Clear the Way
Greet your guests by making their entrance as seamless as possible. Clear away any shoes and leave space for luggage by the doorway. If you’d like them to take off their shoes, make sure there’s room on the shoe rack by the door so they can add their footwear to the collection.
Laundry Day
Upon finding out overnight guests will be arriving, cleaning the guest room’s sheets and towels are one of the first priorities. Hint: Wash sheets and towels as soon as the previous guests leave. That way, it takes the guess work out of whether you’ve cleaned them yet and you’ll be ready for any unexpected guests.
Grocery List
Ask guests ahead of time whether they have any dietary needs and if they have a favorite breakfast cereal, snack, or beverage. Make a note of each person’s favorites so there’s no need to ask next time (unless their preferences seem to change frequently). Avoiding extra grocery trips while they’re in town is sure to eliminate any unnecessary hosting stress.
Flower Power
Don't worry about the guest room being the least decorated room in the house. If that's the case, flowers can spruce up any room and make it feel instantly inviting. Pick up a bouquet during your grocery trip. Or if you're in a pinch, just cut a few stems from the yard.
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Clean Sweep
Run the vacuum through the house to sweep up any dirt, pethair, and dust—an especially important guest-preparation step should your guests have any allergies. If someone is allergic to your pet, make sure the guest room pillows and sheets haven't been contaminated and keep the guest room closed before and during their stay. Placing an air purifier in their room is also a considerate touch.
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Beds Made
Keep in mind that new guests who haven’t been to your home will want a full tour (so remember to make the beds that day). If you can’t completely tidy-up every room, focus on the big areas, especially the ones where your guests will be spending most of their time: Put away any toys strewn around the living room and clear piles of mail off the kitchen counters and table.
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Freshen Up
Think like a hotel guest: Would you appreciate staying in a room where the trash hadn't been emptied? Remove all trash in the guest rooms and in the kitchen while you're at it (to ensure an odor-free entrance). Speaking of a hotel, you get bonus points for making sure the guest bathroom is stocked with shampoo, conditioner, and lotion, in addition to the towels.
Closet Space
Even if you use the guestroom closet for storage, make sure to leave ample space for your guests’ clothes. Double check that the closet has enough spare hangers and that at least half of a shelf is available for them to use as well. Also, leave an extra blanket and a few towels in the closet in case they need them and you happen to be asleep when they do.
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Prep Perfect
If a home-cooked meal is planned upon your guests’ arrival, try to have all food and appetizers prepped before they step through the door. Being a good host also means being a good conversationalist and staying attentive, which can be tough to do when you have a spinach dip and burger patties left to make.
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Distraction Plan
It’s okay to admit—you’re more excited having certain guests visit more than others. That said, if there are guests who tend to get on your nerves, be prepared. Come up with a few conversation topics so you can easily switch the subject when your mother-in-law brings up, say, how you’re raising your children. Or have a few activities or games that you can suggest when your family and guests are getting restless.
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