Episode 27: How to Make Your Overnight Guests Feel Welcome

Whether you are having guests in your home for an overnight stay or for a week, in today's episode we are talking about how to make your guests feel welcome. We will be sharing practical tips from our personal experiences, and ways to go above and beyond during their stay.

Highs and Lows:

Kimmy: Low - Need larger rug now; High - Fireplace DIY Idea

Bre: Low - selling their house; High - buying our new house!

Emily: Low - project delays on the steps; high - finally got the permit and started demo of the stairs!

How to Make Your Guests Feel Welcome

The number one way to make your guests feel welcome, is to just invite them over! The reason they are coming over is to spend quality time with you, and your family. So even though we will be sharing some ways to make them feel extra taken care of, that's just what they are, extra! So keep that in mind when you are hosting. Things don’t have to be perfect, or the house spic and span.

Hosting people in your home creates such a different point of connection. It’s intimate! Your guests will see you in your pjs, and you in your most relaxed environment. And that usually leads to conversations and inside jokes that would have never happened if you hadn’t! The joy of inviting people into your homes is contagious, and is always worth it.

Have a clean bathroom. Just at least clean your toilets! This goes such a long way! Clear any clutter on the countertops, and make sure they have space for their personal items. Wipe down baseboards, refill soap dispenser, fresh hand towel and bath mat, clean the toilet, and pop on a new toilet paper roll.
Create an inviting guest space. Whether it be a guest room, pull out bed, or air mattress, make it inviting. Think like a guest, and even sleep in your guest space to see how it truly functions. Where do I plug in my phone? Where are the clean towels? Is there too much stuff in the room, and there's no room to place your luggage or unpack?
Put a small basket on top of the dresser filled with water bottles and a variety of snacks and treats. If they get hungry, they can easily grab something without feeling like they need to go through your cabinets to find something.
Have black out curtains! Some people wake up too early if the sun is shining in their eyeballs. Get some blackout curtains or roller shade to give them some options.
Layer your bedding! Some people like lots of blankets, others sleep with a sheet. Starting with cotton sheets, then a thin quilt, and finally a fluffy warm duvet at the bottom that they can pull up if they get cold. Have two different styles of pillows: poofy, and thin and floppy.
Consider the temperature. Is it hot? Add a fan or air conditioner. Cold? Make sure they know where the thermostat control is, or add a small space heater they can control (like this one that plugs into an outlet)
Food. This is another big one. Plan your food ahead of time. What are you doing for meals?
- Breakfast. Having a variety of grab and go items is great for people who don't get up all at the same time. Prep prep prep! You want to spend time with your guests! Cereal, breakfast casserole, oatmeal, bagels, fruit, and muffins are fantastic to put out. With muffins, you can cook them up ahead of time, and then pull them out the night before to thaw, voila! And looks pretty too under a cloche. If you are having guests longer than a day or too, it's nice to not have to “make a full breakfast.”
- Lunch. Salad, grilled cheese, paninis, sandwiches, or soup you made ahead of time or heated up from can are also great options.
- Dinner/supper. Prepare ahead what dinners you will make, and have variety and flexibility. Plan for an eat-out or take-out meal in the middle of the stay. Some of my go-to meals are ones that have different toppings, and people can customize - like tacos, rice bowls, and pizza. Pasta is easy too! Or go all out and make it fancy. Episode 11 details how to do that.
- Dessert. Make cookies ahead of time to freeze and pull out. Get some ice cream, or go all out. It's up to you!

8. Create down time. Sometimes it's go-go-go when you host. Going here, seeing the sights there. Plan for chill time to swing in the hammock, watch a movie, or play a game! Relax and enjoy your guests and the memories you are making together.