5 Tips for Having Houseguests This Holiday Season

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there’s a good chance you’ll be preparing for houseguests as well as preparing for the big meal. Consider some of these small touches to make sure your guests feel at home and have a wonderful stay.

Make it Cozy

It’s important to make sure that your guests feel warm and welcomed. One way to do that is to make sure that the guest room is a little slice of heaven. To do this, start with fresh linens and plush bedding & pillows. This will ensure a great night’s sleep for your guest. Another thing that you can do to make their stay as cozy as possible would be to have extra throw blankets and pillows in the guest room. This way, your guest at least has the option to get even cozier if they’d like.

Pro-tip: Don’t forget to make sure the room smells fresh. A simple Glade plug-in type air freshener should do the trick.

Stock up on Snacks

Outside of the big meals where the whole house gathers, your guests are going to get hungry. With this in mind it’s important to make sure your pantry is fully stocked. Nothing could be better as a guest than having a nice full pantry of snacks to choose from.

Pro-tip: Show your guests you really care about them. Provide snacks that are both delicious and healthy! You’d be surprised to find that a lot of snacks that are considered healthy are pretty tasty too.

Prepare the Spare Bath

Your spare bathroom may never get used, but this bathroom will now become your houseguest’s main bathroom. In order to make sure they feel as comfortable as possible, make sure to provide toiletries and fresh towels. We’ve all been in the position where we forgot a toothbrush or toothpaste so making sure you’re stocked up will greatly benefit your guest.

Pro-tip: Make sure that your toothbrush holder, soap dish, and anything else on the bathroom counter are clean. These things can get pretty grimy over time, so make sure they’re nice and clean before your guest arrives.

Provide Storage Space/Clothing Maintenance

To put it simply, living out of a suitcase sucks. If you’re having a guest over, make sure that there is room in the spare room closet or even the hall closet for your guest to store their clothes.

Pro-tip: Offer your guests your laundry facilities if they’re staying for a while or want to do a load of laundry before leaving.  Returning home with fresh clothes makes the unpacking process a lot less daunting.

Share Your Plans

We shouldn’t have to remind you, but your guests are there to see you! Make sure that you let them know what’s going on and get their input on whatever you have planned for their stay. At the end of the day you want your guests to feel comfortable and welcomed and making sure they’re in the know is a great way to do so.

Pro-tip: If you’re a serious planner, draft up a little itinerary for your guests. For a guest that’s completely unfamiliar with the area and what will be going on a simple itinerary could be quite helpful.