5 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests

The holidays are a time when families travel from all over to spend time with one another. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, gathering around a table filled with traditional meals, or opening presents under the Christmas tree, everyone is looking forward to just being together. My entire family is from Texas, so we never had to travel far to see one another. However, my parents raised me and my siblings in Houston, while the bulk of our loved ones live in East Texas. I remember road trips, and bouncing around from house to house staying with my grandmother and aunties while in town. Family from all over would come visit, and it didn’t matter whether there was enough room or not, we’d all stay together. We’d sleep on beds, pull out couches, recliners, the floor, wherever we could find a spot. Those were the BEST days.

I remember my aunt having parties in her home. I remember my dad cooking for everyone who came by, and allowing me to sing to them. I knew every word to Betty Wright and EnVogue. (telling my age here lol) I remember my mom coordinating events for the women at church. I guess entertaining others has always come naturally to me. Once I became an adult and bought my own house, I was thrilled to finally be able to host holiday, family, and friend gatherings. I love to see people eating, laughing, and just enjoying themselves in my home. With the holidays approaching, I’m already getting antsy about hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. We usually rotate who in the family is going to host. Now that I’m married, we rotate whose side of the family we are going to visit. With the COVID19 virus ramping back up, who knows what the holidays will look like. I’m praying for the day things will be normal again.

Whether you have a house full or just one guest this year, here are 5 ways you can ensure you are the hostess with the mostest!

1. Make sure your home is clean and inviting.

Whether it’s a first time guest or a frequent visitor, I always want to make a good impression. Now don’t get me wrong, a clean house is always a good idea, but I do like to go the extra mile when guests are coming over. This is a good time to tidy up those areas you may not clean on a regular basis.

• Make sure the floors are clean (Vacuum, sweep, mop)
  • Do a deep clean in the bathroom (Tubs, toilets, countertops, sinks, floors)
  • Dust/ Change your air filters if it’s time. You never know what allergies others may have.

To create an inviting atmosphere, I like to think of special touches I enjoyed at swanky boutique hotels, and recreate the environment. This includes stocking fresh hand drying towels in the powder room. I keep a small basket on the floor for guests to throw their used towel in. I suggest going ahead and putting one or two towels in the basket, so your guests are aware of its purpose.

I also like buying fresh flowers to place throughout the home. On any given day, I have faux flowers for décor, but for guests, I like to, at minimum, put fresh flowers on the breakfast table.

I love burning candles in my home regularly, so I definitely get those going on the day my guest(s) come to visit. Shortly before they arrive, I like to light a candle in the room they are staying in. It adds such a nice welcoming touch. My favorite scent is Capri Blue Volcano

2. Welcome your guests with hors d’oeuvres

After a long drive or flight, your guest may be a little hungry. Putting out snacks or creating a snack bar is a nice welcoming gesture. Gage this step by your guests. For example, I look to put out fruit, cheese, and wine trays for my girlfriends. (Check out my favorite charcuterie boards here) If they have children, I’ll add or sub for kid friendly snacks and fruit.  You should have already made arrangements for dinner whether it be a cooked meal or take-out.

3. Be sure they have all of the essentials

We all do it. No matter how many times we check our bags, we still end up forgetting something. Think ahead and try to supply common toiletries and things around the house that your guest may need. My motto is to make them want or need for anything. Be sure to stock the linen closet with fresh towels and linens. You may even want to put a few aside the bed for them.

Stock the restroom with toiletries. Things like soap, shave gel, feminine products, new toothbrushes, travel sized toothpaste, etc. Of course make sure there is plenty of toilet paper and air freshener. Nobody likes to run out and have to ask for backup. Keep a plunger in the restroom just in case. Again, nobody wants to ask for these things.

Supplying the essentials also include basic beverage selections such as bottled water, coffee, and tea. Stock the pantry with water and assorted snacks. Create or stock a drink station with coffee, tea, and spirits if you like.

4. Thank your guests for visiting you. 

This is especially thoughtful for first time guests. I like to write my guest(s) a personalized thank you note for visiting me. I leave it on the guest bed tray next to a candle, bottled water, and the Wi-Fi code.

5. Share Important home information

Speaking of Wi-Fi, a nice custom sign with your code is often appreciated. If you have one of those long weird codes that the installation tech gave you, you may want to convert it to a QR code that your guest(s) can easily scan. Share a few housekeeping tips with your guests.

– Let them know what time the alarm is set at night. Often times, people need to run out to their car, or maybe they want to step out for fresh air. Ask them if they need to step out before the alarm is set, or if they need to go out early the next day for a run, etc.

– Alert them if you have indoor pets before they visit. No matter how friendly you think your pet is, people should be aware upfront. Perhaps they have allergies or a fear. Just let them know.

– Show them where the laundry room is in case they need to wash/iron.

NOTE: This may seem obvious, but make sure the battery isn’t low in your smoke detector(s). The last thing you want is for you guest to not get any rest because your smoke detector is beeping all night.

Most importantly, enjoy your guests. Make them feel welcome. I like to provide my guests with an experience when they visit me whether it’s their first or tenth time staying. Little touches go a long way.

Professional Images by Amber Gomez

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