The holidays are all about friends and family. Attending to the comfort of your guests will no doubt make things easier for everyone, ensuring a successful visit for you and your overnight visitors

The basics may seem obvious, but when was the last time you checked your guest room comfort factor? Some of us use the “spare room” to store clutter, or as an office. If your guest room is a shared space, de-cluttering is a critical component to getting ready for family and friends. Many of us also have aging parents with individual needs. Is there a box of tissues handy, and a night light in the bathroom? Making sure your home is clean, prepared for special needs and clutter-free will save you time and frustration once overnighters arrive.

Thinking about how you like to be treated at someone else’s home can make you a better host. Do your guests know where the coffee maker is and how to use it? What about guest room ventilation and temperature? Is there a fan available for warm fall nights, or extra blankets for chilly ones? Robes are not critical, but guests using bathrooms not adjacent to their sleeping spaces will be appreciated.

Benicia interior designers Michael Trahan  and Kristine Passalacqua offer up ten more items that will have your guests singing your hosting praises.

Michael Trahan

  1. Great bedside lighting, visually and functionally, is much appreciated by guests.
  2. Make sure bed and bath linens are fresh and in good condition. Replace guest bed pillows if needed.
  3. Put out bottled water or a small water pitcher and glass for each person in the space.
  4. Leave some chocolates in the guest room for a welcoming, decadent touch.
  5. In whatever bathroom guests will use, add a new bar of soap and sample-sized shower essentials.

Kristine Passalacqua

  1. Spend the night in your guest room to see, feel and hear what your guests will experience and tackle any necessary changes/additions.
  2. Weather permitting, open windows before your guest arrive to freshen the air in the room.
  3. Make sure your guests have hangers and space in the closet to hang their clothes and hangers to hang them on.
  4. A luggage rack in the room is helpful and can be found inexpensively online.
  5. Fresh flowers in the guest bedroom or bathroom are always a nice touch.

Michael Trahan, CID
MICHAEL TRAHAN
Interior Design, Real Estate & Event Staging
P.O. Box 506, Benicia
707.748.1080  Michaeltrahan.com

Kristine Passalacqua, NKBA
Kristine Passalacqua Studio of Interior Design, Inc.
415 West I Street, Benicia
707.746.7123
StudioOfInteriorDesign.com