A holiday is drawing close, and this time you are doing something that you don’t often do. Instead of traveling to be with your family for the holiday, the family is coming to you! Whether it is your parents, a sibling,  or a friend who will be staying with you, if you are not used to visitors, then this can cause some stress. Read on for some suggestions as to how to host an overnight holiday guest.

Your number one goal is to make your guest feel welcome so that you all can enjoy the holiday with as little worry as possible. Before you tear into a cleaning frenzy it is important that you get some very basic housekeeping issues out of the way.

First of all take a look at the guest bedroom. How does it look to you? Is it warm, inviting and does it have ambiance? In particular focus on the bed. Ensure that the mattress is as comfortable as possible. On the day (or day before) your guest arrives put fresh sheets on the bed and fluff the pillows. Make sure you have extra pillows in the bedroom for your guests who may like to sit up and read in bed or just sleep with more than one pillow.

Provide an alarm clock, a portable mirror, a garbage basket and a lamp for reading near the bed. If you generally use the room for storage, then make sure that there is room in the closet to hang clothes and room in the bureau drawers as well. Of course hangers are a must, too!

Anything else you can think of to make your guest feel welcome is encouraged. For example having a box of tissues in the room, books, magazines, a candle and even some fresh flowers in a vase is a nice touch!

Have a welcome basket waiting for your guest in the bedroom or bathroom. Include soap or body wash, body lotion, toothpaste and dental floss, a bath sponge, shampoo and conditioner and anything else that your guest might have forgotten at home. Buying sample size products like hotels provide is just fine and will save you money.

Make sure you leave out towels and washcloths for your guests, so they don’t need to ask.

It is also important that your holiday guests have privacy so make sure the bedroom door has a good lock!

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