If you’re expecting house guests, you’ll want to do everything you can to make them feel at home. There’s nothing worse than being a guest in someone else’s home and feeling bored or uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable.
Hopefully, your house guests are good friends and you know their interests and hobbies. This is especially important when preparing the guest room. The room where your visitors will stay should be a cozy haven, one to which they can retreat and feel pampered and indulged.
Be sure the bed is made, with clean, fresh bed linens. The carpet or floor should be vacuumed thoroughly, especially if your guests suffer from dust allergies. Also dust surfaces such as tables and lampshades. If you have time, give windows and mirrors a polish to remove dust and fingerprints.
Stack the bedside table with magazines and paperbacks. If you know your house guests’ favorite authors, pick up some of the latest best sellers. Magazines should reflect your guests’ interests.
If there’s a bedroom television, make sure it’s working properly and isn’t difficult to figure out. If your guests wake in the middle of the night, they’re not going to want to knock on your door to ask you how to work the remote control. If there’s a DVD player in the room, perhaps leave some of your visitors’ favorite movies with it. A deck of cards or a backgammon set may also be an enjoyable way to pass time.
Fill a vase with your guests’ favorite flowers and a dish with their favorite candies. Leave out scented candles and a book of matches. They’ll be sure to be grateful for all of the “homey” touches.
The guest bath should also be clean and stocked with plenty of folded towels and washcloths. Leave unopened soaps, bath gel, shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath and toothpaste within easy reach. A hair dryer, extra tooth brushes, disposable razors and other bathroom staples should also be left out for your house guests’ convenience.
Keep your house guests in mind when shopping for food and drinks. Stock favorite snacks in the pantry and find out which wines, juices and bottled water they enjoy best. Before your guests arrive, ask if they have any food allergies. If so, it’s best to keep these foods away from them for the duration of the stay.
Leave magazines, newspapers, and videos in an area that’s easily accessible. Your house guests may not ask you for these things, but they'll appreciate having them nonetheless. When guests come to stay, the little personal touches can make them feel at home. They’re sure to be touched by your thoughtfulness and will be sure to reciprocate in the future.
