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People love to talk about creating a hotel-perfect space for house guests, but that’s rarely what they come for. They want you, your home, and the comfort of being welcomed without pressure. If you’re wondering how to make house guests feel at ease without overdoing it, this is the guide I wish I had years ago. Because everyone says they’ll visit… and sometimes they actually do.
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Everyone Says They’ll Visit
After hosting friends and family across continents, I’ve learned one truth: everyone says they’ll visit, though only a few make the long journey. House guests come for you, not the destination. And when they finally arrive—whether from across the U.S. or halfway around the world—what they need most is comfort and welcome.
House Guests vs. Tourists
If they do, your house guests aren’t traveling thousands of miles for fancy bedding. They’re coming to see you, to share meals, stories, and quiet moments under the same roof. And honestly—you don’t want to make them so comfortable that they never head home.
They’ll still want to explore (insert destination here) and stretch their budgets, but house guests really only need a few comforts and a host who helps them settle in without fuss.
Good Lighting and a Mirror
Every guest room needs good natural and artificial light because house guests depend on both. They need enough brightness to do hair and makeup without strain and a softer light to settle in with a book at night. Good lighting only works, though, when it’s paired with convenient outlets. Make sure lamps, mirrors, and charging spots sit close together so your house guests don’t have to stretch cords across the room or move furniture just to plug something in. This small detail makes their stay feel thoughtful and easy.
Convenient Device Charging
We’ve all stayed somewhere that forced us to be a contortionist just to reach an outlet. No one enjoys crawling behind a dresser or shifting heavy furniture to plug in a curling iron or laptop. House guests feel that frustration even more because they don’t want to trouble you. Make it easy for them. Keep outlets accessible, offer a few extra converters for laptops, and remind them that most 120v hair appliances won’t work in Europe or Korea. Small guidance like this takes the stress out of their stay and helps your house guests feel cared for from the moment they unpack.
Some Storage or Table
They don’t need an entire closet, but your guests will feel more comfortable if they can hang a few clothes or fold them away in a drawer or some space on the bedside table. This becomes more important with the length of stay. You want your house guests to feel like they belong, even if they are temporary visitors.
Privacy
Your house guests need to feel comfortable. Staying at someone’s house is stressful enough. A door goes a long way in this. However, they should also have enough space to be alone when they want a few minutes to gather their thoughts, read a book, or put their kids down for a quiet nap. This benefits everyone.
Extra Towels
This goes without saying. However, if they aren’t in the room, make them accessible. Make sure your company knows where to get them and it’s not an inconvenience if they want them late at night. In addition, make sure that the sheets are fresh, which means they were recently laundered. Just because they’ve been on the bed and no one has slept on them for the last six months is not the same thing.
Make Sure They Know Where Things Are
Whatever it is—iron and ironing board, extra washcloths, spare toiletries, bottled water, cleaning supplies, or even the wine and a wine opener—make sure your house guests know exactly where to find it. Clear access removes the awkwardness of asking and lets them settle in without feeling like they’re interrupting your day.
Trash Can
NOTHING is more awkward than not having a simple trash can in the bedroom. Preferably with a liner that can be tossed out when needed.
Make House Guests Feel Welcome
Probably the most important of all is that your guests know you want them there. We’ve all been visitors and that comes with some uneasiness. Make sure they know where the snacks are in the kitchen. Or the code to the front door if they want to go for a walk. Let them know that you are honored they decided to spend their time off with you and that you are happy and not inconvenienced by their presence or by anything that they may want or not want to do. This means you may have to alter your daily or nightly rituals or habits a little, but they should have no idea you are doing so.
That’s it. Those are the main things they’ll need. In addition, you can hang a few pictures. Or place a plant or picture frame on the bedside table to make it look pretty. But make sure they have room to charge their phone or enjoy a cup of water too. What does your guest room look like? We all want to know, so attach a photo below.
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