The holidays are almost here! If your celebration plans include overnight guests, it’s time to get your guest room ready for visitors—and we’ve got some quick tips to help you spruce it up and make it more welcoming.
Give Them Some Space
If, like most people, your guest room does double duty as an office, playroom or storage space, start with a major decluttering: clear tables and dressers of whatever you can so the room feels like a dedicated space just for your visitors. Provide a place for them to put away their belongings: clear some space in the closet and empty out some drawers for them to use (if the room is really small, you can even tuck a small dresser into the closet) and make sure there’s a place to store their luggage.
Little Things Mean a Lot
Think about the things your guest might need and have them at the ready. Make sure there’s a lamp next to the bed, and a table within easy reach to hold phones, glasses, books, and whatever else they might need. Fold an extra blanket across the foot of the bed in case they get chilly in the middle of the night, place a water carafe and glass on the bedside table, and put a clock somewhere in the room. You may also want to tuck a fan into the closet in case your guests get hot while they sleep, and plug in a nightlight so they can find their way around an unfamiliar room in the middle of the night. And don’t forget to write down your wi-fi network password so they can check emails and browse the internet from the comfort of their own room.
Add a Festive Touch
You don’t have to totally deck the halls but decorating the guest room with a potted poinsettia or miniature fir tree and some festive little decorations will help your guests get in the holiday spirit.
Provide all the Trimmings
If your guests are traveling from far away, they may have had to leave beauty products behind to make it through the TSA line, or they might have forgotten some things they need. Stock the guest room with extra toiletries, like shampoo and conditioner, lotion, soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste, spray deodorant, a razor, and a hair dryer. And make sure they’ve got extra towels—and a place to hang them in the bathroom.
Make it Comfy
Even the most well-appointed guest room won’t be welcoming if it’s cold and drafty. If your guest room runs cold, try these simple DIYs to turn it into a warm and welcoming space:
- Start with the windows. Hold your hand up to the glass. Can you feel cold air coming through? If so, add a Frost King Window Kit. Our EZRoll™ Window Insulation Kit includes extra strength shrink film with a pre-taped top edge that’s easy to install and shrinks clear and tight to keep cold air out.
- Next, check around the window frames for gaps or missing weatherstripping. Add or replace weatherstripping as needed to stop drafts and air leaks.
- Outlets on exterior walls are another source of heat loss. Install our Electric Outlet Sealers underneath face plates to reduce drafts and make the room more cozy.
- If you have forced air heat, our Heat & Air Deflectors can force warm air up and into the room. Watch this video for installation tips:
And remember, avoid placing furniture in front of vents whenever possible.
Now that you know the essentials, it’s time to turn down the sheets and welcome your guests home for the holidays!
