Make Houseguests Feel At Home

Whether it is for a family reunion, wedding or birthday, holiday gathering, a temporary living arrangement, or even a funeral, your home may be opened up to guests and family members — including their children — on occasion. As host, there are ways to create a more comfortable, home away from home environment for young and old alike and to create a special memory and positive experience for house guests.

Here are tips to make the overnight/live-in experience a positive one.

For bedroom starters:

• Make sure the bed is comfortable. If you’ve really stuck grandma’s old mattress that was a hand-me-down from your first away-from-home experience, perhaps it is time to invest in a new mattress. After all, if you’d never sleep on it, how can you reasonably expect others to?



• Make sure the sheets are clean and in good condition, and that the bed is freshly made. If you use accent pillows, be sure to provide a basket or place for the pillows to go so that guests are left wondering what to do with them.



• Provide some dresser space. If your guest bedroom spends most of its life as a “junk” room, take the time to clear out some drawers. Consider lining them with scented paper or lining, and tuck in a sachet.



• Make the space livable and mostly junk-free. Do more than clear a path from the door to the bed. Actually move the knickknacks, boxes, bags and projects to another area of the house during your guests’ stay in your home.



• Create a place for guests to place a suitcase. Typically, the first thing guests do in a hotel is unpack their belongs and personalize the space with their items. Expect them to do the same in your home as well.



• Place hangers in the closet (consider investing in the nice padded kinds as an extra nice gesture) and clear out adequate space for them to actually hang things. Consider placing an over-the-door hanger, especially if your closet isn’t set up to properly hang a dress or long item.



• Include an easily-workable alarm clock and perhaps even a radio or CD player with music selections in the room. Consider tucking in a new release or holiday tunes.



• Be sure curtains or shades provide appropriate privacy and darkness. Make sure the sun doesn’t pour in to a room occupied by a late riser, if at all possible.



• Be sure to include a trash can in the bedroom.

Guest bathroom basics:

• Provide clean and fluffy towels, freshly folded and left on the bathroom counter.


Be sure to stock extra toilet paper and tissues.


• Place new soap in the bath/shower and fill liquid soap containers or make sure necessities are well-stocked. Be sure a hand-towel is easily obtainable, and guests know to use them vs. just admire them. In other words, don’t display towels that are for show only if you’re going to be having guests in the bathroom. They need functionality, not home decor.



• Place a trash can in the bathroom.



• Consider adding a welcome basket of basic toiletries. These could include such items as fingernail polish remover, new toothbrush, fingernail file, razor, tweezers, nail clippers, Q-tips, aspirin, sewing kit, shampoo and conditioner, and if kids are involved, include kid shampoo and bath products and perhaps even a bath toy. They will love you for this special touch.



• Include disposal cups or glass in the bathroom for water.



• Sample-sized makeup products, makeup removal pads, and even a polish could be a welcomed extra for women guests.



• Place a night-light in the bathroom.



• Include a hair dryer and curling iron, if you have an extra, for guest convenience.

See Page 2 for tips for creating memorable extras and ways to make children feel more comfortable and happy during their stay.