Having guests stay over at your house can be intimidating even though having house guests can be so much fun. You’re not sure what they like, what they are used to and what they expect.
No worries then because here are 7 ways you can make sure to make your overnight guests feel welcome.
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Prep Early.
“A few days before your friends or family get there, spend some time in the guest room—even get in the bed! Are there enough blankets? Do the pillows feel good? Most guests are too polite to complain, so you want to anticipate any potential issues beforehand.” —Susan Feldman, One Kings Lane co-founder
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Consider the Details.
“Being a good host is all about those few, important details that let guests know you’re happy they’re there and want them to be comfortable. Pick up an issue of their favorite magazine or a new book you think they’ll enjoy. DVR the shows they love. Place clean towels on the foot of their bed and fresh flowers on the nightstand.” —Nate Berkus, designer and author
3. Anticipate Their Needs.
“I’ll leave breath mints in the drawer, and a bottle of water by the bed. Guests who’ll be there for a few weeks get their own slippers and robe. And for people who aren’t familiar with the area, I leave a guidebook in the room to help them decide what they’d like to do while in town.” —Kenneth Brown, designer
4. Share the House “Secrets”.
“Give them a set of spare keys on a cute key chain for the weekend so they can come and go. I’ll also set out a little ‘manual’ that includes useful stuff like the alarm code and Wifi password. Also, every nightstand should have a water carafe, a jewelry tray, an alarm clock or iPhone dock, and something fragrant like flowers or a candle.” —Emily Henderson, designer and HGTV host
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Layer on the Luxury.
“In the guest room, I always have a luggage rack—it makes unpacking easy! I’ll also fill the guest bath with comfy towels and great bath products. I’m loving Aesop because their scents are so lovely—Geranium Leaf is an easy one that many people like. And for a nice box of toothpaste, Marvis Amarelli Licorice is yummy and unexpected.” —Alison Pincus, One Kings Lane co-founder
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Think Like a Hotel.
“I always provide a basket of sundries from mouthwash to a razor. And I have a collection of stationery from hotels around the world that I’ll put in the room as a fun, novel way for guests to write notes to their friends and family. Finally, I’ll spritz the room with a lavender linen spray and put out a bottle of Perrier so it feels like a little French hotel.” —Mary McDonald, designer
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Consider the Morning After.
“I’m a huge fan of sneaking out in the morning to get good pastries, fruit, and coffee and setting up a nice breakfast with pretty napkins and juice glasses.” —Day Kornbluth
How else do you think you can make your guests feel welcome in your home? We would love to hear your comments!!
(Post culled from Onekings)