bedroomThe holiday house guests are coming! The holiday house guests are coming!

If the holidays mean overnight guests in your home this year, it's time to ready the Hotel de Your House for their arrival. Get organized and prepare your home before your guests arrive, so when they come through the door, they feel nothing but welcome.

We've put together an easy house guest preparation checklist to make it easy on you. This time of year, we know everyone needs all the spare mental energy they can get. Happy hosting!

Think of all the amenities provided in your favorite hotel room, and do your best to match your guest room and bath up to those. After all, hotels are in the business of preparing for guests on a daily basis, so you can bet they know what they're doing.

Besides, the fewer times your guests have to ask you for something, the more at ease they're going to feel in your home. Because it's all ready and waiting for them to settle in!

Guest Room

  • A warm and inviting bed is essential: pull out the flannel sheets and provide your guests with several blankets and pillows to layer to their preference.
  • Provide drawer and closet space with hangers.
  • Plug in an alarm clock and a reading lamp for guests to use.
  • Leave some empty, easily accessible outlets so your guests can charge their cell phones or laptops. If your guests need a code for the wireless, leave them a note with the code in their room.
  • Fresh flowers can't be beat -- or even a small festive boxwood wreath hung on the headboard or footer of the bed.
  • While you're getting festive, consider adding a few (a few!) festive seasonal touches -- a red quilt, a small poinsettia, or a festive holiday throw pillow.
  • If your house guests include children, think ahead about their sleeping, bathing, and entertainment needs and prepare accordingly.
  • Other great extras: full-length mirror, pitcher of water and glasses, slippers, bath robes, and reading materials.

Bathroom

  • If you can dedicate a bathroom just to guests, this is best.
  • Hang a fresh hand towel or two for your guests to use and put out a fresh hand soap or fill your hand soap container.
  • Leave a towel and washcloth for each guest. More than one if they're staying longer than a couple of days.
  • Stock the shower/bath with shampoo, conditioner, and a fresh bar of soap.
  • Make sure there's a hair dryer and plenty of toilet paper and other toiletries, like toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, etc.

Kitchen:

  • Stock your fridge with lots of easy-to-grab drink choices from pitchers of water and juice to sodas and beer/wine.
  • Place out a big bowl of fresh fruit for your guests to snack on.
  • Other easy foods to make readily available: yogurts, cereal, sliced cheese, and crackers.

What personal touches do you like to add for your houseguests?

 

Image via House to Home