Christmas is fast approaching, and it’s usually the time when you have relatives or friends staying over at your house. I love hosting, my dream job would be to own a winter cabin or lodge somewhere in the mountains. I’ve somehow ended up in the suburbs of a town in England, but I can still dream! If you’re lucky enough to have a guest bedroom, I’ve written my best tips on how to prepare it and make it homely and welcoming for your Christmas house guests.
Your guests will really appreciate those little touches to make them feel welcome and at home, and especially feeling Christmassy. You want them to feel at home, and comfortable, and have somewhere nice and quiet to retreat to in case it’s getting stressful! We all love spending time with family, but it can get overwhelming at times. My brother and his two daughters come to stay with my parents every Christmas who live near me, and this year I’m helping get their room ready. I can’t believe my eldest niece is now 17 and her sister is 12. They will really appreciate a nice space to have during their stay.
Do a bed MOT
Let’s face it the bed is the most important, you need a good night’s sleep of course. Try spending a night in the spare room and test out the guest beds. Is it as comfortable as it could be? If you can feel some dodgy springs or a hard board or perhaps you are sinking fast, maybe it’s time to get a new bed, or at the very least, a new mattress. Does it look dated and tired? Why not go for a new divan bed that will last for years to come? If you’re satisfied with the bed the way it is, make sure you turn the mattress over, change the sheets and wash the old ones. Get a mattress protector in case of unplanned spills and consider getting a mattress topper for added luxury. Plump the pillows and arrange them how you like them. I just love cushions and pillows. Try not to go too mad though, as they end up on the floor every night!
Is it warm enough?
If you’ve been turning off radiators in the spare room due to rising energy prices, make sure you turn them back on in the guest room in good time so it’s nice and warm for your guests. Maybe put a hot water bottle and a blanket on the bed for an added option of snuggly warmth. If you have a spare electric blanket, test it out to make sure it works well and put it in place. If you know your guest well, maybe a cuddly toy is appropriate of their favourite animal or character. Check the windows for draughts. Add a pair of fluffy slippers if it’s a lady staying, or a tartan pair for the men for a bit of fun.
Aromatherapy
Have a good old sniff. If you’ve aired the room out by opening the windows and doors for at least half a day, run the hoover round, given it a dust around and changed the bedding, it should sort out any stale musty smells. Now it’s time to be evocative with the scent of the room. Add in a wax melt burner with a nice Christmassy scent, or a plug-in air freshener to keep things on track. My favourite Christmas scent is gingerbread houses or Christmas cookies. The smell of cinnamon is always a favourite.
Toiletries
All those mini toiletries you have somewhere stashed, get those out and put them in a basket for those items they may have forgotten. If you have spare guest towels, get them nice and clean and fluffy and place them on the bed or next to the bed. For an extra special touch, look up some youtube tutorials on towel animals and have a go with the kids. Your guests will feel like they are in a hotel and not want to leave!
Something to drink
If you want to go all out, you could put a tea and coffee tray in the guest bedroom like they do in hotels, complete with a box of biscuits. Imagine going to someone’s house and they have a tray like that in their guest room. You’d be made up, wouldn’t you? At the very least, place a jug and glass for water, or some bottled water and glasses. I always like a glass of water at night, as do most people.
Picture this
Lastly, find your favourite pictures of you and your guest together enjoying fun times, try and find some Christmas ones and place them in the room, either on the side tables or on the walls. Use command strips so you can move them around or remove them afterward.
All these little touches can really make their stay perfect, and you will have the satisfaction of being the ultimate Christmas host.
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