Wallnutz

It’s that time of year! Guests and family gather together to celebrate the holidays and togetherness. What does that mean for you and your home? Well, hopefully joy and excitement. Let’s look at how to make your home guest ready and welcoming.

Cleaning

I could do an entire article about cleaning, and maybe I will one day! One of my favorite cleaning tools is FlyLady.net. She has amazing tips and a daily email system to keep you on track, and all of the information is free! Love that. Some of the best tips that she gives are that you can do anything for 15 minutes and to take baby steps. Instead of being overwhelmed by last minute preparations, just spend 15 minutes a day decluttering the guest room or picking up your hot spots or washing the windows. She also has a downloadable holiday guide to get you organized and moving. If you are in over your head, check out Crisis Cleaning 101. A clean, uncluttered home is the first step for having a welcoming home. It doesn’t mean it has to be perfect, just do what you can without resentment. After all, you’ll get to enjoy it, too!

Try some tricks to get you motivated. Walk into your front door as if you are a guest, record what you smell, see and hear. What draws your attention? Do you need to clean the carpet or replace that light bulb? Do the same for each room and make a list of improvements. If it will take you less than 2 minutes to do, do it.

Another motivator is a timer. If you give yourself a defined amount of time to do something, you will focus on doing it, and it won’t take you as long. Are you putting something off? Set your timer for 15 minutes and see if you can do it in that amount of time. Go do it. This will still be here when you get back. LOL!

Making Room

You want your guests to feel like you have room for them, whether you really do or not! Clear a space in their closet for them to hang their clothes and empty a drawer or two. If you don’t have drawers, think about what shelves they could use or purchase hanging canvas shelves for your closet. Clear off surfaces in their area so that they don’t have to move your things to set something down. If you have more than one guest, do you have 2 side tables? Create a quick table by adding a tablecloth to your file cabinet or add a chair next to the bed with a tray. You can use the back to hang their guest towels. Another option for guest towels is a free standing towel rack or quilt hanger. If you have different color towels for guests, it will make them easier to distinguish and will make them feel special. Also look at the bathroom they will use. Can you declutter the countertop to make more room for your guests? Put out fresh soap and candles and put away anything else. If your guest room is also your office, try to get what you need off of the computer before they arrive, or if you have a laptop, relocate so that your guests will feel like they have some private space.

Adding Thoughtful Touches

With your guests in mind, think about adding something for them to wake up to and enjoy. It could be a painting that you haven’t hung, family photos in versatile sticker frames, or a decorative mural. Can you add some potted plants or a fresh cut flower in a bud vase to add life to the room? Make the bed welcoming with crisp linens. Check your guest linens for wear, and if you can, invest in some new sheets. You can find inexpensive sheets at discount home stores. Offer different types of pillows so that guests can sleep comfortably. Make sure that there is a reading lamp so that your guests can enjoy some private down time and add a comfortable chair and ottoman if your space allows. Offer some reading material such as magazines or a book they might like.

If you really want them to feel special, turn down one corner of their bedspread and place a tray with a tea set and hot water with chamomile tea bags or a pitcher of water with lemon slices. You could also leave chocolates on their pillows, a welcome note, or your child’s drawing for them. If they wake up earlier than you, make sure that you leave out some breakfast options with the accompanying dishes and flatware. Have coffee and tea available for guests that may need a cup in the morning.

Ask your guests ahead of time what they like to have around to eat and nibble on. We always do this with family, and it makes it so much easier. The same goes for anything that you question. Ask your guests. They will feel so special that you want to make them feel at home.