Over the years, Chris Wooten and I’ve had the honor of hosting numerous family members and friends in our home. With each house guest, we’ve learned that a warm and welcoming guest bedroom is about more than a comfy bed and a fresh set of flowers. It’s about feeling welcome, spending time with loved ones, and good food. (Yes, it always ends with good food.) So, here are six tried and true tips I have learned over the years for making our wedding guests feel welcome.
#1. A Comfortable Bed for Your House Guests
You comfortable guest bed needs to have fresh sheets. The beds in our guest bedrooms have crisp white sheets because white sheets automatically translate as clean. I also recommend pillow top mattress covers because they feel amazing after a long day of traveling. Instead of thick, heavy comforters, consider placing lightweight blankets and duvets on top of your bed. It’s easier to add blankets if your guests are feeling chilly, than it is to sleep in a bed that feels too hot. For easy access, we keep the extra sheets and extra blankets in our guest bedroom closets instead of the linen closet.
#2. A Welcoming Bedroom is Key For a Good House Guest Experience
When guests arrive in their temporary bedroom, you want them to feel safe and cared for. I’m not talking about making major renovations to your home, but little gestures go a long way. Here’s a list of little improvements that we believe go a long way:
- Good Lighting in the Guest Bedroom. Start with good lighting. An overhead light is a great start for checking your outfit and getting the “lay of the land,” but I recommend adding a bedside lamp. The bedside lamp is typically a better fit for the late evening and early morning vibes.
- A Toiletries Jar for Your House Guests. In both of our guest rooms, we have these glass jars filled with travel size toiletries, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotions, mouthwash, feminine hygiene products, razors, and hand sanitizer. It saves your wedding guests the awkward request of asking for a forgotten toothbrush or razor.
- A Charging Station in the Guest Bedroom. Your guests will remember to bring their smart phones, watches and tablets, but they may forget to bring their accessories to charge them. So, we have a set-up in the guest room where our guests can charge their devices (apple and android).
- Ample Closet Space for Your Guests. We cleared out some space in our guest room closets and provided empty hangers so our guests could hang up their clothes.
- A Hamper. Guests need a home for soiled linen. It doesn’t have to be an actual hamper per se, it can be one of those cute wire baskets you find at HomeGoods.
- A Little Entertainment. Not all of your guests will want to watch TV, some will prefer to catch up on some reading. So, consider adding some magazines and a few books in your guest room.
#3. Make Time for Some Face Time with Your Guests
Even if you take the day off when your guests arrive, your daily life doesn’t stop for house guests. So, make sure you set some time aside to have a good meal and conversation with your house guests. Make them feel like the guests who they are, and not a burden.
#4. A Clean Bathroom for Your Guests to Use
Your guest bedroom won’t mean much if the guest bathroom is a disaster. It doesn’t have to look like it was featured on HGTV, but it needs to be clean. Cleanliness is everything. Remember to keep some air freshener spray on hand for #2 smells. (Quite frankly, I prefer a simple match) And, while you are in the bathroom, remember to make sure your guests have access to some body wash, fresh towels and wash cloths.
#5. Helpful Local Information for Your Guests
Not too long ago, I compiled a Guest Information Guide. It’s a little booklet that includes details about nearby shopping centers, pharmacies, local hospitals, the local police department, and some tourist information. It also includes our wi-fi password. Truth be told, I should have listed the wi-fi password first because it is the number one request I receive from house guests once they arrive! In case of an emergency, our guide includes my cell phone number and the cell phone numbers for my husband and my in-laws too.
#6. Your House Guests Will Love You for Your Good Food
I told you that it always ends with good food! Remember that guest information guide I created? Well, it includes the exact location of our kitchen pantry (home to all of our snacks and goodies) and the location of our various bar carts stocked with soft drinks, wine, and waters. The location of the closest Starbucks, the closest Chick-Fil-A, and grocery store.
Well, that’s how we have learned to take care of our house guests. If you are on the hunt for decor ideas for your guest bedrooms, head on over to Instagram and follow some of the Instagram accounts of interior designers. They are a great resource.
Love and Soul Always, Kawania