The holiday season of travel and house guests is upon us! Families everywhere are trying to coordinate schedules, figure out their vacation days, and mumbling about the best deals on plane tickets. We all know that staying with a friend or relative can range from a soul-renewing vacation to an uncomfortable inconvenience. It is always generous for someone to host you as an overnight guest, but it’s easy to sometimes feel inadvertently unwelcome. A few small touches can turn a standard visit into a luxurious and relaxing respite for your house guests.
Fresh Flowers
Providing fresh flowers for your guests is a thoughtful welcoming gesture and will not go unappreciated. It will make them feel special as they take comfort in the extra effort you made just to ensure them a lovely stay. Fresh flowers are so simple, yet never fail to brighten anyone’s day.
Closet Space
While most of us fill our guest closets with wrapping paper, out of season clothes, or holiday décor, it is always considerate to spare at least a bit of space for your guests. They will be much obliged to be able to hang up a few things to keep the wrinkles at bay.
Reading Lamp
A reading lamp doesn’t just add to the décor, it also creates a pleasant atmosphere enabling your guests to curl up with a good book and relax. Another benefit of having a light right by the bed is that your visitors don’t have to navigate an unfamiliar room in the dark.
Dark Window Treatments
Comfortable bedding is of course important, but the best way to achieve a restful cocoon for your guests, is to create a dark haven. The first night of sleep somewhere new has the tendency to be restless as you conform to your new surroundings. By minimizing the glare of distracting street lights and keeping the bright morning sun at bay, room darkening or blackout window treatments will allow your guests to rest comfortably for as long as possible. While you’re at it, get a set for yourself because hosting is a lot of work, and you’re going to need as much rest as you can get too!
Night Light
Waking up in the middle of the night in a house that is not your own can be a bit disconcerting. It’s a nice gesture to have a night light in the bedroom, hallway, or bathroom, if not in all three! Your guests want to see where they’re headed and this will help them to feel comfortable in the dark.
Alarm Clock
An alarm clock is always helpful, especially if your guests have travelled from a different time zone. One with a built in smart phone charger is an extra bonus.
A Few Extras
My mother always says that you don’t want your guests to be too comfortable, because then they’ll never leave. You surely don’t want them to stay forever, as you will want your house back to yourself at some point. If you disagree with her viewpoint and can’t help but to be your hospitable self, then keep these few extra niceties in mind. Bottled water is a favorable touch, so they don’t have to run to the kitchen in the middle of the night if they happen to wake up thirsty. Providing your household Wi-Fi password saves them from having to track it down. A stack of your favorite books provides entertainment and gives you a chance to share your interests. Be prepared to let the novels go if one of your guests get sucked into one of your recently read stories. Lastly, a comfortable robe is always nice to cozy into after a long day or a hot shower.
This season is about sharing and spending time with your special family and friends. Creating a warm and welcoming retreat for them will make them feel loved and appreciated. And if you’re lucky, these thankful guests may return the favor the next time you make the trek to their house.
Happy Hosting!