Make Your Overnight Guests Feel Right At Home

Make Your Overnight Guests Feel Right At Home

Without some planning and forethought, having company during a holiday can be a very stressful and difficult time for all involved. But if you think ahead and plan accordingly, your guests will feel welcome and comfortable in your home, and you’ll provide a stress-free environment so you can enjoy their company.

Be sure that you decorate your home for the people who will enjoy it. And the likelihood of your best tablecloth getting a marinara stain on it is pretty high if you’re serving guests of all ages. You are happy your guests are in your home, so take it upon yourself to ensure they feel welcome, comfortable and wanted.

Start the process in the guest room your company will be staying in, and make it special. If they’ll be with you for more than just a couple of days, provide drawers they can put things away in so they can easily find things and get ready each day. Make sure your guest bathroom has plenty of clean towels and that you are stocked up on the necessities like toilet paper, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste.

Also, be sure you have plenty available to entertain your younger guests. Board games, crayons, coloring books, and movies help pass the time while the adults visit. Encourage the little ones to draw a pretty picture that you can display in your home for the holiday, or provide them with enough craft material such as glitter, yarn, glue, tape, and construction paper to make fun gifts of their own.

Try to find out ahead of time if any of your guests require special accommodations, attention, or have special diets they must adhere to or have any food allergies. The last thing you want to have happen is for one of your guests to have an allergic reaction to your oyster stuffing. It might feel awkward to ask, but your guest will appreciate you thinking ahead on their behalf.

Most importantly, try to keep the environment calm and relaxing. After all, it is a holiday and both you and your guests have taken time off work for the holiday, so make sure you take the time to sit back and take it easy with your company. Keep the days entertaining, but not crammed full of activity. Be sure to schedule in activities they enjoy.

Perhaps there’s a special exhibit at your local art gallery or museum they’d like to see while they’re in town. If so, offer to watch the kids while they go, and then take the kids to see a movie or something. If these options are a bit too energetic for you, they you might also enjoy playing a board game or watching a movie or television program at home. The gift of your time will be fondly remembered long after your guests have returned home.

Enjoy the memories,
Renee