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.
You Might Also Like
Whether you’re the one hosting your family or traveling to stay with your loved ones this holiday, here are some helpful tips for preparing a guest room your company will appreciate! Chances...
I’ve been talking about this for a month now, but I’m excited for my family to arrive and tomorrow is the big day! I figured this would be the perfect time...
I know I’m early to begin posting about holiday decor and festive things of that nature, but hear me out- everyone seems to be on board with beginning a little early...
How is it already November?! I feel like this year has been one big blur. Despite time flying by, I’m excited about the upcoming holiday season, and we having family coming...
Peggi
December 19, 2018 at 4:31 amWhite noise machine! Head slap. Genius. We were just talking about a white noise machine in lieu of our fan (especially for winter…). You definitely win Most Thoughtful Host!
Sarah
December 19, 2018 at 5:35 pmHaha!! I can’t go anywhere without my white noise machine- the travel sized one has been a game changer.
Bridget
December 19, 2018 at 7:03 pmSources, please! On the lookout for a new bedding set and bedside table lamp
Sarah
December 20, 2018 at 10:51 amHi Bridget! You can find the sources on this page: https://roomfortuesday.com/shop-my-house/ xox
Danielle
February 5, 2019 at 12:35 pmI noticed that you don’t have that West Elm (I think?) bed frame anymore, and you didn’t love your West Elm sectional. Did you also not love this bed frame? That is if it is the one I’m even thinking of. I’ve always loved the look of it, but want to be sure it holds up! Thanks for all your great info!
Sarah
February 5, 2019 at 12:47 pmGood eye Danielle! You’re right… we don’t have that bed anymore. When moving across the country from Ohio to Utah, we had to take a good hard look at what we really loved due to space in the moving truck. I went through a pretty heavy mid century phase in our first home, and my aesthetic just evolved into something else along the way. It’s a great bed frame and it did hold up very well- it just didn’t suit our style anymore. Hope that helps to answer your question :) xo
Ann
December 2, 2019 at 9:36 pmThis is so great, Sarah! I’m having a house sitter staying to take care of my dog next week so this is super helpful to make sure she’ll have a comfortable stay!
Ann@reddogcandleco
Sarah
December 3, 2019 at 7:44 pmI love hearing this, Ann!! :) What a lucky dog sitter.