Quick Room Prep so You can Host Guests

Holidays mean company. Hotel rooms can be pricey, especially around the holidays.  If your guest room has become your “junk room” but you’d prefer to host guests at home, you don’t have to overhaul your house, so don’t build up the project in your mind.

Here are some quick tips to de-clutter, de-stress® guest preparation.

1. Goal: Easy access to the room, create spots on the floor for guest’s shoes, on existing furniture  for jewelry etc .

Clear clutter from the area where the guests will sleep.  Start with the floor to create easy access and safe passageways for your guests. Clear tops of furniture, including any chairs.  Store your excess items in decorative boxes or colorful bins which can be left out in a corner of the room because they are presentable. If you do not use presentable containers, stack a few of them and cover with a seasonal table cloth to create a small table.

2. Goal: Create a place for guest clothing

Rather than purge drawers in a chest of drawers, purchase an inexpensive luggage rack so guests can easily access their clothes directly from their suitcase.

To avoid clearing out closet space,  purchase an over-the-door hook and supply hangers to give guests a place to hang clothing.

3. Goal: Welcoming gestures

Be sure the room is clean and lights work, etc.  Hang out in the room for a few minutes during the daytime and at night to check on the basics: clean sheets on the bed, working bulbs in the lamp and ceiling fixture, a working remote for the television, a working alarm clock, a box of tissues, no cobwebs on the ceiling, etc.

Then set out an extra blanket, extra pillow and bathroom basics: fresh towel and washcloth.

Keep a supply of sample-size toiletry items (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, hand lotion, etc) in a small container on top of the dresser – just in case.

Add a plant or some flowers of the season to the room to say “Welcome. I am glad you are here!”