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!
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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!
4. 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.
5. 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 easy access to their items.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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!
Do you have anything to add to the list? This is just what I do when we have guests at the house & I know everyone is different, so I would LOVE to hear what you do to prepare! Leave a comment below, find me on facebook, or chat with me on Instagram.
Want to see more of the middle guest bedroom? Click {here}
Love this post, because I think hospitality is such an important part of a well-lived life. You covered it quite well! I couple of other items I try to make sure guests have on hand (in a bedside basket) are tissues, ear-plugs & a sleep mask in case they need it quieter or darker, and a flashlight. I also put in the guest room a digital clock that glows so they know what time it is if they wake up in the night.
I would also add: outlets
Make sure there are outlets or extension cords to allow guests to charge their phone/tablet/etc. on the bedside table.
Loved your post. I’m prepping for thanksgiving guests so another persons perspective is great! I do also leave a card on the dresser with our WIFI address & password.
I provide my guests with a copy of the house key, in case they want to step out for a while. This allows them freedom to come and go, and makes it easier for me, as I don’t have to stay home, waiting for them to return, so I can let them in.
I have directions in the rooms for the cable, tv sleeper function and remote control ceiling fan and light because it seems each room is a little different.
Your guest room is gorgeous, and your tips are so thoughtful! May I add:
–a small standing mirror or wall mirror is a great help for guests, especially contact lense wearers
–small bottles of water in the bathroom and at the bedside
–a small basket of packaged treats (granola bars, etc) and tea bags for a late night snack
–an electric tea pot to boil water, for those guests who’d like a cup of tea before facing the whole household 🙂
Also, I completely agree with the suggestions of easy access to outlets (or at least extension cords), tissues, and a sleep mask!
Love the mirror idea from Cathy & I think a bedroom chair is important. Our aging parents visit from time to time & putting their shoes on from a chair is easier than from a bed. Rather than having a guest book, I keep thank you notes from guests & display them in free standing frames around the house swapping them out now & again. Guests have commented on that & seem to enjoy seeing their notes on display!
I have so many samples it’s ridiculous and I’ve never thought of that toiletry idea. I love it! What a genius way to keep sample bottles and products you’re not personally going to use from going to waste.
Great list as well as comment ideas.
This post is excellent and I have loved all the extra ideas as well. One thing I like to have for out of town guests is a locally made homemade soap, still in the creative packaging, waiting in the shower for them. I invite my guest to take it home if they like it. I always have a stash on hand. Helps support small business and makes a nice gesture for your guest.
I love the lights above the bedside tables!! Where did you find them?
I honestly read that as “soup” instead of “soap” and could not understand for the life of me why you were gifting your guests soup by placing it in the shower to surprise them (not going to lie, it crossed my mind that maybe the shower steam heats up the soup so that they could eat it after they got out of the shower!) Now that I understand what you said, I think that is a lovely gesture (and also that I need to go to bed LOL!) 🙂
Even the smallest bouquet of fresh flowers from the grocery is a special touch! Love all of the ideas!
I also like to put small size bottles or travel packs of advil, tylenol, tylenol pm, benedryl and a roll of tums in the guest basket. I hate needing medicine when I’m a guest at someone’s house and having to ask them to dig in their medicine cabinet for me.
I also like to provide a travel kettle, coffee, tea bags, sugar, long life milk and biscuits in case our guests are thirsty when they wake. Bottled water is also good.
I love everyone’s ideas. I enjoy having guests around and really love to know that they enjoyed their stay…All I have to add really is to pop a pretty glass carafe of iced water in the room with some tumblers, just in case guests are thirsty overnight. I’m also going to buy a small kettle and leave a selection of teas and coffees in case my guests want a morning cuppa but not quite ready to leave their bedroom yet. 🙂
thx
Thanks for th good info!
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I realize this post is older but since I am just reading it maybe others are too. The only thing I would add is that I always leave water bottles and snacks in the guest bedroom, especially for those coming in from overseas. (We are military also) That way they don’t have to wonder around the house in the middle of the night if they need a snack.
I also put any pictures I might have of the expected guest, especially if they are with my family members, in a frame on the bedside table. I also keep a guest book in the guest room we, and future guests, love to read the entries.
Love these tips and ideas! Even the comments. Can’t wait to prep our guest room for holiday guests!