Inviting loved ones into our home to celebrate the holidays is what the season is all about. But getting ready for guests can feel somewhat overwhelming. Fret not! It’s easier than you think. All it really takes to make sure everyone feels comfortable and welcome is a bit of planning and execution. Follow our 10 simple steps and you can bet your visitors will want to return time and again.
1. Give Guests a Warm and Inviting Welcome
Ensure your guests feel right-at-home the minute they walk through your door by creating an inviting entryway. Have an obvious place for them to put their belongings by bringing in chic storage boxes for shoes or a coat rack to hang jackets, scarves, and bags so they don’t have to stand around awkwardly holding them.
2. Keep Cozy Blankets Handy
Offer your guests maximum comfort while they’re away from home with readily accessible, warm blankets and pillows. Plush throws and decorative pillows in luxe fabrics like our faux fur or cashmere blankets are an easy way to add a touch of glamour to your existing decor that will also make guests feel extra special.
3. Create a Cozy Corner
Though the holidays are all about spending time with our loved ones, the reality is that traveling can be stressful and tiring. Having a cozy reading nook for guests to decompress and unwind will be something they’ll really appreciate. Bring in a comfortable, compact chair if you don’t already have one along with extra books and magazines to make the area even more inviting.
4. Bring in an Extra Place to Sit
To give your guests that five-star treatment they could expect from a hotel, we recommend bringing in an extra place to sit, so they don’t always have to sit on the bed. This can be done by bringing in a side chair or bench at the foot of the bed, space permitting of course. Like the cozy reading nook mentioned above, having an extra side chair gives guests the option to relax between holiday activities while a bench does double duty as an extra seat and surface for laying out outfits for next day’s activities.
5. Add Storage for Belongings
By the same token, creating storage space for your guests’ luggage and clothing will also make them feel less like they’re encroaching upon your territory and more like they’re at home. This could be a great opportunity to add a dresser or tall chest of drawers to your guest room or if you already have one to make room by clearing out a drawer. Make sure if you have a closet to also have some extra hangers handy.
6. Set Out Nightstand Essentials
Sometimes it’s the little things that make guests feel special and at-home. Setting out a carafe filled with water in case they get thirsty in the middle of the night or a catch-all for small items like jewelry will help to ensure they get a good night’s sleep, plus keep track of their smaller belongings.
7. Bring in Task Lighting
In addition to setting out nightstand essentials, for guests who will be sharing bedrooms, having task lighting by the bed is ideal, especially for those who like to read late at night. Task lighting will help to keep evening disturbances to a minimum and both guests happy and fully-rested.
8. Splurge on a Sleeper Sofa
If you’re going to splurge on anything while getting your home ready for holiday guests, a sleeper sofa is a worthwhile investment. A sleeper sofa offers dual functionality as a sofa by day and a sleep-satisfying bed by night, making it the perfect space-saving solution for those who do not have an extra bedroom. The Comfort Sleeper by American Leather is unlike any other sleeper sofa when it comes to comfort, style, and functionality.
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9. Lift Their Spirits
What better way to get your guests in the holiday spirit than with a festive cocktail? Make sure to stock your home bar with plenty of booze and bar essentials including wine glasses, cups, ice, and mixers. And for those of you who don’t have an existing home bar, you can build your own beverage station by making space on an existing console table or finally treat yourself to that bar cart you’ve been eyeing all year.
10. Add Fresh Flowers
There’s nothing like coming home to fresh flowers. Putting out a pretty vase or two in your guest room or bathroom is bound to make your guests feel special and brighten their mood.
What are some easy and fun ways you get your home ready for guests? Share in the comments below!