Winter is the season for hosting visitors and overnight guests. This period of friends and family members swooping into town to stay with you for a weekend can be the most fun time of the year.
It can also be the most stressful—especially if you don’t have a guest room. Whether you are living in a small apartment or have converted your guest room into a home office, there are still ways to give guests a comfortable and inviting place to sleep.
When a guest room is not an option, set up a space for them that is out of the path of direct traffic. At that point, it all comes down to the little things.
Pay careful attention to detail, ace the presentation of the furniture, and add some extra thoughtful touches to make the guest experience a memorable and high-quality one. Here’s how to make your home the best it can be before your overnighters arrive.
Free Up Some Space
Even though their sleeping arrangements may be temporary, you want to give your guests some space to make them feel at home. This can be done by moving furniture around and adding pieces that will help them settle in. Living out of a suitcase isn’t ideal for anyone, and it tends to make guests feel disorganized and unwelcome.
Place a rolling clothing rack with multiple hangers nearby or free up some space in a closet/dresser so they can unpack and keep their garments from getting wrinkled. The addition of a privacy screen can help make up for the lack of walls and separate your guest from their surroundings.
Dress Up The Bathroom
Before your guest arrives, the least you can do is clean the bathroom and clear up some counter or cabinet space for them to use. This is a room that is used frequently, and it may even be the only place your guest is guaranteed total privacy during their entire stay. So, dressing it up can make a world of difference in the quality of their stay.
Keep the bathroom stocked with scented lotions, hand soaps, candles, and room sprays. Elevate the room even further with a small floral arrangement and plenty of freshly laundered towels. If your guests are staying for more than a couple of nights, swap out their towels for clean ones after they’ve been used a few times.
Provide The Essentials
No matter where your guests may be sleeping, there are some essential items they will require while crashing at your place overnight. It’s a good idea to anticipate the needs of your guests in advance so they’ll feel well taken care of.
Put together a collection of toiletries, extra blankets, and make power outlets and phone chargers easily accessible. Provide a bottle of water in case your guest gets thirsty during the middle of the night.
If your guest will be in a space where it’s difficult to reduce light exposure and noise, an eye mask and a white noise machine can help create barriers to those environmental factors.
Include Personal Touches
To really make your guests feel appreciated, go above and beyond by including personal touches to cultivate what seems like a well-thought-out experience. Take a tip from luxury hotels and provide plush robes and slippers.
You can also leave out a welcome note written on personal stationery, along with a basket of their favorite snacks. Adding local treats is also a simple but special bonus touch. These will be instant crowd-pleasers and can serve as keepsakes for your guests to look back on with fondness as they remember your time spent together.
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By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
