Now that the holiday season has arrived, many are preparing to welcome visitors to their homes for a festive celebration. With just a little extra effort, there are some special ways you can make your guests feel right at home during their stay.
The first priority is making your guestroom feel peaceful and welcoming. De-clutter the room and keep the décor simple and knick knacks to a minimum. Make the bed with cozy, clean sheets and include a couple of blankets so that guests can remove or add one if too hot or cold. Consider buying a ceiling fan for the room if you don’t have one – many people like to sleep with a fan running. Include a little welcome basket with essential toiletry items, including shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste and new toothbrushes. You could also add breath mints, bottles of water, magazines, Tums and packaged snacks.
Stack two or three fluffy towels on the dresser and add a small vase with fresh flowers – it’s an extra special touch that will not go unnoticed! Leave a couple of drawers in the dresser empty so that your guests don’t have to live out of their suitcases. It’s nice to offer some room and several empty hangers in the bedroom closet. If you’re sharing a bathroom with your guests, keep the counters clear and save some space by installing hooks on the back of the guest room door for easy towel storage.
If you do not have a dedicated guestroom in your home, try to make your guests’ sleeping area as comfortable as possible. Use a portable screen to provide a bit of privacy.
In the kitchen, set up a little coffee/tea/breakfast station – your guests may be early risers and you want them to be able to start their day without having to search every cupboard. Leave the coffee maker, kettle and toaster on the counter top along with a few mugs, cutlery, sugar, bowls, fresh fruit, oatmeal packets, bread, preserves, cereal etc.
Happy holiday entertaining!