Tips for Hosting for Holiday House Guests

Tis the season for holiday house guests and visitors! If you’re entertaining or hosting overnight friends and family this year, I thought I’d share some tips for keeping your company happy and comfortable during their stay. I like to plan ahead and get things ready before guests show up… it’s much less stressful and allows me to enjoy the holiday without stressing. Click through for my checklist and tips!

Let’s dive right in, shall we? Emmett and I have a lot of visitors over the course of a year. The majority of our friends and family live out-of-state, so we’re always penciling people into our calendar to visit. This checklist is my go-to year round for prepping our guest room. We’re very excited to have multiple bedrooms in our new house– but no matter the size of the space for your visitors, these thoughtful items are sure to make their stay more enjoyable!

If there is space, I like to leave closet room for visitors. Having a designated spot for luggage or room to fold or hang clothing is always appreciated. Even if you don’t have extra closet room, you could invest in a folding luggage rack.

I also like to leave a clean water glass, carafe, or bottle of water on the bedside table for added convenience. Since we live at a higher altitude than our family, sometimes they have trouble adjusting. Staying hydrated is key and making water accessible is a nice gesture…. regardless of the altitude.

This probably goes without saying, but fresh towels and crisp linens are a must! I prefer white for guests because it feels hotel or spa-like, but it’s also very obvious when they’re clean (or need washed).

I also let guests know where more towels and linens can be found, should they need extra or replacements.

While we’re in the bathroom, toiletries are another great way to accommodate holiday visitors. Some of the basic items I keep on hand are: shampoo, conditioner, soap / body wash, lotion, toothpaste, floss, and cotton swabs. I always tell guests to leave their toiletries at home- it makes traveling so much easier.

In addition to hygiene related products, I also let friends and family know where the hair dryer lives. I’m excited to renovate our guest bathroom soon. My plan is to buy an inexpensive hair dryer specifically for that space, so sharing won’t be an issue in the future.

One thing I personally have to have when traveling or staying away from home is white noise. I like to keep a fan or this white noise machine tucked away in a nightstand, should guests also prefer to have some noise.

Next on the list is fresh flowers. You know I love keeping fresh blooms around the house (check out this tutorial)– they’re especially festive during the holiday season. A little bud vase on a nightstand goes a long way in terms of aesthetic!

On the bed, clean sheets and bedding is an absolute must… again- white is always a safe bet! I also like to keep an extra blanket, throw, or pillow in the room or closet, in case friends or family like to layer up.

That’s pretty much the list… feel free to pin or download it below!

Hopefully this will help to make your holiday visitors feel more comfortable and will alleviate some stress if you’re hosting this season. I quickly cross things off the list and my company settles in and makes themselves right at home. In fact, I have a house guest right now! Hopefully the next time Laurie Anne comes for a visit, I’ll have a finished guest bathroom for her (and other company) to enjoy.