Helping Overnight Guests Feel At Home
A big season of travel is upon us! Who out there will be heading to see family and friends over the next six weeks or hosting folks in your home - perhaps even both?!
We've hosted quite a few people in our guest room over the past several months (including this weekend!), and that has had me thinking: what can I do to help them feel at home? There are lots of simple, but thoughtful things you can do as the host that will go a long way in providing a warm welcome and a comfortable place to stay. Also, most guests hate to be needy and don't want to ask you a million questions, so why not head off some of those with a few simple ideas? Let's start with an obvious one:
A cozy and comfortable bed
Start with a good mattress, then add in cozy, layered linens to pull everything together. The mattress on our guest bed is from my college days (ha!), but folks have told me it's still comfortable (phew!). Next time we're in the market for a new mattress, I think we'll be trying one out from a site like Leesa that's delivered to your doorstep. The easy ordering process (it's shipped to your door in a single smallish box!) combined with the fact that they give you a 100 night trial period makes it a win-win in my book. Right now, they're having a Black Friday special where you can get $75 off and get a $50 Amazon gift card (this post isn't sponsored, just something I found out about!).
For linens, I'm a big fan of white percale 100% cotton sheets. They're crisp, feel clean and are cool to the touch - just like a good set of hotel sheets. It's totally about personal preference, but I strongly prefer them over sateen or flannel sheets. If you're in the market for some that fall into that category, I like the Belo sheets* from Crate & Barrel and the PB Classic sheets from Pottery Barn. I've also heard great things about Brooklinen - they have nice bundles that are very affordable.
To add warmth, it's nice to give guests the option of of thinner quilt or coverlet, as well as a duvet. Having both works well for hot and cold sleepers! Here are a few of my current favorites:
Wifi
After guests arrive and get settled, the first question they usually ask is, "what's the wifi password?" I'm happy to give it to them verbally, of course, but another great option is to write it down and have it handy in their bedroom in case they need it for reference, or if they've got multiple devices to get on the network. Printing it out and putting it in a cute little frame for the dresser or bedside table will do the trick!
Bath linens
via Parachute Home (I hear their linens are amazing!)
Leaving a bath towel, hand towel and wash cloth on the bed helps visitors feel welcome and at ease. Even if they don't use all three, it's great to have options, and they don't have to go digging for a hand towel in the linen closet when they're getting ready for bed!
Water by the bedside
There's almost nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night thirsty and not knowing where the glasses are, or even if you do know, having to make your way to the kitchen in the dark because you don't want to disturb anybody! A cute little carafe/water glass combo solves that problem, and the fact that it feels like a little luxury might even give you bonus points. ;) Even if you don't have a fancy carafe, a glass or bottle of water works just as well!
via CB2
Bonus: Fresh Flowers
via Oh Eight Oh Nine
While definitely not a necessity, putting a vase of fresh flowers in the room will make your visitors smile, and feel like you're excited for them to be in your home. It's the little things, am I right?
So tell me, what do you do to prepare for guests? Are there any special little things you do to help them feel at home?
*Note: some or all of the links are affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission from your purchase (at no cost to you). Thanks for supporting Mix & Match Design Company in this way!
