How To Make Your House Guests Feel At Home
The holidays are always a busy time, and most of us will have family or friends visiting from out of town. Creating a cozy atmosphere to catch up, relax and unwind is essential for enjoying your holiday, and ensuring your guests are as well. We appreciate the long (or short!) distance they’ve come to see us and we want them to know it!
Stock Up on Snacks & Drinks
Food can sometimes provide such comfort, especially having homemade food ready to reheat or pull straight out of the fridge to snack on. Having them easily accessible is the key! If you’re unsure of what their favorite snacks are, it’s always good to ask ahead of time so that you can stock up before their arrival. Don’t forget to take into account any dietary preferences, like vegan or dairy-free! Having these options handy is always appreciated when someone has diet restrictions and they’re traveling from out of town.
Clear Out Some Space For Clothes
Depending on how long they’re staying, clearing out some space in the guest room closet or dresser can go a long way. Having enough space to unpack the essentials so that you can store your suitcase will not only lend to more space in the room but also elicit the feeling of being ‘settled’, even if it’s only for a few days.
Toiletries In the Bathroom
Make sure you have the bathroom stocked with all the toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, extra toothbrushes and toothpaste. We even suggest neatly rolling up a bath towel or two and placing at the bottom of the bead for their arrival. It immediately makes you feel like you have all the essentials and most of the time, the first thing you want to do after a long day of traveling is to take a shower!
Provide Opportunities For Privacy
It’s good to think of opportunities to give your house guests some space of their own, to either explore a new place or to comply have some alone time to recharge. Retiring to your bedroom a little early to relax on your own also gives them some time and privacy they may be needing. It’s also a good idea to have a quick discussion ahead of time to see how they’re planning to spend their time while they’re staying with you so that you can accommodate as best you can.
Something Special
If you’re hosting guests who are new to the area, it can be nice to buy some small local treats for them as a welcome gift. We recommend small local hand soaps, or local specialty snacks to place on their bed. If they’re familiar with the area, you can get a little more creative. We love using a small letter board propped up on the dresser with a message on it that’s unique to the house guests, or even a photo or two of a past memory with everyone all together!