Have you ever been a house guest and felt really unwelcome? No matter how well we get along with our friends or family, if some things aren’t set in place and prepared on the host’s behalf, it will automatically lead to a bad experience.

If you’re expecting guests and you want them to feel treated well and have a good time, then make sure you check some of the things on this list. Trust me, you won’t regret paying extra attention to all the details, especially when you see how much of a good time you have together! Let’s set the stage for a pleasant weekend!

Clean the house.

Let’s picture this: would you consider staying in a dirty hotel? Just think about the fact that your guests would definitely like staying in a clean home. You can check out other articles on our website on how to properly clean your home, specifically your guest bedroom and guest bathroom, but also your kitchen.

Make sure you clean those areas of your home that are oftentimes forgotten, such as your door handles and light switches. I remember one time visiting a house where it was quite obvious that the owner never even cleaned the light switches.

But really, now, they were gray when they were supposed to be white. Luckily, it was only a short visit, and I didn’t stay over. Also, you want to make sure the house smells nice, too. You might not be able to detect odors in your home, but people who will visit you can. So, before your guests arrive, make sure you:

• Clean the mattress in the guest bedroom.
• Sprinkle baking soda on carpets, then vacuum to remove stinky smells.
• spray Febreze on your soft surfaces, like your chairs and curtains.
• crack open the windows to let fresh air in.
• Change your pet litter and clean animal cages or even your bedding.
• bathe the pets too.

Guest bathroom essentials

Here’s a list of things you need to stock your guest bathroom with:

• Toilet paper—it’s extremely awkward to have to go through someone’s cupboards or even ask for toilet paper. That’s why we advise you to make sure you place extra rolls in a visible location close to the toilet. A basket or even a container on the back of the toilet or even on the floor can be decorative and functional at the same time. You can easily stack a couple rolls on top of the toilet tank.
• Towels: You place clean, fluffy bath, face, and hand towels for your guests to use in the bathroom, and you also make sure they have all the extras they need.
• Toiletries: It’s always recommended to have travel-sized toiletries for your guests, just in case they forget something. It doesn’t have to be about expensive things; just the usual toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion are good to go. Also, make sure you have extra toothbrushes, brushes, and combs on hand too.
• feminine hygiene products: Ladies, I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there: stranded without the basic products we might need. That’s why you need to be mindful and stock a variety of feminine hygiene products in the guest bathroom, just in case your guest might need some.

Also, if you don’t have a separate guest bathroom, just remove your family’s dirty towels and replace them with cleaner and fresher ones. Also, do the laundry so the basket is empty!

Guest room essentials

Clean sheets on the guest room bed are definitely something you need to consider. Also, you might want to throw in some extra pillows and blankets. A sitting area is always a nice touch if your space allows for it.

This could be something as simple as a cozy chair by the window with a couple of books or even magazines laid out in a basket (here’s a cute one we really liked). Also, you want to make sure that the room has enough lighting. Use brighter light bulbs, or even add a lamp here and there.

Adequate storage

If your guest bedroom doubles as a storage room, try to clear out the clutter so there’s enough adequate storage in the closet or drawers. Also, if you only have a small guest bedroom with limited space, just use all that under-the-bed storage you have on hand for your stored items.

This way, you will exclude the possibility of an unsightly tripping hazard. You can even find some storage solutions for small spaces on our website. They will definitely come in handy!

Wi-fi passwords

When you’re preparing for house guests, make sure you take the time to print or even write the Wi-Fi password for your home on a card or piece of paper. Laminating the Wi-Fi card will make it more presentable.

From a practical perspective, the lamination will protect the card. As an alternative, you can place the printed password in a pretty frame. Both options will save you from having to constantly print new ones. Whatever you decide to do, place the password in your guest’s room so they can easily connect to the internet if they want to.

Groceries

Stock up your kitchen with enough food for your guests, especially if they will stay for a longer period of time. Before you shop, make sure you make a list of their favorite snacks, if they have any other allergies or specific eating preferences, and whether they’re vegan or have other religious influences that you could consider.

If your house guests don’t eat pork, for example, make sure you avoid cooking it while they’re visiting. Naturally, they won’t mention anything; that’s why it’s important to be mindful.

Extra key

The last thing you want is for your visitors to feel like prisoners when they stay with you. In fact, it’s supposed to be good hostess etiquette to give them an extra key so they can come and go whenever they please. This will also save you the hassle of having to be awake or at home to let them into your house.

Keep pets away.

You might love your pets, but not everyone will, and that shouldn’t be something to bother you. If you have the option, try to restrict your pets to some areas of your home while you’re expecting guests. Moreover, if you think about it, pets shed a lot of hair, and let’s be honest, sometimes they can stink, so it will definitely help to keep your house clean and smelling fresh.

Communicate

You might want to let your kids know that you will be having guests over. Moreover, you want to touch base with them on how you should treat your guests. Make sure they tidy up all their toys after using them and help keep the bathroom as clean as possible, especially if they are sharing it with other house guests.

They might be used to doing these things anyway (if that’s so, congratulations!), but a little extra encouragement definitely won’t hurt.

Respect guests’ space.

When entertaining houseguests, make sure you give them some space. If the guest room also acts as your home office, you might want to temporarily relocate your office supplies elsewhere. Whatever you’d do, just don’t expect your guests to be up and out of their rooms by 8:30 a.m., just because that’s when you start working.

If you found this article useful, you should definitely check this one, too: 7 Bedroom Design Trends That Will Be Big in 2024