Your Simple Guide to Hosting Overnight Guests
We all want our guests to feel relaxed, comfortable, and most of all, at home when they visit. There are a few elements of hospitality that go into hosting out-of-town guests in your home. Of course, you want to make the guest room and bathroom tidy and inviting, offering them their own space to unwind. You should also make the rest of your house a welcoming environment as well, especially your kitchen. Lastly, you want to be sure that your guests are entertained and have activities to enjoy doing during their stay.
Basics to hosting overnight guests:
– Prepare guest bedroom & bath
– Make the kitchen inviting
– Plan some activities
The Guest Bedroom
There’s not necessarily a right or wrong way to set up a guest room. This all depends on your style and the amount of space available to you. When setting up this room, you want to make a little haven for your guests. Remember that space will be your guests’ retreat during their stay, somewhere they can go if they are looking for some privacy.
Guest Room Essentials:
- clean linens
- extra blankets & pillows
- bedside lamp
- access to an outlet
You want to have plush pillows, fresh sheets, and a cozy comforter waiting for your guests when they arrive. I recommend supplying a variety of pillow options, some firm and some soft. One of each for every guest is a good rule of thumb.
Extra blankets are also a must. Keeping a lamp within arm’s reach is always a great idea, everyone enjoys being able to turn out the lights after they’re all snuggled into bed. It’s one of those little things that goes a long way. Also be sure that there is an easily accessible outlet so they can charge their phone, preferably on the bedside table itself.
That extra touch:
- Slippers/socks
- Tissue
- Water bottle/glass
- Pen and Paper
- Reading Material
- Fan
- Welcome Basket
If you are like us and you do not have a ceiling fan in your guest room, consider having a small fan available in case it gets too hot. Many people like to have a fan going while they sleep, and I’ve even known a few that can’t seem to sleep without one. You can pick up a small inexpensive one that’s easy to store at any major retailer. A few touches to the bedside table can be thoughtful as well, such as water if they get thirsty and something to read or reference for things to do in the area.
A Welcome Basket
These baskets are a nice added touch to show that you put something together, just for them! This is where you can get creative and cater especially to whom you’re having over. Offer magazines or local brochures if they are looking to explore the area. Bubbles or body scrub for a relaxing shower or bath. My number one go-to is to always add in some extra slippers for them to wear around the house. These are ideal for keeping any guest cozy during their stay.
Around the holidays you can put items in this welcome basket to fit the season. This could be something as simple as some seasonal treats, a pair of Halloween socks, a rolled-up Christmas Apron so you can bake together, a scented candle or holiday body wash, or a themed tumbler. Small gifts that don’t cost much but still add that thoughtful touch. You can really get creative here!
The Guest Bathroom
Necessities:
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Body wash
- Body lotion
- Hand soap
- Loofa
- Bath towels
- Hand towels
- Washcloths
Of course, it’s nice to go just a little bit above and beyond to make your overnight guests more comfortable during their stay, and adding in a few extra touches here won’t go unnoticed by your company.
That extra touch:
- Face lotion
- Face wash
- Makeup remover
- Hair detangler
- Body scrub
- Chapstick
- Q-tips
- Razor
- Robe
Most overnight guests will bring their own toiletries such as a toothbrush, deodorant, and a hairbrush. However, it’s good to have some of these things on hand just in case they forget something. This way they don’t have to make a special run to the store. We always keep those goody bags from the dentist, complete with toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss, for just this type of occasion. We also make sure to have many of the items listed above, those overall basic toiletries that many of us sometimes forget to pack.
The Guest Kitchen
Having visitors stay over isn’t only about the guest room and bath. While those are often the main areas in which we focus our attention, another important part of the guest experience involves what you have in the kitchen. Make sure that your company knows where to find everything from utensils to glassware to food. A quick kitchen tour is always appreciated. Keep snacks in an easy-to-access spot, and have drink staples such as coffee and tea on hand.
Stock the Snacks
It’s always good to have some snacks available for guests between meals. Chips and dip, crackers and cheese, fresh fruit, and granola bars are all great quick snacks between meals. Keep some of these handy so your visitors don’t get too hungry.
My go-to food item to have handy anytime guests are over is frozen homemade cookie dough (already scooped). This ensures that we can always have dessert ready in no time, all I need to do is to throw it in the oven!
Ask What They Like
The best way to know what to get for your overnight guests is to ask them what they like! It’s okay if you don’t know all of their likes and dislikes. Ask if they like creamer in their coffee or prefer a certain type of tea, or if they eat breakfast. Request their food preferences, things they like and dislike, and any allergies. Find out what their favorite snacks are so you can have them in the pantry when they arrive.
These are all thoughtful things to ask I can guarantee your company will appreciate the gesture. And as a bonus, it takes out the guest work for you! You won’t have to buy things they won’t eat or drink. Drinks, snacks, and even meal ideas help save you time while making them feel at home.
Drink Station
This is the perfect way to have a help-yourself station set up for your visitors. Whether they have a tendency to wake up before you, or frequently enjoy an afternoon cup of coffee, this makes it easy for them to grab a hot drink any time of day without having to search through the cabinets. You just need a small section on your countertop for this.
Have a few mugs and some coffee, tea, cocoa, cider, etc. all set out on a large tray. If you know that your guest will be waiting for you for breakfast, it’s never a bad idea to add some fruit, muffins, oatmeal packets, or breakfast bars to this tray as well. I love this cute coffee tray idea from Southern Discourse!
That Added Touch
If you are looking for a more involved drink station experience, consider adding some of these items:
– To-go cups
– Sugar
– Creamers/half & half
– Honey
– Cinnamon
– Marshmallows
– Flavored syrup
Those to-go cups are a favorite of mine. We sometimes use them for parties in the colder months (like for a hot cocoa or apple cider bar) and the leftovers make for a cute addition to a drink tray. The basic white cups are ideal for a year-round option, but I always prefer the more decorative holiday designs. (You can find these at Hobby Lobby, Bed Bath and Beyond, HomeGoods, Oriental Trading Company, or Amazon, to name a few.)
The tea bags, coffee, marshmallows, etc. all look extra cute in small canisters or jars. Flavored syrups or tiny flavored creamer cups are a fun addition and can be added to almost any warm beverage for a festive flair. (I prefer flavored syrups since they can be used for all kinds of drinks throughout the year.)
Took my friend to our beautiful botanical gardens when she came to visit! There was no one around to take a pic so we snapped this selfie instead.
Entertaining Overnight Guests
This goes back to communicating with your visitors beforehand by asking them what they want to do. Do they want you to be their tour guide? Are they doing their own thing and using your house as a spot to crash? Or are they just looking to hang out at the house?
This is important to know going into it so that you are aware of how involved you need to be. If you are showing them around, you’ll need to have ideas ahead of time on where to take them. Need ideas? Read this post on how to find things to do where you live. Ask what kinds of activities they are hoping to do and you can plan from there.
We all know that it all depends on the individual, some people like to be busy doing things all the time, and others like to be able to really kick back and relax on their vacations. A great rule of thumb that Daniel always does, something that I have also adopted, is to have one activity planned each day. This activity can be as small or as big as you wish.
Daniel did this when he planned out my birthday week and a surprise visit from my best friend. He had (at least) one fun thing for us to do each day. From a morning hike to a day trip to hot springs in Idaho, to dinner out and movies in, we did a bit of everything and had a wonderful time! It was a birthday I’ll never forget.
Spend Time Together
Planning for house guests can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, but there’s no to be stressed by it. Just a few thoughtful questions, like what would you like to do, and what you want to eat, will make your guest feel extra welcome in your home. Just be sure you are truly visiting with your guests during their stay, that’s what they came here for!
Whether you are out exploring or just chatting on the couch, enjoy this time together. Use your time as a way to show your appreciation to them for wanting to make your home their chosen destination. Looking for more tips? Check out this article on How to Make Your Home More Welcoming to Guests.
