When you have your own home, it’s a point of pride to host guests. You’ve worked hard on making your abode warm, welcoming and stylish and it’s exhilarating to get the chance to share that.

Sometimes, though, it’s easy to forget the little things that can make or break a guest’s experience. Your guest room might be filled with gorgeous art and a big-screen TV, but if you don’t have the basic amenities, it can make for some awkward and uncomfortable situations. So, don’t leave your guests out in the wind.
Ideas for a Welcoming Guest Room

1. Towels

Always be sure to have fresh, clean towels in an obvious location for your visitors.  The last thing an overnight guest wants to do, when they may already feel self-conscious about imposing, is have to ask for towels when it’s 7 in the morning and they’re in their skivvies.  Make sure to have enough for everyone (you can never have enough towels) and if they’ve been sitting in a linen closet for a while, give them a fresh wash before your guests arrive. Stepping out of a fresh shower into a musty towel is just unpleasant for everyone.

2. Water

Adding a pitcher of fresh water and some glasses to your guest room is a beautiful touch. The idea is to make your guests feel at home as much as possible, and timidly searching through your kitchen cabinets in the middle of the night is a surefire way to shoot a hole in that. You might even consider garnishing the pitcher with some sliced cucumbers or oranges – give them a spa experience!

3. Toiletries

Hotels know how to do this right. Why not leave a few travel-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and toothpaste in your guest room? It not only adds more comforts of home to the mix, it gives you major hostess chops. Forgot your toiletries? No need to make a Wal-Mart run at midnight. Your host thought of everything!

4. Fresh Air

The guest room in my house sits dormant most of the time. We keep the door closed so that our dog doesn’t get in, which is important for our allergy-prone guests. But that can make for a dusty, musty room after even just a few days. Before a guest visits, air out the room with an open window and a fan, if possible. It’s also a great idea to spray your linens with a very light fabric spray. Try something in lavender. It adds a clean, fresh smell to the whole room without the often overpowering scent of an aerosol air-freshner.

FOUR-things-every-guest-roo

Whether you’ve got friends, family or a teenage sleepover on their way to your guest room, these are some great, easy steps to ensure your guests have a comfortable, relaxing experience.  Your home deserves to be shared – make it unforgettable!

BDST: 1634 HRS, Sep-03, 2013
SIS/MZR