Tips for Welcoming House Guests

Happy Friday! This week flewwwwww by for me, so I am loving it. A lot of work, errands, appointments, etc. I guess that is what happens when you travel for work and have to fit everything in when you are home!

My parents are actually coming into town today, so it inspired me to write this post. We have had our families come down to visit us quite a bit since we moved into our home. I love having guests and it gives me an opportunity to clean really well and make things extra pretty (can you say…OCD?!).

Each time we have family or people over to our home, I try to do things that will make them feel welcome. I know this probably isn’t 100% necessary, but it is fun, and I love being a good hostess!

Here are some of my tips for welcoming your house guests:

• Buy some fresh flowers and put them in their room or on the kitchen counter!
  • Who doesn’t love flowers? I mean look at these daisies! You can’t not smile. Go to your local grocery store and pick up a small bunch for $5!

• Make a “Welcome _____” Chalkboard sign
  • We have a chalkboard in our kitchen and I always change it when someone comes to visit. I typically write something like, “Welcome Mom & Dad” or “Welcome Grivna Family” It is such a simple thing to do that can make people feel so good.

• Purchase your guests favorite snacks and drinks
  • I always make a quick trip to the grocery store for essentials like pop, water, or any snacks my guests may like. I know my parents like certain kinds of pop, so I always stock up on that before the arrival.

• Create a jar of extra toiletries
  • Since we have traveled so much for work in the past few years, we take the hotel freebies with us and save them in a jar for guests. Are we cheap? Maybe. But, I think it is a huge money saver and guests love having extra shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, etc.
  • Go to your local Target, Michaels or Home Goods and pick up a simple glass jar for $10 or less and stuff it with travel-sized toiletries.

• Have the Wi-Fi password handy
  • I print the wi-fi password on a piece of paper and laminate it. It is nice to have it as a reference card.
  • You could also just write it on a post-it with a sharpie and leave it in the guest room!
• Make a tip sheet with anything they might need to know while staying in your house
  • So, I haven’t actually implemented this one yet, but I am working on it. I think it would be a great idea to have a “House Tip Sheet” of things your guests might need to know. It could be things like:
    • Garage Code
    • Wi-Fi Password
    • TV Controls/How To
    • Thermostat Control
    • Nearby Running/Walking Trails

• Leave extra hangers in the closet
  • There is probably something your guest wants to hang-up, so leave them a few hangers.

• Put together a fun “Guest Tray” with magazines, water, snacks, medicine, etc.
  • This one is my favorite. I LOVE making a little tray of goodies each time we have guests coming to stay. I sometimes put waters, champagne, magazines, notecards, gum, mints, candy, etc.
  • It is fun to make it a little different each time! You can find these wooden trays at your local Home Goods. Target might even have them, too.

I also think it is fun to put little mints on the pillows – some fancy resorts do this, so I think it makes people feel good. Who doesn’t want a mint on their pillow? Something so simple goes a long way!

Hope these help you prep your home for your next guests.

Also, if you want to check out our full Guest Bedroom – I wrote about that here.

What are some things you do before guests come into town? I would love to hear your host and hostess tips!

Cheers to Friday! I am ready to relax.

-Catheryn