Gearing Up for Guests

Tis the Season for guests. Yes, dear reader. You know what I'm talking about. Family, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, in-laws... you get the idea, descend on your humble abode with presents, fruit cakes, cookies and a need for a place to stay.

So, I ask you, what is a hostess to do to make your guest feel welcome and at home? Good news my friends! If you are interested, I have several small ideas that will make a big impression on the lucky people who get to stay in your lovely home!

THE FRONT DOOR

Give your front door a welcoming feel by clearing off the sidewalks and front stoop if it needs it. Put a cherry wreath on the front door and make sure to clear a space for your guest's shoes and a space in the hall closet for their coats.

There is nothing worse than walking into someone's home and not knowing where you are supposed to put your coat. Awkwardly taking it to the room that you're staying in always makes you feel like you don't exactly have a place in the house. Having a space for your guests' outer gear will automatically make them feel like they are at home and welcome.

THE GUEST BATH

This first thing I do for the guest bath is make sure that it is clean, tidy and fully stocked with toilet paper. I also make sure that a plunger is available. I'm pretty sure that there is nothing quite as embarrassing as having to ask your host for a toilet plunger.

When I started to decorate and prepare the guest bath for our first guest, the first thing I upgraded were the towels. Providing nice plush towels and washcloths makes your guests feel pampered and cared for. And after traveling all day to see someone and enduring hours in the car or airplane, you definitely want to feel pampered. Another great way to make your guests feel taken care of is making sure that you supply a little basket of essentials. In this basket I include things that they may have forgotten but definitely need.

• Toothbrush, travel size toothpaste and mouthwash

• Dental Floss

• Travel size deodorants (old spice for men & dove for women)

• Disposable razor

• Shave Gel

• Body and face lotion

• Body and face wash

• Shampoo & conditioner

• Make up remover wipes

I also have a few extras in the basket. You know all those samples you get for body wash, face masks, lotion and so on? Well, the basket contains a wide variety of samples of products that I already use in my home so if my guests want to try a face mask they can. If they want to try a fruity smelling body wash, they can. I have found it's a good way to have fun with those samples.

Under the sink I make sure that there is an empty garbage can as well as an array of famine hygiene products, just in case. There is also a hair dryer, curling iron and hair straightener. I also make sure to have Tums, Pepto-Bismol, acetaminophen/ibuprofen and Benadryl.

GUEST BEDROOM

The room that will be your guest's oasis during their stay should be just that, a place that they can escape that is comfortable and thoughtfully supplied for their needs.

Invest in some nice sheets that will be cool and soft for your guests. It's also a good idea to make sure there are extra blankets and a variety of pillows for your guest to choose from.

In the closet, offer hangers for your guests to hang up their cloths if they want to and a laundry basket for their dirty towels or cloths. If the room has space to allow it, a flat surface such as a bench for them to lay their items out if they need to is a nice addition. I also keep a small fabric/cloths steamer in the guest bedroom closet for all those annoying wrinkles you get in your cloths while traveling.

There is of course a clock and lamp in the room along with a fan. I also have extra phone chargers and a night light in case my guests need them along with the all-important WI-FI

password that is posted on a cute little sign. There are a lot of affordable and cute WIFI password signs that you can get on Amazon. I actually have a couple of them, but this is the one I have in the guest bedroom.

https://amzn.to/49FKd1h

As far as room decor goes, I try to keep it tranquil and relaxed. My whole home has a coastal farmhouse feel to it and the guest room is not an exception.

I have a landscape photograph of the Gulf coast that was taken on Mustang Island when we lived in Corpus Christi hanging on the wall to give a calming vibe to the room (www.pictorem.com/gallery/Meghan.C.Hessel)

I also have a cute little "Be Our Guest" sign along with a little chalkboard that has a list of all our favorite restaurants and attractions.

The day my guests arrive I have a basket in their room for them with some of their favorite snacks, water and drinks. I also include a small thank you note letting them know how glad we are that they are guests in our home and to not be afraid to ask for anything if they need it.

I've found that it's the little details that make the biggest difference to those who visit your home. Those are the things that make people feel special and seen, welcomed and loved. And as a hostess/host, that's what you want the most in the end. You want to make people feel loved.

So dear reader, those are some of my ideas that I have put into practice in my home. I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to let me know what you think or if you have some hosting ideas of your own that you'd want to share!