Taking the Guesswork out of Guest Rooms

by Sandy Dixon, Interior Arrangements, Inc.  ©2004 

There are many things you can do to make guests feel welcome, even if you have only a small amount of space to offer. The ultimate goal is to make your houseguests feel comfortable, welcome and to be able to discover their own little place for privacy.  

When appointing your guest room, think about those things that made your stay at someone’s home or at a hotel especially pleasant or memorable. And think about what particular needs your guests might have in order to avoid having them ask you for something.  Most guests don’t want to burden their hosts by having to ask for things such as alarm clocks or towels.  It’s also a good idea to try and keep your guest room free of your family belongings so that they feel completely welcome and not like an intruder.

Try incorporating some of these hospitality touches to make your guest room a visitor’s ‘home away from home’:

• Place extra blankets, towels and pillows in the room or within easy access.
• Use crisp, pretty linens on the bed.
• Provide drawer and closet space (with ample hangars). If your guests prefer to live out of their suitcase too, have a luggage stand or surface space for them to easily access their belongings.
• Place an empty decorative tray on the dresser top so your guests have a visible place for keys, jewelry and other easy to misplace items.
• Have a mirror in the room for your guests to check their appearance.
• Make a bathroom ‘guestworthy’ by placing a toothbrush and toothpaste, bottle of shampoo, comb and hand lotion in a basket in the guest bathroom.
• Extra bath and facial tissue, as well as additional bars of soap should be stored in the guest bathroom. If sharing a bathroom, liquid soap is preferable, otherwise provide guests with a bar of packaged soap (travel size works well).
• Electronically equip the room (or sleeping area) with an alarm clock, reading light, radio and nightlight.  If there is a television in the room, provide a current TV listing for them.
• Have books and magazines, as well as information about your town and state available for both information and entertainment.
• Add a small fresh flower arrangement or have live plants in the room to make it more inviting.
• Bottled water or a carafe of water with a glass in the guest bath or next to the bed is a comforting addition to the room.
• A simple, welcome note accompanied by a couple of wrapped mints on their pillow or next to the bed is a charming touch.
• Hang a plush, clean robe on a hook in the guest closet or bathroom.
• Providing a cozy chair in the room allows guests to relax without having to sit on the bed.
• Have stationary or notepad, pens and a wastebasket close by.
• If your guests are staying awhile, give them a house key (and share the alarm code, if applicable).
• Show your guests where you keep your coffee, tea, breakfast and snack items in case they are early risers or have a midnight craving.

The next time you are entertaining overnight guests, be creative and incorporate some (or all!) of these ideas and your guests will remember their stay with gratitude and fondness. Remember, it doesn’t matter whether you dedicate an entire room to guests or simply adapt a sofa in a family room…it’s not the amount of space that counts, it’s the imaginative details that matter most.  Happy hosting!

Sandy Dixon, owner of Interior Arrangements, Inc. is a Professional Real Estate Stager and former Realtor.  In addition to her redesign services, she offers training workshops, business coaching and speaking engagements nationwide. WB2 Television recently did a 2-part series on one of Sandy’s Staging projects and she is frequently featured in industry and real estate publications. Sandy can be reached at toll free 1.877.674.8667 or visit her website at www.interiorarrangements.com .