5 Tips For Making Holiday House Guests Feel Welcome In Your Home

I received product from Spectrum in exchange for this post, all views and opinions are my own. 

Have you ever had that uncertain feeling of traveling somewhere to stay with family you didn't know very well? I love to travel, but being unsure of where you'll be laying your head at night when you arrive can make you feel a bit uneasy. Before we had kids my husband was in a Christian band, so we would travel to play at different churches. Members of the churches where they played would invite us to stay in their homes. We had such pleasant experiences because we had some really great hosts. A great host is someone who anticipates your needs. Isn't it such a great feeling to know someone put thought and care into your visit? I appreciate being pampered by the little things when I'm a guest in someone's home, so I try to do the same for our house guests. Here's just a few of my simple ideas. Perhaps you could add some to the list? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments! 

1. Extra Toilet Paper. 

We all use it (hopefully), so toilet paper can run out really fast when your house is full of extra people. Don't embarrass your guests by making them ask you for more toilet paper! Keep an extra roll on the toilet. You can be really crafty and wrap a roll in tissue paper or tie a bow around it, but a simple solution is the Over The Tank Single Toilet Tissue Reserve from Spectrum. So easy to install you just lift the tank lid and set the bracket down, replace the tank lid and add a roll of toilet paper. Your guests will probably never mention this little detail, but they will definitely appreciate it! 

2. Guest Room Basket. 

Some hosts truly think of everything. We stayed with the sweetest most generous lady ever while visiting Louisville, Kentucky. She had set a small basket on the nightstand in the guest room for us. In the guest room basket she had placed; bottles of water, some books, a few snacks, a flashlight, deck of cards, the tv remote, pens and paper. In your basket you could really use your imagination to wow your guests, but sometimes just sticking to the basics is plenty! Spectrum offers large baskets that are perfect for adding a personal touch to your guest room. On the night stand our host had an alarm clock which was also quite useful, however not as much fun! 

3. Towels O' Plenty. 

Let's revisit the bathroom. You should assume your house guests that will be staying for an extended period of time are going to shower. When they shower they will need towels to dry off with, right? Right. So stock your bathroom will lots of towels, and even make a point of telling your guests where the towels are that they can use. Baskets are great because you can make them up in advance and have towels and washcloths ready to go for your guest. Another great thing about using a storage basket for guest towels is you can walk into the bathroom and easily see when your guest needs fresh towels. Keep in mind you might use one towel per shower but your guest might use two, so when in doubt-set more out! I have super long hair so I have to use a towel just for my hair and one for my body. I hate going to hotels that give us three towels for our family of four, it's ridiculous! I feel pampered when I see enough fresh towels for my whole family. Bonus, if you want to be super nice fill that basket with essentials like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste and so on. You might save your guest from having to make a trip to the store for something they forgot. 

4. Snacks On Demand. 

There's something about traveling that makes people hungry. Even if your guests go out for meals, it's thoughtful to have a special place set aside in your kitchen where they know they can grab a snack without asking. I love granola bars or pastries, but fruit, packages of roasted nuts, snack cakes, chips, candy, muffins, anything you think your guests might like would be nice. The 3 Tier Server from Spectrum has so many great uses, and would showcase some snack options without using much space on your counter top! 

5. Coffee and More Coffee.

We can't all be morning people. Perhaps you're not a morning person? That's fine. Set up a coffee station in your kitchen for your guests in advance. If you have a machine that uses pods set out a variety so your guests can choose something they like. The great thing about pods is you can have hot cocoa, tea and coffee ready in a moment for all your guest's tastes. Grab your Coffee Pod Caddy at Spectrum to help set up a coffee bar for holiday guests in your home. Don't forget the sugar and creamer! 

These are just a few simple ideas for creating a warm and inviting space for your house guests. You can add to these by sharing your thoughts in the comments. Have you had an incredible host? Share what they did to make you feel welcome. I love to learn how to show love to my friends and family that visit! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!