Long holiday breaks and vacations are approaching, and chances are you'll be entertaining overnight visitors. As the host with the most, you’re in charge of taking care of the comfort factors for guests, which includes their sleeping area.
The best barometer of how comfortable your company feels is to actually sleep in their space. Most of your guests will politely tell you they slept fine and don’t need anything else, lest they put your family out further. So predetermining any issues will save a disagreeable night’s sleep.
Spend a weekend night and investigate what slumber would be like using the visitor’s accommodations. Take note of temperature, light/dark, and noise factors. In general, see how enjoyable the sleep space is. If you didn’t love the metal bar under your pull out couch mattress, chances are your Mom and Dad won’t, either.
Depending how you feel about holiday visitors, use the next suggestions to ensure your house is the coveted home away from home for traveling family and friends.
- Splurge on a new mattress if needed. Or, invest in a new, fluffy mattress topper.
- Holidays are a great time to find well priced festive and warm flannel sheets.
- Provide extra pillows and blankets, especially during the colder months.
- A sleep mask and ear plugs will be welcomed in a house full of people trying to sleep.
- Pairs of inexpensive “house socks” in the guest room invites them to get comfortable.
- Providing plenty of hang up space for clothes and towels is a must. If there is not closet space available, use over the door racks or stick removable hooks behind doors or accessible wall space.
- Depending on length of stay, a few available drawers will help visitors settle in.
- Did you upgrade your Keurig lately? Put the older version in the guest room with bottles of water and a tray filled with mugs, sugar packets, and a few K Cups of tea or coffee. Guests love leisurely mornings and cozy bedtimes.
- A small collection of treats, perhaps a locally produced bottle of wine, chocolate, or scones bedside would be a nice touch for midnight snacks or early risers.
- Print or hand write a note card with the wireless password for the house.
- Collect a few brochures or maps for popular destinations near your home.
- Bring in back issues of magazines that you own subscriptions to.
- Offer a house key on a charming key chain if needed.
Going the extra mile: Provide a charge station for phones and tablets. A sound machine or floor fan supplies white noise. Or, offer helpful suggestions for white noise apps for their phone.
Although the prep work for a comfy guest space might seem a little much, the truth is these homey accommodations allow guests to utilize their own dedicated space without hesitation. This means they will not feel obligated to be in your eyesight every moment and as the host you might get an extra 30 minutes to regroup while your visitors are noshing on cheese and crackers and reading a magazine in their specially prepared room.
