Having overnight guests for the holidays? Even if you’re up to your eyeballs in family, work, and holiday chores, with a bit of thought and planning you’ll be ready for holiday guests and they’ll feel right at home! Whether you have a guest room to share, or a spare space within your home to offer, these tips can help make your guests feel welcome and comfortable.
1. Declutter and Clean
Declutter your home as much as possible, paying extra attention to the guest bedroom, kitchen, and bathrooms. Include these on your home prep checklist:
- Clean your kitchen, paying special attention to the fridge, freezer, microwave, and oven.
- Add arrangements of fresh flowers or greenery in your guest room and living areas. Even if you’re not interested in holiday decorating, these additions help make your home feel more inviting and festive.
2. Create a Comfy Bed
Designate a place for your guests to sleep. Whether it’s a guest room, kid’s room, office, or even a pull-out couch or air mattress in the living room, be sure to check off these to-dos:
- Make the bed as comfortable and inviting as possible, regardless of the type of bed your guests will use.
- Invest in a topper to add softness if guests are sleeping in an older bed, or air bed.
- Check that guest sheets are in good shape and freshly laundered.
- Provide extra pillows and blankets they can easily access.
- Invest in window coverings if your guest’s room doesn’t have them.
3. Find a Place for Clothes
Clear or make space in the guest room closet or in a nearby closet so guests can hang up clothes. Add these to the list:
- Include extra hangers for your guests’ clothes.
- Clear out a few drawers if possible for holiday guests staying longer than a night or two.
- Make space for their luggage. A luggage rack would be ideal, but a sturdy chair, storage ottoman, or desk will also work.
4. Add a Nightstand
It may not seem necessary, but having a bedside table for guests is so convenient. Any type of table will do and be sure it’s near an outlet. Add these nice touches to the nightstand:
- A reading lamp
- Bottle (or two) of water
- Box of tissues
- A small clock or digital alarm clock (not one that ticks)
- Outlet available for charging electronics, or add a wireless charging pad
5. Ready a Bathroom
Making your guests’ bathroom as convenient and welcoming is as important as the guest room. Here are things you can do to show how much you care:
- Provide a stack of clean towels for your guests.
- Have shampoo, conditioner, and a fresh bar of soap available in the shower/bath.
- Store extra toilet paper in a convenient place.
Place a small basket in the cabinet or on the counter with travel-size toiletries such as lotion, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, hairspray, and so on.- Add extra toothbrushes in the cabinet, too.
- Plug in a nightlight to help guests navigate to the bathroom at night. You can consider buying the motion detector type that plugs into a standard outlet.
- Use this checklist to ensure the bathroom is safe for you and your guests.
6. Make Your Home Easily Accessible
For the holidays, you may have family or friends that traditionally stay for longer visits. That may mean they’ll be coming and going, so here are tips for making their stay more pleasant:
- Give all your holiday guests an extra house key or the code for the front door, alarm, and garage.
- Write your internet/wifi password on a small card they can keep so they have it handy and can also add access to their phones.
- Show your guests how to operate the thermostat, and where a fan or space heater is if needed.
- Provide instructions on how to use the TV remote and access movie and streaming channels.
