Once we moved to Charleston we knew visitors were going to start knocking at our door! When we bought our house I was so happy to have a guest room with an en suite bathroom. I truly love when friends and family come stay with us and want them to be as comfortable as possible. We’ve had quite a few overnight visitors so far and we’re just getting started! While the thought of having people stay in your home may feel overwhelming, it just takes some personalized touches to welcome them with open arms. Here are a few things I always do for our guests.
Have lots of food and drinks.
Reach out to your guests a few days prior to their arrival and ask them what they enjoy to eat and drink. They’ll usually say that whatever we have in the house is fine, but I always try to squeeze an idea or two out. Do they like milk or cream with their coffee? Maybe they really love having yogurt for breakfast and there’s a certain snack they like. Tell them you’re going to the supermarket anyway and you’d really appreciate them having a say in what to get. It may also be a good idea to check to see if they have any food allergies. I’ve become more aware of this since being diagnosed with celiac disease and am always so grateful when someone takes a moment to ask about my dietary restrictions.
Clean up a bit!
Ok, this may seem obvious but do make sure your home is clean and welcoming. Get rid of clutter, make sure the bathrooms are clean, light a candle so it smells good. No one wants to be living in an un-tidy space so make sure your home is a pleasant environment, for you and your visitors!
Make plans!
Whatever the reason is for your visitors coming to town, have some plans thought up that y’all can do together or they can do on their own. Make a list of must-try restaurants or other fun places to visit. This is especially helpful if you have to work and your guests will be on their own for a while.
Have a little something for them in their bedroom.
This is one of my favorite things to do! I have a tray on the bed with a little candle, a vase with real flowers and a welcome note. When my best friend and her fiancé came to visit last month she walked into their room and said “I feel like I’m staying in a fancy hotel!” I think we were then coined Hotel McDonnell 🙂 It made me feel so good that they enjoyed the little extra thought. I simply wrote that we were so excited to have them visit and we hope they enjoy a little taste of our new southern city in the card. It doesn’t have to be complicated or a big task, just a cute note and some flowers are fine and so appreciated! If someone is visiting for a certain occasion, say a birthday, you could always have a little gift in there too.
*This cute little pineapple card is from Island Haus Paperie, I also love this pineapple one that says “be our guest.” Fun fact: Did you know that a pineapple is a traditional expression of “welcome” in the South? I learnt this on our first trip to Charleston and loved that, hence why we had a pineapple wedding logo and it’s now my business logo. The fruit symbolizes welcome, warmth, hospitality and friendship 🙂
Have a meaningful picture in their bedroom.
I have a space in our hall closet that has several framed pictures. When someone is coming to visit, say my Mom for example, I put a picture of her and I from my wedding day on her night stand. Yes, we have pictures in the guest room that stay there all year round, but putting an extra one in there that will be special to the visitor is a sweet touch that won’t go unnoticed.
Provide reading material.
I keep a few magazines on the dresser incase there’s some down time and they’d like to look through. I once found my Grandma sitting on our top porch with one of the magazines and another time Mike’s Grandma in our den reading too! They were so happy to have something new to look at. This is also great if your guests are early risers or night owls.
Give them water at night.
When we were in Charleston for our wedding we were still visitors and stayed at the sweetest hotel called Zero George. Each night they placed cute glass bottles by our bed filled with water. We ended up buying two of the glasses and now use them for our guests! They can fill them as they please and most likely will be grateful for not having to go down to the kitchen in the middle of the night if they’re thirsty.
Provide space for clothing.
Keep a dresser drawer or two empty for guests to put clothes in. If you don’t have a dresser in the guest room some shelving could work. Also leave space and empty hangers in the closet. If your visitors will be staying for a while it’s also a nice idea to leave a laundry basket for their use.
Make comfortable sleeping arrangements!
We have a very comfortable mattress in our guest room so between that and the shades, we’ve had numerous people come downstairs fairly late morning and say they haven’t slept that late in years! I know mattresses are expensive. If you can’t get a new one right now get a pillow top or foam cushion to put on top of your current mattress. Also make sure you have clean sheets and extra pillows and blankets in case they’re needed.
Keep a noise machine in the room.
This is a little extra something that I know several friends have been grateful for. We have a noise machine on one of the nightstands. You can purchase an inexpensive one, it doesn’t have to be fancy! The light sleepers in the house will be very thankful.
These small gestures will go a long way in making your houseguests feel comfortable and at home. What are some things you do to prepare for your guests? Another post on things to have in the guest bathroom is coming soon <3
Leave a Reply