Make your Guest Room Feel like Home to Your Guests

Summer is a great time for family and friends to visit. Many people have vacation time and enjoy visiting relatives they normally don’t see during the year. If you have guests coming in, you’ll want to make their visit as comfortable as possible. Making your guests feel at home does not have to take a lot of work or money, it just requires some personal touches and careful thought. Here are a few ideas to make your guest room inviting.

Clean your Guest Room

First and foremost, before your guest arrives clear the clutter from the room they will be sleeping in. Often times guest rooms become storage rooms when they aren’t used. Clean the closets, shelves, and remove anything under the bed. Clean the windows, wipe down windowsills, and make sure the room is dust free. The closets should be empty enough that they can hang their clothes without squeezing them in. If you have a dresser in the room, clear at least two drawers for their belongings. They will feel at ease if they aren’t living out of their suitcase for their stay.

Bedding

Air out the mattress for a day, and squirt some fabric freshener on it for a clean smell. Make sure the sheets and bed spread are fresh. Add some throw pillows and have a few extra blankets and pillows available to them. Place a couple pieces of good chocolate on their pillow for a sweet touch.

Bathroom Necessities

Nothing is worse than getting out of the shower and realizing you have no towel! In your guest’s room on a chair, dresser, or if they have their own bathroom, have at least 3-4 towels and wash cloths available. Have a fresh cake of soap, a new toothbrush in case they forget theirs, toothpaste, a shower cap, small shampoos/conditioners, and lotion ready for them to use.

Personal Touches

I thoroughly enjoy having friends and family stay at my home. I want them to be relaxed and feel like they are on vacation. I find that personal touches make their stay most memorable. One of the quickest way to brighten up a room is by adding flowers. On a nightstand place some cheerful flowers in a vase, if you know their favorite flowers try to put them in the room.

Candles are a wonderful way to make the bedroom cozy and inviting. Place scented or unscented candles around the room. Pictures always add a nice touch, surprise your guest by placing a few framed pictures of you and them on their nightstand. If you know their taste in books add a book and make it a welcoming gift for them. Giving gifts to your guest is a great way to welcome them in your home. The gifts don’t have to be expensive. It could be bath salts, a box of chocolates, or a photo album for the pictures of their visit. Add a pretty card with a personal message, letting them know how glad you are they are visiting.

Throwing a small welcome party for your guests is a fun way for them to meet your friends and possibly get together with other relatives. Keep it simple, coffee and dessert or a barbecue.

They may want to lounge in bed a little longer in the morning the day after they arrive. This is an ideal time to serve breakfast to them in bed. Breakfast can be as easy as muffins, orange juice, and fruit to get their day started.

Practical Tips

If there is a television in the guest room, make sure the remote control has batteries and there is a television guide with the channels. Place some updated magazines in a magazine rack for reading materials. Have a nightlight for them, so they aren’t stumbling in the dark. Give them spare set of keys along with a list of useful phone numbers in case you won’t be with them. Also if there is an alarm code give them the number so that an unexpected visit from the police doesn’t occur.

If your guest are going to be doing activities on their own, it is a good idea to give them a map of the area, along with a list of attractions in your area to visit. Give them a personal list of suggestions of places to eat and visit.

Being a hostess to your friends and family is a great privilege and opportunity. It allows you to show them how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them taking the time to visit you. Opening up your home is a meaningful way to love your neighbor and to show your gratitude for your relationship with them. Be sure not to get carried away with all the details. Spend quality time together, remember it is the simplest pleasures and gestures that mean the most.

Copyright © Chere Williams, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved