Are you having overnight gusts over the holiday season? Try these tips to get organized and ready for your guests to arrive.
1. Prepare your guests’ space.
If you have an empty drawer and hanging space in your guests closet this will help your visitors keep their things organized and accessible during their stay.
If the thought of organizing a closet (on top of everything else you have to do) makes you a bit panicky, and getting everything else ready for your guest has you feeling panicked, no worries. A great alternative is to use an over-the-door hook and some spare hangers for a guest hanging area. In lieu of a dresser drawer, bring in a luggage rack or clear off the top of a low side table for storing your guest’s suitcase.
Here are some other ideas to make your guest area feel more homey:
- Nightlight
- Extra blankets and towels
- Alarm clock
- Reading material
2. Keep extra bathroom essentials at the ready.
Store extra cotton balls, Q-tips, soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels, toothpaste, washcloths, and of course, extra toilet paper 😉 in the bathroom the guest will use. Store essentials like cotton balls, Q-tips and soap in glass jars … so your guest can see what you have on had. Roll towels and washcloths and stow them in a basket. Keep other essentials such as a travel hair dryer, new toothbrushes, basic pain relievers and stomach remedies handy in a drawer or basket. (Just be sure to keep ingestible items out of the reach of small children.) Let your guest know where these items are so they can help themselves if the need arises.
3. Prepare a simple meal on arrival night.
Whether your guests are flying or driving … arrival times don’t always go as planned (especially during the holidays!) If your guests are expected around dinner time, opt for a simple Crock Pot meal with a fresh salad and French bread on the side. Choose a main dish like soup or chicken, where the longer it simmers the better it gets! Then, when your guests arrive you can tend to their needs instead of tending to dinner.
4. Simple gestures make guests feel even more welcome.
Show your guests where kitchen essentials are kept in your house … things like drinking glasses and drinks, plus snacks, fruit, and simple breakfast items. Let your guests know they’re welcome to help themselves to these items. Even if they’ve stayed at your home before, a reminder that it’s OK to help yourself goes a long way to putting everyone at ease. Alternatively, you could prepare a welcome basket of nuts, crackers, granola bars and cookies right in your guest’s room. This way, if your house guests wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning with a growl in their belly, they won’t feel awkward helping themselves to a little something to tide them over.
Then, just kick back, relax and enjoy your visit!
