As the holiday season comes closer into view, it’s time to plan ahead for holiday guests. You’re ahead of the game if you already know that Aunt Sarah is coming to visit, or your cousin Jill will be in town during a certain week. Single travelers are usually a delight and know how to be a good house guest. It’s often the unexpected guests that show up looking for a one (or more) night house visit that jams the works.
So how can you best prepare your home to have it ready for guests this holiday season? It helps to do the essentials, like getting your guest room ready by sprucing up the sheets, changing up the pillows, and making sure the blinds, dressers and any other surfaces in the guest room are dusted. You can even order your holiday cards early from a site like Minted for another personal touch to leave with guests.
If you live in a desired city or region in the country, you may be prone to more house guests. A friend who lived in New York City ALWAYS got house guests, and she welcomed it because of the high costs of hotels there. In return, her guests were usually pretty generous with food and drinks. And that’s the way it should work anyway, right?
Here are some good tips to get ready for your guest visits.
Offer Special Extras
Guests will appreciate a basket in the room with some basic toiletries. Throw in sample items of shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, mouthwash and other items of cleanliness. Not only will your guest appreciate the touch, but you’ll save a extra trip to the drugstore for forgotten toiletries.
Limit the Pets
If you have pets, be aware of your guests’ sensitivities to pet allergies or just pet hostility. Some people aren’t cut out to be pet owners. It’s fine that you’re an animal lover, but the odors from your cat’s litter box might leave a bad taste in your guest’s eyes and ears. So be extra alert to pet care and cleanliness.
Manage the Heat
If Grandma is visiting, turn the heat up and pull out some blankets. Older people get cold more quickly than younger people. Even if you like a cool, crisp sleeping temperature that could freeze a penguin, your guests may not. Turn up the heat until they say, “It’s warm enough, thank you.”
Don’t Overload the Schedule
Make sure not to overload the schedule for guests, especially if they’ve flown to be with you. It takes people a little bit of time to come down from air travel, so don’t plan to leave for a 4-hour road trip as soon as they land! Instead take the opportunity to relax with your guests, share stories, relive memories and more. Let life just go by slowly for a bit before suggesting any holiday excursions.
Reduce the Stress
There is often a layer of extra stress that can arise with guests. Whether it’s the added cost of buying extra groceries for your guests, the small size of your home, the intrusion of privacy or just plain old bad family dynamics, there are reasons for stress. Try to put that out of your mind during the short time your guests are with you and just focus on enjoying the holidays with the right spirit in mind during the season.
Amy Rogers is a fashion stylist. She has two children and lives in the New York area. She enjoys making jewelry and selling it on Etsy.
