowing, such as the wifi password or your alarm system code.
Nightstand Essentials
Stock up the guest room nightstand with everything your guests may need during their stay, including drinking water, alarm clock, table lamp for reading, a power strip for all of their gadgets, and a sound machine. Extras such as fresh flowers and some reading material are also a nice touch!
Fresh Linens
Few things are more satisfying after a day of travel than a freshly made bed with soft, clean sheets to sink into. Pay extra attention to the guest bed and ensure that all of the bedding has been freshly washed before your guest’s arrival. Provide a variety of different pillows for all preferences and 1-2 extra blankets in case your guest grows cold in the middle of the night.
Lay out some clean and fluffy towels on the bed as well (I include a bath sheet, a bath towel and a hand towel for each guest). After a day of travel, there is nothing better than a warm shower before crawling into bed to melt the day’s stress away!
Toiletries
If your budget allows, it is always a thoughtful touch to include some extra travel size toiletries in the guest bathroom for your guests to help themselves from. Anything from toothbrushes and toothpaste to razors, lotion, deodorant, etc. I also include shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower as well as a hair dryer under the sink. These types of things can take up a great deal of luggage space so providing them for your guests is a thoughtful way to lessen their load, quite literally!
Welcome Basket
I like to include a small welcome basket filled with non-perishable snacks and usually tailor the snacks to their particular tastes. Include a variety of sweet and savory as well as a few grab and go breakfast bars. People have different wake up times and you don’t want your guest awake for hours before breakfast is served with nothing to eat (especially if they take any medications first thing in the morning). The same goes for those guests who enjoy a midnight snack. This way, there are always a few items within reach for them to graze on.
Self Service Coffee Station
Make it easy for your guests to help themselves! Since everyone wakes up at different times (especially on vacation!) it’s important to keep the coffee bar well stocked and easily accessible to your guests. Keep the coffee grounds or pods next to the coffee maker and set out some mugs, spoons, etc the night before. Show your guests the ropes and make sure they know how to use everything the night they arrive so in the morning, they feel confident helping themselves at any time they please.
Set Out A Welcome Snack
Your guests are likely to be tired once they arrive. Make sure to have some welcome snacks ready for them to enjoy. I usually prepare a charcuterie board while my husband works on the welcome drinks. If you are short on time, even popping in some pre-bought cookie dough in the oven does the trick. Nothing says welcome home like the smell of freshly baked cookies!
Have A Plan
As the host, it is your responsibility to have at least a general idea of how the days will go. Have a list of activities you and your guests could enjoy together as well as a plan for which meals will be cooked at home and which others will require dining out. Make sure to communicate this to your guests so they can plan accordingly and remember to allow for some down time as well! Everyone needs it to recharge their social battery and regain their energy, especially during longer stays.
And finally, remember to have fun! The whole reason you are hosting is to catch up with your loved ones and enjoy each other’s company. Do not obsess over the details, especially once your guests have arrived. They are there to enjoy life with you and make wonderful memories!