Holidays and long weekends are nearly upon us. Are you prepared to host relatives and friends in the coming weeks? Setting an accommodative mood is a task that you can always do better each year. Don’t let the pressure get the best of you. With sufficient time and a few hacks, you’re on your stress-free way to becoming the host/hostess everyone will be singing praises about for a long time.
Here are 10 no-nonsense tips on how to prepare for holiday guests.
Create a Hosting Plan
First, take a seat and bring out your initial tools: a pen and paper, a calendar and your phone. Your first task is to create a hosting plan. Mark your calendar with upcoming gatherings. Call people to confirm the number of guests e you’re hosting on each event. You may not get the final headcount for now, but at least you have an idea on how to go about your preparations. How many people are coming over? How long are they staying? Are they arriving with little kids? Write these down as your reference point in preparing the guest rooms.
Diagnose the Guest Rooms
When was the last time you inspected the guest rooms? To “inspect” means checking every corner, door knob, and windowsill for needed repairs. Set a weekend for this task. As you empty the room, take note of the condition of every furniture and décor—do they need repairs or replacement? Make sure you don’t miss anything by preparing a checklist of every part of the room and item. After the diagnosis, mark the repairs that you can do on your own and those that may need professional service such as plumbing work on the bathroom sink.
Start with the Furniture Pieces
What are the staple furniture pieces in a guest room? There’s the bed, cabinet, dresser, and chair. Now, refer to your hosting plan and check whether you need additional pieces such as a crib or cots for your little guests. Having toddlers may require you to make the guest rooms child-friendly. Don’t worry, there’s no need to break the bank. Simply take note of sharp-edge furniture pieces, glass-topped tables, and fragile decors. You can seek free online guides in preparing guest rooms for young children.
Make sure the Mattresses are Perfectly Ready
The holidays can be physically taxing and the last thing you’d want during this festive season is dealing with sick guests. Ensure that your guests get a good night sleep.
Check whether you need to change the mattresses, pillows, and bed sheets in the guest rooms. If you’re purchasing a new mattress, consider getting a memory foam that promotes good blood circulation and body support. Don’t forget to air out designated mattresses and changing the sheets days before your guests arrive.
Add Storage Spaces
Family and friends flying from other states and countries are expected to do a lot of shopping. Be prepared with storage options in the guest rooms so your guests stay comfortable amid the piling shopping bags. If you have limited square footage, you can explore multifunctional furniture pieces that have “hidden” storage spaces such as bed frames with attached storage boxes. You can also install floating shelves on walls and wire baskets behind doors.
Take Note of Bedroom Necessities
Before going to the decors, handle the basics first. Avoid the horrors of having to run downtown in the middle of the night to buy stuff your guests need. Again, don’t depend on your memory—jot down the items you’d need to buy including wastebaskets, an alarm clock, extra power cords, etc. Anticipate your guests’ needs. Review your hosting plan and assess each set of guests to help you decide what items to stock. Make sure you have enough towels, soaps, shampoo, shaving cream, sanitary napkins, tampons, tissue, disposable diapers for babies, and others.
Time for your Christmas Bedroom Design Ideas!
Carry the yuletide vibe throughout your home. Design the guest room with simple yet classy decorations. You can use bedsheets with Christmas-themed palettes such as combinations of red and gold, royal blue and silver, and others. You can mount festive curtains and lovely garlands. Don’t overdo the decorations so as not to overwhelm the senses. One piece of décor may just be the only thing you’d need!
Spread the Christmas Aroma
Keep the festive mood in the air, literally. Skip the artificial air fresheners and create your own air perfume. Display potpourri in open jars in the bedrooms and bathroom. You can also have essential oil diffusers, cinnamon candles, and homemade smudge sticks. To prepare a natural home humidifier, mix cinnamon powder or sticks, a peel of grapefruit, and a pinch of nutmeg in a saucepan of water. Simmer in low heat all day.
Surprise your Guests with Entertainment choices
Your hosting plan should give you an idea on how to entertain your guests. Are they book lovers? Do they love music? Is watching late-night news part of their routine? You can have mini libraries with interesting magazines and books, and prepare music playlists in the entertainment system. A strong wi-fi connection is a must in every guest room.
Expect the unexpected
One serious common hosting mistake is expecting that nothing can go wrong. The only way to deal with uncertainties such as urgent need for lighting replacement, emergency plumbing, and other repairs is to keep an “emergency kit” of spare bulbs, pipe cleanser, and other carpentry/plumbing tools. It’s also advisable to deal with an on-call electrician, plumber, and other household maintenance professionals. You also need to keep basic medicines and first-aid kits.
Do you know that holidays is good for your mental and physical health? According to researchers from the Harvard University and University of California, even six days of vacation can trigger genetic changes that result to lower stress, stronger immune system, and reduced risk of depression and dementia. Don’t defeat the benefits of holidays by stressing yourself out with your hosting role. Prepare ahead of time, be systematic, and be ready for changes along the way. Most importantly, enjoy!