Hosting family and friends in your home can be a stressful event, especially during the holidays. With a to-do list a mile long, getting your home ready should not be the most stressful thing on that list. Part of being a good host is setting up your home so that guests feel comfortable. Here are 10 simple ways to make your guests feel right at home.
1. Do a Quick Clean
With all the hustle and bustle, the last thing you want to do is spend time deep cleaning your home. Instead of spending hours cleaning, just get the basics. Vacuum the floors, do a little dusting, make sure the bathrooms are clean, and put things away. Chances are your guests are not going to be inspecting your entire house for cleanliness. Focus on the main areas of the house and where your guests will be staying.
2. Declutter Your Guest Bedroom
Is your guest bedroom really just an extra storage room? This might be a more difficult task, but making sure your guests are comfortable and feel at home is important. Make sure your storage is put out of sight and they still have plenty of room to put their things.
3. Ensure a Comfy Bed
Make your guests feel luxurious after a long day of traveling when they’re just ready to crash. You want a bed to always feel welcoming and comfortable. Make sure there are plenty of pillows and blankets – it is better to have too many than not enough so your guests have choices.
4. Provide Bathroom Essentials
We all know that feeling of forgetting something when you go out of town. Ease your guests’ minds and have necessities available. Keep a handful of sample size toiletries along with a couple toothbrushes for your guests just in case they forgot. Towels are also an important thing to have readily available to your guests. Be sure to have a few towels visibly displayed so your guests don’t have to look for them and provide extra towels so they don’t have to ask.
5. Display Your Wifi Password
We currently live in a world where almost everything we do is online. Make it easy for your guests to log in by having your wifi password on display for them so they don’t have to ask. Download this graphic, type in your password, print it, and put it in a frame!
6. Liven Up Your Living Room
Your living room is where everyone will be spending a lot of time. Make sure this room is decluttered and ready to welcome guests. Plump up your throw pillows to give them new life or add some new ones in the mix. Make sure there is entertainment available on hand so that no one gets bored during down time. Make sure to have plenty of pillows, throws, and even a few floor pillows around so everyone is comfortable and has a place to sit.
7. Set the Table
A set table always makes a dining room look put together, plus it is one less task to worry about completing once your guests are already in your home.
8. Head Outdoors
If it hasn’t gotten too chilly yet, spend time outdoors. You won’t be as worried about what the inside of your home looks like, and everyone enjoy some fresh air. Light a fire, play some yard games, roast some marshmallows, and just enjoy your time together.
9. Stock the Coffee & Drinks
Keep a stock of staple kitchen items out so your guests can easily access them. Make sure to have plenty of water, coffee, and snacks so they can help themselves whenever they want.
10. Relax!
At the end of the day, all that really matters is that you relax and enjoy spending time with your guests. The holidays are a crazy time of year for most, and they seem to just come and go in the blink of an eye. Take the time to enjoy it and have a good time – no need to stress over anything!