The holidays are a time for joyful gatherings at home with family and friends. But when visits include overnight stays at your place, your stress levels can rise. These simple ideas can help you prepare, so you can keep the visit focused on fun – for a holiday at home that you’ll all enjoy.

Identify a Space

First, decide where your guests will sleep. If you have an actual guest room, you’re a step ahead. If not, consider giving up your home office, moving your kids into a single room or carving out a corner of the family room with a pull-out sofa or air mattress. Then spend a few minutes decluttering and making sure guests have a place to put their suitcase and a few personal items.

Make the Essentials Easy

Next, make sure guests have obvious access to some essentials, so you won’t have to answer their “Where is it” questions. For instance, make sure they can find outlets for charging phones and write down your internet log-in details (if you’re willing to share). Set out guest towels and have the bed made. If your guests might come and go from your home, provide a spare housekey or door entry codes.

Provide Some Basics

Sure, people typically travel with their own toiletries. But who hasn’t forgotten toothpaste or lotion once or twice? It’s nice to set out some travel-size basics for those “just in case” moments. This also means guests won’t need to ask to use your personal toiletries.

While you’re at it, make sure to stock the bathroom with toilet paper and soap so guests never come up empty. Think about providing other items that can make your guests feel at home, too, like books, games, maybe even an inexpensive smartphone stand with speakers.

Share Kitchen Etiquette

You might have a holiday feast planned, but overnight guests will be around for other meals, too. Unless you’re planning to do all the cooking, show guests where to find DIY foods like cereal and sandwich fixings, as well as coffee mugs, dishes and silverware. Also consider setting out a basket of snack foods, like bags of nuts, granola bars and fresh fruit.

Add Holiday Cheer

Finally, why not extend your holiday décor to the guest room? A vase of flowers, a couple of holiday-themed toss pillows, some festive trim around a mirror or doorway can quickly take a space from utilitarian to cheerful.

Most important, remember that you don’t need to create a 5-star hotel experience. The goal is to give your guests an inviting, comfortable space while keeping your sanity and helping everyone enjoy the holidays!

If you find yourself too tight on space and are thinking of adding a whole new room or you want to go big with a guest room renovation, you may be able to use your home’s equity to help finance the project. Remodeling or a room addition could even increase your home’s value. To learn more, visit us online or call 1-800-724-2224. We’re here to help!

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