How To Prepare Your Home For Guests In 6 Easy Steps
Get your home ready for guests this holiday season, with our hosting guide that includes shoppable links!
The holidays are quickly approaching - that fantastic time of year when you reconnect with friends and family. When you’re hosting a rotating batch of loved ones, you want them to feel welcome and at home. Preparing for this time of year can be stressful. We’ve compiled our top six tips for staying organized and keeping you and your guests happy before, during and after their arrival.
#1 Make The Bed The Focal Point
The bed should always be the main consideration when designing a guest bedroom. Playing with texture and color is a sophisticated way to make a room more engaging. Comfort is a top priority when preparing for guests - invest in soft bed linens and plenty of pillows. No one likes to step onto a cold floor first thing in the morning, so have a plush rug under or along the bedsides. Accentuate the bed with functional side tables or chests and good lighting. A great-smelling room with lovely floral arrangements and scented candles makes guests feel welcome. We recommend a diffuser on the bedside table for guests to keep the room smelling fresh throughout their entire stay.
#2 Stock Up And Stage The Bathroom
A little pre-planning goes a long way in the bathroom. Anticipating your guests' needs eliminates the need to run out to the local store for a toothbrush at 9 p.m. Make up a little basket stocked with extra toiletries—toothbrushes, floss, deodorant, razors, etc. Have a favorite eye mask or hand lotion? Pop those in the basket with a handwritten note. Ensure the soaps and conditioners are full and set out fresh towels and toilet paper so they are easy for your guests to locate.
#3 Don’t Forget The Entertainment
Make your guests feel welcome by creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in your living spaces. Consider layered lighting with candles and table lamps. Add some extra pillows and throws to create a cozy space for curling up. Don’t forget to plan activities. This can include a movie night, game night or a day trip to a nearby main street. These touches will make your guests’ stay one to remember!
#4 Prep The Kitchen And Pantry
We are all about blending functionality with style in the kitchen. Elegant cookware and beautiful serving elements are essential. To create delicious meals, invest in artisanal ingredients, must-have gadgets and a good cookbook. Stock your pantry with snacks for late-night cravings, load up on spices and dried herbs and your go-to baking ingredients. For the “making of the meal” you can go it solo or make it a group activity.
#5 Design Your Dream Tablescape
Your dining room is one of the most important spaces in your home for entertaining. Having a table and chairs that can comfortably seat your desired number of guests is a must. We love to add soft upholstered chairs that add a little bit of color to the room. Invest in storage - a credenza or cabinet is perfect for storing additional tableware or barware close by, with the added benefit of providing a serving surface.
Layer lighting throughout your dining space! A statement chandelier will illuminate your holiday tablescape, while lower lighting through lamps or wall sconces will give your guests a beautiful glow. We love blending old with new - vintage and antique stores are a great way to score big on stunning plates and accessories. Layer those items on top of a gorgeous patterned tablecloth to help protect your dining room table from scratches and spills.
#6 Make Transitions Easy
During the holidays, it’s not uncommon to host different folks back-to-back. Make the switch from one set of guests to another easier on yourself by having a back-up set of the essentials at the ready. Having at least two sets of the same bed linens and towels means you don’t have to worry about rushing to do laundry between visitors. Simply change out the bedding, towels and replace the toiletry basket with a pre-packed fresh one. You can worry about that mound of laundry later!
We hope this holiday guide gives you a lot of solutions, making preparing your home less of a headache. The holidays are all about spending time with the ones we love, so don’t go for perfect here - employing just a handful of the tips above will ensure that your guests feel warmth and welcomed into your home…perhaps making them linger a day or two longer. ;)
Interested in adding that extra special element to get your house ready for the next holiday season? If you have a design project in mind, our team is ready to help! Get in touch here and look out for more helpful design hints and tips this holiday season on our Instagram. Wishing you and yours a very merry month ahead!
