6 Things to Do to Make Houseguests Feel at Home

As the holidays approach, you might be planning for potential houseguests to come and stay with you. As generous as that is, having visitors can feel overwhelming, especially if you feel lots of pressure to make things perfect. So, how do you cut down on the stress? Start by having a plan to prep your home so your houseguests will feel truly comfortable, and you can relax a bit, too. Here are six things you should always do before having houseguests over.

Clean Your House

A clean home is an ideal way to welcome your guests. While a deep clean is ideal before hosting people, remember that some cleaning is better than none. 

If you’re short on time, prioritize cleaning the guest room and guest bathroom, as well as shared spaces, like the kitchen and living room. You can skip areas like your personal bedroom, home office, and laundry room if it’s not feasible to get everything done in time.

Do the Laundry

Before guests come, do a big wash of all linens, including guest bedding, and towels. Make sure these items aren’t torn, ripped, or stained. Have extra sets of linens clean and ready in case of accidents.

Elevate Your Guest Room

While you don’t need to make your guest room feel like a fancy hotel, consider adding a seasonal candle or a vase of fresh flowers on the nightstand to make the space feel a bit more special.

It’s also thoughtful to provide a carafe or a large bottle of water on each nightstand in case your guests are thirsty after traveling.

If there’s a TV in the room, check that the remotes work or simply swap out old batteries if you can’t remember the last time you changed them.

Finally, write down your Wi-Fi password and leave it in the room, or place it in a chic frame on the dresser for a useful yet decorative touch.

Stock the Bathroom

No one wants to ask for extra toilet paper, even if they’re close friends. So, be sure to leave an extra roll or two in the bathroom your guests will use. Your guests will also need hand soap and something to dry their hands with.

Make sure each guest has at least one clean bath towel, hand towel, hair towel, and washcloth. Then, put down a clean bath mat.

Stock the shower with basics, like a new bar of soap or shower gel. While most people are particular about their hair products, it doesn’t hurt to leave some extra shampoo and conditioner if you have it. The same goes for body lotion, moisturizer, and other essentials.

If you live in a warm or sunny climate, it’s also a good idea to provide sunscreen, as your guests might not have brought it with them.

Fill Up the Fridge

After asking your guests if they have any allergies or dietary restrictions, stock your kitchen with enough food so they can easily help themselves if they get hungry. While you’ll probably want to have a few of their favorite items, you can’t go wrong with charcuterie staples like cheese, prosciutto or salami, crackers, and dried fruit. Another easy snack is a pre-cut fruit bowl from the supermarket.

Do a Final Tidy-Up

Shortly before your houseguests arrive, do a final tidy-up. Is there anything out in the open you don’t want them to see, such as bills, or fragile items that could get broken, like family heirlooms? Everything doesn’t need to be perfect, but make sure the space looks and feels presentable.