How to use alexa to make house guests feel more at home

Be the perfect host with these tips and advice for welcoming guests into your home.

It may seem like a challenge to make your guests feel at home, but the key is a little hospitality, a welcoming persona, and if you want, a few extra touches here and there to make your guests feel special. Here are our tips for being the perfect host for your overnight guests.

General Tips for Hosting Overnight Guests
Tidy up the house. Thoroughly clean the house or use this as your motivation to get everything in tip-top shape and off your to-do list. This can include getting rid of clutter, small house repairs, or that small redecorating project you’ve been putting off.

Have plenty of food and drinks. Stock the fridge with the types of beverages and snacks your guest enjoys. The idea is to make it easy for your guests to grab a quick snack whenever they want.

Have something planned for your guests. You don’t want to invite your friends to visit and not have anything for them to do. This could include a range of activities from a simple shopping excursion or day at the pool, to a cocktail party or day-trip to an amusement park. This doesn’t mean you need to pack their itinerary with fun-filled time together, just be thoughtful about keeping them entertained.

Don’t forget the kids. If your guests include children, make sure you accommodate them, too. If you don’t have any children, it wouldn’t hurt to pick up a game or two to keep them busy or plan an easy craft. If you and the children’s parents have a party to attend, find the names of a few babysitters that you can give to the parents. Don’t feel like you need to arrange for the babysitter. The parents will probably need to discuss payment and possibly transportation.

Bedrooms
Improve the bed. Make sure you have nice, clean sheets, plenty of fluffy pillows, and extra blankets and comforters. Sometimes sheets on guest beds can start smelling stale when they go unused so it’s not a bad idea to wash the sheets before your guests arrive. (Use our guide for How To Shop for the Softest Sheets.)

Provide current magazines. A small collection of magazines or even a book of short stories will make your guests feel welcome. Plus, it will give them something to read in case they’re early risers or night owls.

Have snacks and drinks in the room. Leaving a couple bottles of water and granola bars is an extra special touch. This way guests don’t even have to leave their room for a midnight snack.

Check the details. Unused guest rooms can go unnoticed in the routine care of the home. You don’t want your guests sitting in the dark, so check the light bulbs. Also, make sure any clocks are set to the right time, and channel changers are in working order.

Bathrooms
Get new towels. Don’t let the guest bathroom be the repository for old, dingy towels. Buy some new ones to make your guests feel comfortable and at home.

Provide toiletries. Just like a hotel bathroom, lay out a few toiletries like soap, shampoo and conditioner, and lotion. You can find travel-size bottles in most grocery stores and pharmacies.

Luxury hotels are competing with each other over finding the best beds and providing the most comfortable sleep for their guests. You won’t have a budget as they do, but you should really make an effort to give your guests a bed that you’d be willing to sleep in. A too-short sofa bed or foam pad just won’t do it. Invest some money in a good sleep surface, and they’ll thank you for it in the morning.

Provide Fresh Linens

It’s crucial that you provide crisp, clean, and coordinated linens for your overnight guests. They’ll feel especially welcome and it’s an easy thing to do. Don’t pull out your family leftovers if you don’t have to. You don’t have to invest in the finest luxury linens to make someone feel special. Most discount specialty stores have large sections of discontinued styles of designer sheet sets and lovely imported towels.

You can really get a beautiful look at a small price. An electric blanket or fluffy down comforter will keep your guests cozy on the chilliest nights. Be sure to have an extra blanket tucked away in a closet should your guests need more warmth.

Have a Place to Relax

You may not want to be entertaining your guest all the time they’re with you, and it’s important that they feel they have someplace to get away for a little private relaxing time. A comfortable chair or a reading nook is just the answer. Even a small slipper chair and stool will do the trick, and your guest will have a quiet place to be on their own.

Declutter as Much as You Can

If you use your spare room for other things when you’re alone, you may have some work to do when you’re expecting guests. What to you might be decoration, might be “stuff in the way” for your visitor. Have a bare tabletop, empty drawer, and closet space available for your guest to put things away. They’ll feel more at home and not be concerned about having their things in your way.

A Reading Light Is Essential

A lot of people like to read before they go to sleep. Be sure to have good light in your guest room. But more importantly, have a good reading light that can be turned on and off without getting out of bed. A night light near the door and one in the guest’s bath will be helpful and appreciated too.

Create a “Home Away From Home”

If your guest is staying more than just overnight, they’ll feel out of place without a table or desk to write on. Paying bills, clearing out a wallet, making arrangements for the rest of the trip—these can all be done easily with a desk available. Including pens, pencils, paper, stamps, and a phone will make them feel right at home. If you can provide a TV or computer, you get bonus points!

Provide a Cozy Robe and Slippers

With limited space in a suitcase, a robe is the first thing to be left at home. Moving through your home from bath to bedroom can be tricky without a cover-up. A kimono style works well for both men and women. Throw-away slippers are an added plus for those who don’t like to walk around barefoot.

Share Your Favorite Novel

If you’ve just finished a wonderful one, why not share it with your guest? You’ll have something fun to talk about. Any book of local attractions is nice to have, too. They’ll learn about your area and might find something to do or see. If you know your guest’s special interests, how about finding a copy of one or two magazines for them to enjoy?

Finishing Touches

With so many varieties of flowers available at the local grocery store, there’s no excuse for not having them to dress up your guest room. A carafe of water and glass, a clock radio, a bottle of lotion—what do you have by your bed? Whatever you can provide for your guest will make them feel more at home and most welcome.

You’ll find that if you have everything in order for your guest’s arrival and everything is ready in the special place you’ve made for them, the visit will be a happy one for both of you. You’ll feel like a wonderful host and your visit will be memorable.

I braced myself for a weeklong visit to my friend Felicia’s house the way I would for a wilderness survival expedition. Felicia had just started her own company, so I didn’t expect that she would have the time or energy to pamper me. And besides, I assumed that putting aside my own comfort was the small but inevitable price I needed to pay for the privilege of a sleepover at a loved one’s home.

Felicia proved otherwise.

When I placed my bags in her spare bedroom, I was pleasantly stunned to find that every detail of the room had been set up for me—not just any guest, but me specifically. There was a small stack of fascinating articles that Felicia suspected I would love, and clusters of lilacs filled the room with my favorite scent.

Felicia, it turns out, is a gifted practitioner of something I call empathetic hosting. Her way of personalizing a space for visitors made me feel so pampered that I started imitating her thoughtfulness when guests stayed at my place. Here are some empathetic-hosting guidelines you might want to try at your home.

Focus on Giving Attention, Not Getting Attention

When most of us clean, decorate or otherwise prepare for visitors, we’re driven by a desire for approval. “What will they think if there are dust bunnies under the bed?” we worry. “Will they be disdainful of my coffee choices, shocked by the children’s bedrooms, aware that mud walls are considered fashionable in some regions of the country?” By the time a visitor arrives, the space usually screams, “So enough about me, let’s talk about you. what do you think of me?”

Felicia, on the other hand, never worries about her guests’ judgments of her. She’s too busy empathizing with whatever they’re experiencing in their lives. When the visitor is her great aunt Ann, who often complains that her life lacks fun and vibrancy, Felicia doesn’t obsess about fashionable décor—she just provides lots of New Yorker cartoons, comedy DVDs, and chances for Ann to hang out with Felicia’s two kids and three dogs. When her kindergarten-teacher sister Sophie arrives, Felicia wisely guesses that Sophie isn’t craving more time with children—she wants a calm space, intelligent conversation, and a stiff drink (not necessarily in that order), and Felicia makes sure she gets them.

Before your guests arrive, spend some time picturing their lives—not yourself, your house, or your reputation, but their lives—from their point of view. When you walk in their shoes, what creature comforts sound tempting? What diversions are most diverting? What would you like to avoid for a while? Just a small touch, like putting a homemade “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and respecting it while a tired guest sleeps can make the humblest guest quarters feel like the Ritz.

Give Them What They Love, Not What You Love

“Dolores goes to Vegas so often, I bet she’s ready for a Zen hideaway experience.” No, she isn’t. “Ben spends all his time with machines. He should change things up, go to the opera.” No, he shouldn’t. Here’s my never-fail rule for providing special touches that will make your guests happy: Find out what they do or buy on their own, and give them more of it.

Our personality traits tend to stay consistent throughout life, and what we do with our free time and money is a good indication of that consistency. The guest who has bought herself thousands of bottles of nail polish will love one more. Felicia left me humorous writings because she had noticed a ton like them in my house. The fact that she was so clearly thinking of me when she made that decision made me feel deliciously spoiled, genuinely seen.

So put a lottery ticket on the pillow for Vegas-loving Dolores. Tape the Pimp My Ride marathon for mechanically inclined Ben. Giving guests what you love is projection. Giving them what they’d choose for themselves is empathy.

Customize, Don’t Generalize

The word special is so overused that I generally avoid it, but it’s apropos for describing the feeling you create when you customize a space, gift, or activity for a particular visitor. Special means “one of a kind,” and that’s how your guests will feel when they stay at your home.

Years ago, when I was speaking at a charity event, the organizers called me prior to the conference and asked my shoe size. When I got to the venue, they gave me a pair of electric green running shoes, which had probably cost about $5 on the manufacturer’s “remainders” table. But this pleased me beyond all earthly reason. I mean, shoes! In my size! Ever since, I’ve loved buying simple clothing and accessories like beach sandals—in the right size—and setting them on the guest bed for my visitors to discover.

Do visitors really like this, or do they fake delight in order to be courteous? The truth is that the process of choosing, buying, and arranging gifts makes me so happy I don’t honestly care. Which brings me to my last empathetic-hosting rule.

Be Generous for Your Sake, Not Theirs

Empathy is all about doing things for another’s sake, right? No. Empathetic hosting plays to the guest’s needs and wants, but—as paradoxical as this may sound—you do it to please yourself, too. This doesn’t mean that you should give your lifeblood to care for your guest and force yourself, by God, to like it. On the contrary: It means that the moment you feel yourself becoming resentful or overburdened, you should stop catering to the guest and begin caring for yourself. Draw the boundaries of your generosity at the limit where your own joy begins to wane. Don’t judge yourself for not giving impressively or perfectly.

The Buddha taught that anyone who experiences the delight of being truly generous will never want to eat another meal without sharing it. Opening our homes to the people we care about means sharing the great feast of life: our space, our time, our minds, our hearts. In the end, this approach, ironically, turns out to feel completely selfish. Although empathetic hosting will make your guests feel wonderful, you’ll find that no matter how much they enjoy visiting, the person who derives the most sheer joy from this process will be you.

• University of Toronto

Carlina Teteris / Getty Images

• Share
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Email

It’s the small things that matter most when it comes to hospitality.

Holiday season means guest season. It’s that time of year when guests descend and hosts feel pressure to prepare for the impending arrival. This isn’t a bad thing – I love when people come to stay at my house – but there is a noticeable increase in the amount of work that needs to get done before guests show up. What follows are some tips for getting your home ready.

Remember, guests just want to feel welcome. They don’t want to feel as though you’ve had to disrupt your life to accommodate them, but knowing you’ve put at least some effort into preparing for their arrival goes a long way.

1. Clean the important parts.

This comes down to two key spaces: the bathrooms and the guest room (or wherever the guest will be sleeping). Of course it would be great to clean the entire house, but if you have a wildly busy young family like mine, it’s impossible to keep things in order. So I recommend focusing on the places that really matter. No one likes a dirty bathroom, and every guest deserves a spot to sleep that has been prepared in advance. In other words, don’t be scooping armfuls of laundry off the bed while your guest stands awkwardly in the doorway.

2. Clean sheets and clean towels

Always change the sheets on the bed so they’re crispy clean. I like to use my best sheets for guests to make the experience as hotel-like as possible. I alternate between Homestead’s percale sheets and a gorgeous linen set from Restoration Hardware that I scored at a thrift store. Set a stack of clean towels at the foot of the bed, at least one big one per person.

3. Buy nice toilet paper and soap.

You don’t have to buy it all the time, but having some quilted or 3-ply toilet paper on hand for guests makes a big difference. Nobody likes wiping with the cheap stuff that seems to dissolve in your hand. Set out a fresh bar of natural soap in the bathroom and shower – no lingering slivers of soggy communal family bars!

4. Air out the house in advance.

Everyone is accustomed to the smell of their own home, but to be sure that your guests don’t encounter anything unpleasant – particularly if you own pets – make a point of freshening the air in the house ahead of time. Open windows, empty all garbage, compost, and recycling bins, clean out the fridge, and vacuum thoroughly.

5. Serve drinks immediately.

I like to have a drink in my guest’s hand within 15 minutes of their arrival. Whether it’s a glass of wine or a cup of tea, I view it as a small act of hospitality that relaxes the atmosphere, kickstarts the conversation, and gives you both something to do. And speaking of drinks, be sure to have coffee on hand, even if you don’t drink it. There’s nothing more disappointing for a coffee-drinking guest than to wake up in the morning and discover they can’t get their daily cup.

6. Plan meals in advance.

Now is not the time for eating fridge leftovers. Do a full meal plan before your guest arrives. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just an outline that takes away the guesswork. I like to make some things in advance, like bread for sandwiches and toast, granola for breakfast, cookies for snacking. If your guest is coming for several days, or it’s a large group of people, there’s nothing wrong with outsourcing some of the food prep. When they ask what they should bring, ask if they could provide breakfast or lunch one day.

7. Give enough space.

Visiting is pleasurable, but it’s also tiring. Don’t feel you have to entertain constantly (and if you do, then you’ll know who not to invite next time!). You will both need a break from talking, so allow yourself some rest time. Take an afternoon nap, pull out your book, turn on a film, go for a walk in the guise of running an errand, or – if you’re really desperate – schedule a massage in advance so you know you can get away for real.

8. Enjoy it.

The more relaxed you are as a host, the more enjoyable the visit will be. Don’t stress about the house and food not being perfect. Most guests are just happy to be somewhere else, to have someone else looking after most of the details. Your life will return to its normal routine before you know it.

When inviting guests over to our homes, we usually go overboard and ensure everything is set and will impress the guests. Whether the guests will stay for a while or are there for one day, you will want them to have a wonderful experience at your home. If you have had guests to entertain at your home before, you have a clue of what to do.

If you are inviting guests for the first time and have no clue what to do, here are five ways to impress your guests when entertaining at home.

1. Thoroughly Clean Your Home

Take time to deep clean all areas in your house. Start cleaning the house from the ceiling. Use a paint roller to clean the ceiling and other top areas. If you have unused old clothes, damp them in water and roll them on the paint roller to clean hard-to-reach areas.

For your floor, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt. Ensure you vacuum the floor thoroughly to leave it spotless. A clean floor will make your guests feel secure while having fun at your home. Carefully check for any spills that may cause slips. Clean the washroom thoroughly and use an air freshener to leave it smelling nice.

When cleaning, ensure you cover all areas in the house, including the windows, bedroom, front and backyard, kitchen, and bathroom.

2. Have All Essentials at Hand

If you are hosting the guests for more than a day, it is essential to offer them all basic needs. Prepare the guest bedroom in advance. Ensure it is clean and supplied with clean blankets, pillows, and bedsheets. Stock the bathroom with all necessities like hygiene products, shampoo, and body soaps. If the guests visit during summer, ensure you turn on the air conditioner at a suitable temperature while asleep.

Lastly, guests will not stay in your house without food and drinks. Stock up enough food supplies and bottled drinks in your cottage kitchen. This ensures your guests can have snacks anytime while catching up and getting entertained.

3. Offer Entertaining Activities

While hosting guests in your home, create good times with them. Suggest fun activities you can do together. Some of these activities include going swimming, playing cards, or roasting meat in your backyard.

Photo by Ezequiel Garrido on Unsplash

These guests may either be your relatives, friends, or colleagues. Take the opportunity to bond and have fun with them. Ask for some time off work and use the time to care for and entertain your guests at home. By doing this, you will create a great experience with your guests that will be worth remembering.

4. Make Your Home Comfy

Apart from ensuring your house is clean and safe for your guests, the other thing to consider is creating a luxurious and comfortable atmosphere for your guests. Have you ever wondered why people stay in coffee shops for long hours? It is because they love its cozy atmosphere and ambiance. Try achieving the same ambiance in your home.

When thinking of making your guests cozy at home, think of how you feel when going to your favorite coffee shop. Create a similar ambiance in your home that will make your guests desire to:

• Replace your curtains with warm color curtains such as purple and blue
• Add a small bookshelf with magazines and books in one end of the living room
• Place a bowl of sweets at the center table in the living room
• Add an indoor plant in the living room, bathroom, or guest bedroom

5. Show Your Guests Around

Do not make your guests feel like they are strangers in your house. Find ways to make them feel comfortable. This is by showing them around the moment they get in your home. Show them the direction to the backyard, kitchen, and bathroom as they want to use or walk to any during their stay. Doing so will also save you the hassle of getting direction questions every moment.

Also, ensure you give the guests instructions on operating your home appliances, security systems, consoles, and showers. This way, you will make the guests feel welcomed in your home.

Being an excellent party host to your guest will not only make you feel happy, but your guest will have something to emulate. Treating your guests well will make them feel secure, create a good experience, and make them feel special for the time they will be in your home.

Having guests in your home is so much fun, but can be tedious too, so keep in mind some common, simple pointers to making guests feel welcomed in your home each and every time. No matter what, remember that as a guest, they shouldn’t feel weird, out of place, or unwelcome. You want to make them feel genuinely appreciated, welcomed and honored. These tips may take a teeny bit of effort on your part, but it will be well worth it! Making guests feel comfortable in your home has never been easier and is a great way to show off your hospitality skills.

Table of contents:

1 Greet Them at the Door

When making guests feel welcome, it is very important to greet them immediately at the door. Don’t allow them to linger outside the door, ringing the bell, wondering if you’re even home because you’ve gotten sidetracked with dishes, laundry,your hair, etc. Watch for them to pull up when expecting them so you can greet them at the door and not leave them outside waiting. It is fine to let them ring the bell, but be sure you’re not but a few steps away so they don’t feel strange or forgotten standing outside your door too long.

2 Don’t Tell Them to Take off Their Shoes

I know, I know. You might like clean floors, and I do too. Truth be known, I like the fact that my family usually removes our shoes before we come in, but we don’t expect our guests to. No matter how you feel about shoes on the floor, don’t ask someone to take off their shoes unless they offer. It’s just weird to people who don’t know you well enough to appreciate your cleanly nature.

3 Shake Their Hand

If you’re meeting a guest or guests in your home for the first time, extend your hand and shake it firmly, much like you would someone you meet out in public. This is a great physical way to break the ice. If it’s a date you’re greeting at your door as a guest, it might seem weird to shake their hand, so instead welcome them inside and just offer a big smile.Handshake or not,a smile is always a great way to make someone feel welcome.

4 Offer Them a Drink

First things, first! After you give your initial greetings to guests, don’t forget to offer them something to drink, whether it be water, tea, or whatever else you have. This makes guests feel welcomed and comfortable, plus, since you’re all going to be talking, they won’t get parched or dehydrated.

5 Start a Conversation

If you’re shy, it can be hard to make a guest feel welcomed if you’re not talking to them much, or because you don’t know what to say. So, before they arrive, or as soon as they get there, think of a general topic you can talk to them about and just start a conversation. No one likes to be in a stranger’s house in awkward silence. If nothing else, compliment them on their clothes and go from there.

6 Feed Them a Meal

One really tasty and simple way to make guests feel welcomed in your home is to make a meal for them, or at least bake something. If you don’t have any cooking skills, make a tasty lemonade or buy something at the store to serve instead. If nothing else, have a plate of fruit out or brew some coffee or tea.

7 Send Them Home with a Treat

Lastly, when guests leave your home, send them home with something. If it’s a short visit, it can be as simple as a slice of your homemade banana bread, or if they’re there for a longer stay or for a meal, send them home with something small and simple. It could be a recipe card, a bookmark with an inspiring quote, a bouquet of flowers, a small plant, cute coffee mug with candy, a box of your favorite herbal tea wrapped up pretty, or even something as simple as a batch of your favorite muffins. Anything goes, but don’t hand them over anything you’ve already used or dipped your hands into such as used lotions or coffee mugs. That’s just gross and they’ll likely know! Sending guests home with a little treat lets them know you are glad they came, and hope they’ll come back, or at least lets them know you’re extremely generous.

There are many more tips that we call can use to make people feel comfortable when they enter our home. I’d love to hear any of your tips if you have any! What’s your best guest-welcoming tip?

2) A little bit of planning goes a long way toward making a guest feel at home. I always ask my guests to tell me their coffee, tea and breakfast preferences in advance of their visit so I’m prepared. I lay out a little coffee or tea service in the morning, complete with a tiny pitcher of cream and bowl of various sweeteners.

3) Since we travel so much, we usually have a good supply of small, nice toiletries . Yes, it’s true: I take the small kits hotels provide their guests–the ones with a few cotton swabs, a nail file and other things, as well as small shampoos and conditions I don’t use. They have a handy repurpose for our house guests. I’ve also donated extras to our troops.

4) When I see them around town, I pick up copies of local tourist magazines from nearby cities we might visit with our guests. Magazines about the wine country, San Francisco or the Monterey peninsula are in my collection and I update them when possible. I stack a few by the guest’s bedside so they can read up a bit if they like. Sometimes, I mark favorite things to do.

5) Alas, all too soon it’s time for my guest to leave. Why not give them a little goodbye memento of their trip ? Nothing too cumbersome to carry back–maybe a small box of chocolates, saltwater taffy, a little pad–at this age, I’m all about consumables and so are my guests.

None of these are super-expensive and they all help make your home theirs during a visit.

I’d love to know some of your ideas for making your own house guests feel welcome. Add them below in the Comments if you’re inclined.

WRITTEN by CHRISSY , LAST UPDATED ON February 15, 2021

** this post may contain affiliate links, which don’t cost you a penny, but pay a commission to this site – LEARN MORE

Having guests to stay is great, when you’re prepared. Otherwise it’s a stressful experience that can make you not enjoy seeing them as much as you should.

So, if you want to know how to make sure your home is ready at all times, and to avoid that stress and welcome them with a smile – then you’re in the right place!

If you have guests to visit, then read on to find out all the tips and tricks that will make your home ready at all times – it’s just about a little organisation (of course!).

GUEST READY – FOOD

Whether guests are staying for an hour or a week, you will want to be able to offer them something to eat.

As such, why not have a few things ready in your freezer for just those occasions: –

• When you next make a meal, make double and freeze one so you can pull out a lovely homemade meal quickly and easily. This works really well for meals like lasagne, stews, bolognese etc…
• Have an easy pudding to hand – ice cream is always a winner for kids and adults alike, sorbet works well as well. You can also have an apple pie or crumble ready and waiting if those take your fancy!
• Stuck for snacks? – make some cookie dough and freeze in discs – that way you can get out what you need and bake them so they are fresh out of the oven – perfect for when you love to bake fresh for guests but have no time.
• Cupcakes freeze well and you can eat plain or add toppings that you have in the cupboards/fridge.

GUEST READY – HOME

One of the other things that makes life easier is to clean your home so that it is guest ready most of the time.

Do this more easily by: –

• Splitting chores up over the week, so that there is ever a time when it all needs doing.
• Prioritising downstairs over upstairs (guests who stay over and need to be upstairs usually will give you notice)
• Knowing which rooms you can close off should you need to (make the rooms you have guests in the main priority)

You will also need a few essentials in the house for your guests: –

• Towels – ensure you have 2 towels for each guest. One great tip is to have guests towels that are a different colour to your towels, so that everyone can clearly see who is whose when the bathroom gets full!
• Space for coats / shoes and bags – whether this be in the hall or in their room, make sure they have enough storage otherwise they will feel like they are imposing.

Who knew there was so much you could do up front to prep for guests – and that’s just the start…

Next we will look at the actual guest bedroom, what guests need when you aren’t there, and even more….

GUEST READY – BEDROOM

Whether you have a dedicated guest bedroom or not, you can still get ahead of the game by planning for guests ahead of time to ensure that everything is ready to go when they arrive.

GUEST BEDROOM

• Stay one night in your guest bedroom to check that you have a good nights sleep. Only this way can you work out whether there are any issues. Think about light, bed comfort, sounds, storage, hanging space etc… and correct anything that doesn’t work very well.
• Keep extra blankets/feather and non feather pillows (some guests may be allergic to feathers) so that they can be comfortable.
• Strip the bed after a guest has stayed and wash everything ready for your next guests. Depending on how often you have guests over you may want to keep the bed made up with fresh bedding ready to go.
• Have some mini toiletries in the room in case they forget anything – these can be picked up on your travels (hotel toiletries that you don’t use when you are there are perfect – or you can buy from places such as Boots**)
• Have some magazines / books to hand so that they have something to read and occupy themselves if they wake up early. The guest bedroom is actually an ideal place for a bookcase as it makes it a useful place for you as well (guest bedrooms that aren’t used very often can be a real waste of space for homeowners so try and double their use as much as you can so you benefit from the space as well)

NO GUEST BEDROOM

• Work out where guests will sleep when they stay the night. This could be a blow up mattress** or a sofa bed – but make sure that the room you allocate for this use can be as private as possible (as with a separate guest room, stay in this space as a guest would to ensure they are as comfortable as possible).

GUEST READY – WITHOUT YOU THERE!

The other consideration is if you have guests staying then you may not always be there.

Maybe you have to pop out for a while, or you may be away overnight (usually this happens when grandparents stay over to look after the children when you go away – or you may have a friend stay the night to look after pets or something).

Whatever the reason – when you aren’t there, guests need you to have prepared even more!

• Write down how to use things like the TV, Oven, Microwave, Alarm etc…. so that they don’t come unstuck.
• Write down what to do in emergencies (numbers, where things are like the trip switch for electrics, the stop cock for water etc…)
• Write down childrens routines so that there are no arguments about bedtime etc….
• Write down the WI-FI password
• Collect some local takeaway menus – especially ones that deliver
• Make sure you have DVDs that they would enjoy ready to go
• Stock up on favourite food/drink as a thank you – they are doing you a massive favour!
• Make sure you have a spare key that you can give to guests so they can come and go as they want to

GUEST READY – ACTIVITIES

Of course – having guests over may mean you want to do things with them – especially if they are staying for any length of time.

STAYING IN?

Have some board games for kids (adults love these too!), magazines, DVDs etc… that they can use if they would like.

GOING OUT?

Create a folder with leaflets of places that are local to you that your guests may like to visit. Whether it be by themselves or with you, they can look through in the comfort of your home and plan out their time.

So much to get done – but don’t be overwhelmed. Just think of how much easier it will be to have guests stay over once you have sorted all this out.

Not only will you have to spend less time before the visit, but you’ll also be more confident and happy with how they will feel staying with you – because you have stayed there yourself and tested it all out!

All that you need to do now is enjoy having your guests stay – and have fun…

Liked this article? Try one of these next.

Moving into a new home can be an emotional experience. Many people are excited about the idea of living in a new house, but also sad to say goodbye to their existing home. The reason why it’s so hard to say goodbye to your current place is because it’s not just a house—it’s a home.

The good news is that your new house will soon feel like a home, too. To get there, simply follow these ten steps to turn your new house into a home:

Set Up the Bedrooms First

It’s going to take you several days or weeks to get your house in order. But in the meantime, it’s important for everyone in your family to have at least one space that makes them feel at home. Create this space by unpacking the bedrooms before moving on to other areas of the home. Once the bedrooms are unpacked, everyone will have a place to go when they need to be alone. Having this safe space—and seeing all of your belongings set up in your new room—will make the house feel more like a home.

Change the Locks

The locks should be changed right away after you move into a new home. Even though the previous owner has already handed over his keys, you can’t be sure that he didn’t make copies for friends, family members, or even his dog walker or housekeeper. If you change the locks, you will know that you are the only one who has a key to your home. Changing the locks will make you feel more secure, which is a sign that you’re one step closer to transforming your house into a home.

Explore the Nooks and Crannies

A house will feel more like a home if you know where everything is, so take a look around and explore the nooks and crannies of your new space. Now is the perfect time to locate the circuit breaker and figure out which fuse controls each part of the house. You should also look for the main water valve and figure out how to turn off the water supply so you know what to do in the event there is a leak. Knowing where these important features are will make you feel less like you’re in someone else’s house and more like you’re settling into your new home.

Switch the Light Bulbs

Lighting plays a big role in setting the mood in your home, so don’t settle for the bulbs that are already in the fixtures if you’re not satisfied with the light. If the lights are too bright and blinding, look for warm compact fluorescent bulbs instead. Not only will these create a softer light in your home, but they are also far more energy efficient than traditional bulbs. If you want a light that is similar to natural sunlight, the best option would be a halogen bulb. However, these are more expensive than traditional bulbs and they typically have short lifespans. Your best bet? Stick with energy efficient lighting and your new home will have a big impact on the environment!

Paint the Walls

A house with white walls can feel uninviting and cold. Before you start to unpack everything, grab a few paintbrushes and start to personalize the interior of your home by painting the walls. Don’t worry about what colors are in style—choose the colors that make you happy and complement your furniture. Painting the walls will inject life into your home and finally make it feel like it’s your own.

Hang Window Treatments

Many people put hanging window treatments on the bottom of their to-do lists, but it should be somewhere near the top. Window treatments can give you privacy and block out light, which can help you feel more at ease in your new space. Window treatments can also make the room look more complete and pulled together, so you feel more settled into your new space.

Put Out Family Photos

A house is not a home unless it’s filled with people that you love. Find the box that is full of all of your framed family photos and begin putting them around the house. Everywhere you look, you will see the bright and smiling face of someone that you love. Seeing these happy faces scattered throughout the house will instantly make you feel more at home.

Create An “Unloading Area”

Have you ever noticed that every home has an “unloading area” by the front door? This is the spot where everyone drops their keys, sunglasses, and shoes when coming into the home. Putting furniture in the entryway of your home may not be high on your list of priorities, but it should be. Creating an unloading space will help you reestablish the routine of coming home after work and putting your things down before settling in for the evening. This will make living in your new house feel more normal, which is an important step in turning your house into a home.

Choose A Signature Scent

Every home has a distinct smell, so now is the time to create your signature scent. Find a scent that makes you feel calm and relaxed when you smell it. It should be a subtle scent so it doesn’t start to irritate you or your guests after smelling it day after day. Once you’ve found the perfect scent, buy candles, incense, and air fresheners with this scent so you can make it your signature.

Throw A Housewarming Party

The best way to turn a house into a home is to create memories in it, so why not throw a housewarming party? Invite all of your close friends and family members to your new home after you have settled in and unpacked. Sharing your new space with loved ones will help you fill the house with happiness and give it the warmth that it needs to transform into a home.

Looking at this list may be overwhelming, especially if you’ve just moved into a new home and find yourself surrounded by boxes of all of your belongings. But, taking it step-by-step will make the task of turning a house into a home much more manageable. And once you are settled, you can start thinking about upgrades, like a smart home. Be patient and persistent—it will pay off!