I believe there’s an art to being and good host and a good guest when it comes to overnight stays. I’m in no way the perfect host, but I have hopefully improved over time and do try to think of ways to make my overnight guests more comfortable. As we’ve transitioned into empty nest life, we’ve had the opportunity to visit and host friends we haven’t spent much time with in the past several years. I love hosting and realize as we get older, we are often more particular about what we eat and value getting a good night’s sleep!
I’ve learned most of these from fabulous hosts when I’ve been a guest, as well as from staying at hotels, rental homes and villas. And being a good host doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money.
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The Advance Call
My mother-in-law is the queen of this strong move. Even after all of these years, she always calls in advance of our visit to inquire about food and beverage preferences. “What do the girls like for breakfast? What types of fruits and vegetables do you all prefer? Are you still a chicken salad eater? What are you snacking on these days? Does Freddie still drink Coke Zero? What kind of wine can I get?”
We recently visited friends in Sedona and I very much appreciated the advance call and the fact that my friend Jill was so gracious when she picked up a carton of oat milk for my coffee, and planned a non-dairy dinner given my husband’s “allergy.” These types of gestures make your guests feel so welcomed.
Bedding
A good guideline here is whether or not you get a comfortable night’s sleep in your guest bed. If you haven’t slept in your guest room, give it a try and evaluate the experience. Is the mattress comfortable, or is it the 30-year-old mattress that maybe should have been retired? Are the sheets comfortable for warm sleepers? I like to wash towels and sheets in this laundry detergent because it smells so decadent:
Pillows… are they good quality pillows? I buy inexpensive foam pillows for shams and pillow covers and invest more in actual sleeping pillows. Plus I have a variety on the guest bed because some people prefer feather, down, combo, foam, etc. Most of my guest pillows have satin or silk pillowcases on the pillows. If you haven’t slept on satin or silk, try it! The pillow stays cooler and your hair isn’t a disaster when you get up in the morning.
Providing an extra blanket is helpful for those who want the weight and/or warmth.
Room Amenities
While everyone has a cell phone these days, many still have a clock in their bedroom and appreciate having one in a guest room. I like the Alexa Dot or the Alexa Show because you can adjust the light and also have access to news, music, weather, etc.
A television is often appreciated because so many people do watch at night before bed, despite experts encouraging people not to watch before bedtime.
Have your wi-fi information written down somewhere visible in the guest room. When everyone heads to bed, that’s often when a guest realizes they don’t have the wi-fi information and don’t want to bother the host once everyone has said goodnight. You can even order a simple sign from Amazon.
Nightstands on both sides of the bed, with lamps conducive to reading, are much appreciated by guests who like to read before sleep. A few current magazines on the nightstand may also be appreciated.
Bottled water in the bedroom or bathroom is a thoughtful amenity.
Temperature
Experts suggest the ideal sleeping temperature is 65 degrees. I’ve learned practically no one sleeps with temperatures in the 60s. If your guests are lucky enough to control the thermostat of their sleeping room, everyone is happy. If not, perhaps having a conversation about sleeping temperature and compromising if you’re willing would be very hospitable.
Bathroom
Soft, fluffy towels feel like such a luxury. It’s easy to put your older towels in a guest room because they aren’t used very often, but nice towels make a guest feel special. And I personally love white towels; they make a room feel so bright and clean. However, I also panic when a guest room has white towels because I’m afraid I’m going to leave traces of makeup on the beautiful towels. I stumbled on these black makeup towels at a hotel and thought they were brilliant. Luckily, they were easy to find on Amazon.
A box of tissues, plenty of toilet paper, cotton swabs and cotton pads are basics. Drinking glasses or disposable cups are also helpful. A hair dryer, curling iron and flat iron are great conveniences to provide for your guests. I always have extra toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss for those who forgot to pack these items.
A fresh-smelling diffuser is not essential but definitely a nice touch. My favorite is Nest’s Bamboo scent.
For the shower, provide shampoo, conditioner, liquid/bar soap and facial soap. A bath mat for outside of the tub or shower is helpful.
Kitchen
Show your guests around the kitchen and let them know where things are and that they are welcome to help themselves. I want my guests to feel like they can comfortably open the refrigerator and grab whatever they want.
What other suggestions do you have to make your overnight guests feel welcome and comfortable?
2 comments
Thanks! Hooks are a great idea! I also didn’t mention a little closet space and hangers! Thanks Dori!
Great post! Once we started traveling several times a year to see our sons, I realized what I wanted in a guest room and created that in my home. I like to make sure there are plenty of hooks for hanging clothing items too.
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