We all have guests. Some of us have guests all the time, like every weekend. Some of us are far less the host, maybe just 2 or 3 times a year. Wherever you fall in the hosting category, making your guests feel welcome and comfortable is the top of the list!
It is hard to be a guest. Even if you are staying with a great friend or family member, you are a "guest" and it is not your space. So try to anticipate what a guest would need or want. Pretend you are a hotel or bed and breakfast and then it is easy to think about what you want to provide and project to your guest.
First impressions do matter! Have a nice entry way--clean front doorstep, clean front door, nice mat, light ON if they are arriving at dusk or night.
When they come in, have a place to set their bag or bags, and take their coat and hang up in the coat closet.
If they have traveled awhile see if they want to sit down, have a glass of water, or a drink if over 21 and they drink and of course the time of day :), maybe a snack, etc..Put them at ease right away.
Maybe they need to use the powder room. Have it clean! Smelling nice. Fresh towel and plenty of tp and tissues (tp is not tissues!) Make sure the trash is not overflowing. Always have a little book or magazine and also air freshener! Remember from my earlier posts, always have toilet bowl cleaner and a toilet brush under the sink, or easy to find (but not just sitting on the floor staring at them!) You never know, maybe they had a rich lunch, like Pasta Alfredo, and now are not feeling well (happens to me!)
Once they have settled in, with their coat taken, a snack, bathroom visit, and if they are rested, see if they would like a tour of the house (if they have been there a lot or have seen it recently, then probably not necessary.) So yes, this means your home needs to be clean. Again, think hotel, all of a hotel is always clean and ready. I for one love a tour, and I think most people do.
This is the perfect time to show them their room and bathroom. If they are couch surfing, then show them that as well, and make sure it is set up as best as you can to be comfortable and a personal space for them. IE no mail lying around, no dishes left out on the coffee table, etc.
If they are fortunate to have their own space, like a guest room, that is really nice. Make sure you have it welcoming, a little vase full of flowers is nice, have the drapes open and it dusted and clean and pretty. Have space in the closet for their items. Place their bag (s) in a space they can get to them but not in the center of the room. Having some books or magazines in there is nice as well. Make sure their linens and blankets are in good shape, matching if possible and smell good. I am all about smells!
Bathroom. Important. Just like the pit stop powder room, do the same. In this bathroom, you also want to make sure there is room for their personal items. If they are there for more than a day or two, having a little shelf or cupboard for them is a nice touch. Have guest soap and shampoo and conditioner. Clean and nice towels.
Make sure your guest knows where the food is, the goodies, the dishes and glasses, etc.. Let them know to help themself. It is always a great touch to have a plate of cookies or brownies, etc..out and waiting to be eaten!
If there is anything weird--like alarms, remotes that are hard to figure out, how to work the stereo, how to unlock the front door, whatever, make sure you let them know.
Let them know you want them to be as comfortable as possible and to ask you for whatever they need--funny, but people like to hear that, then they feel better when they need to ask.
Depending on how long the visit is, try to adhere to the types of foods they like, or at least include that, and have a few meals that are stand outs and really entertain. Having a guest is a real treat.
Happy hosting!
It is hard to be a guest. Even if you are staying with a great friend or family member, you are a "guest" and it is not your space. So try to anticipate what a guest would need or want. Pretend you are a hotel or bed and breakfast and then it is easy to think about what you want to provide and project to your guest.
First impressions do matter! Have a nice entry way--clean front doorstep, clean front door, nice mat, light ON if they are arriving at dusk or night.
When they come in, have a place to set their bag or bags, and take their coat and hang up in the coat closet.
If they have traveled awhile see if they want to sit down, have a glass of water, or a drink if over 21 and they drink and of course the time of day :), maybe a snack, etc..Put them at ease right away.
Maybe they need to use the powder room. Have it clean! Smelling nice. Fresh towel and plenty of tp and tissues (tp is not tissues!) Make sure the trash is not overflowing. Always have a little book or magazine and also air freshener! Remember from my earlier posts, always have toilet bowl cleaner and a toilet brush under the sink, or easy to find (but not just sitting on the floor staring at them!) You never know, maybe they had a rich lunch, like Pasta Alfredo, and now are not feeling well (happens to me!)
Once they have settled in, with their coat taken, a snack, bathroom visit, and if they are rested, see if they would like a tour of the house (if they have been there a lot or have seen it recently, then probably not necessary.) So yes, this means your home needs to be clean. Again, think hotel, all of a hotel is always clean and ready. I for one love a tour, and I think most people do.
This is the perfect time to show them their room and bathroom. If they are couch surfing, then show them that as well, and make sure it is set up as best as you can to be comfortable and a personal space for them. IE no mail lying around, no dishes left out on the coffee table, etc.
If they are fortunate to have their own space, like a guest room, that is really nice. Make sure you have it welcoming, a little vase full of flowers is nice, have the drapes open and it dusted and clean and pretty. Have space in the closet for their items. Place their bag (s) in a space they can get to them but not in the center of the room. Having some books or magazines in there is nice as well. Make sure their linens and blankets are in good shape, matching if possible and smell good. I am all about smells!
Bathroom. Important. Just like the pit stop powder room, do the same. In this bathroom, you also want to make sure there is room for their personal items. If they are there for more than a day or two, having a little shelf or cupboard for them is a nice touch. Have guest soap and shampoo and conditioner. Clean and nice towels.
Make sure your guest knows where the food is, the goodies, the dishes and glasses, etc.. Let them know to help themself. It is always a great touch to have a plate of cookies or brownies, etc..out and waiting to be eaten!
If there is anything weird--like alarms, remotes that are hard to figure out, how to work the stereo, how to unlock the front door, whatever, make sure you let them know.
Let them know you want them to be as comfortable as possible and to ask you for whatever they need--funny, but people like to hear that, then they feel better when they need to ask.
Depending on how long the visit is, try to adhere to the types of foods they like, or at least include that, and have a few meals that are stand outs and really entertain. Having a guest is a real treat.
Happy hosting!
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