A Guide to Hosting Holiday HouseguestsAre you hosting a holiday this winter? Are friends and family flying in from out-of-town, ready to enjoy food, drinks, and partake of your hospitality? Make your home cozy and comfortable for guests and keep the celebrations going smoothly by following these easy tips and tricks for holiday hosting. With our ideas for prepping your home, you’ll be ready to welcome them with open arms and host a memorable family get-together.
Nothing’s cozier on a cold winter night than a few throw blankets on the living room sofa. Costco is a great source for good quality, cozy, and inexpensive plush throw blankets. Buy a few to have them on hand for when the kids get tired and need a nap, or for your Grandma’s cold feet. Speaking of cold feet, one of my favorite hosting tips is to have a variety of warm slippers in a basket by the door. Since everyone is going to be coming in and out, having a cozy alternative in which to walk around the house is a thoughtful touch.
Clear out some space in your entryway or garage your guests may have bulky coats, boots, and other accessories. To keep that stuff neatly out the way during their stay, arrange for plenty of extra room by your front door or garage. Making the extra room before hand will prevent a cluttered space and will allow more room for you and your guest.
It is very important to insure that your home is safe for not only your guest but children as well. If your guests include babies or small children, be sure to store away any items that have a sentimental value and you don’t want to break or get damaged. Remove any potentially harmful objects or decor in your home, and do any necessary childproofing of furniture. It might be a little time consuming in the beginning but will be worth your peace of mind.
In the same way that parents will likely arrive prepared, visitors with pets will probably also pack everything they need. Still, a nice gesture would be to ask if they need any extra pet necessities or food. Insure that all pets have a designated location for not only their food and water but a space where they can go and relieve themselves. It can be a little hard not only for the pet owners but for the pets entering a new home. If you have a designated area for them to eat, sleep and use the bathroom insure that you communicate that with your guests in the beginning to make the visit as welcoming as possible.
Setting the mood is very important. Setting up a hot coco bar, lighting up the fire place, playing Christmas music, putting a wreath at the front door, or even something as simple as using scented candles, room sprays, or diffusers in seasonal scents can give off a warm, holiday-ready feel and get everyone geared up for festivities.
Before guests arrive, make up their beds with a fresh set of sheets and set out towels and washcloths for each guest. You can really add some Holiday spirit by throwing some extra holiday decor. A great way to add a couple of decorations to get anyone in the mood for the holiday is adding some of your favorite holiday throw pillows or even by using fleece sheets.
Have an assortment of personal items at the ready in your guest room– everyday toiletries such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, tissues, lotion, razors and fresh soaps are a given, but extra touches like a good book or magazine are thoughtful and appreciated.
Help children and the young-at-heart to feel right at home by setting out board games on a low table in the living room. Traditional games like Chinese checkers, Uno, are easy to play, and more modern games like Monopoly, Guess Who, and Pictionary will draw board-game enthusiasts.
For those times when guests need some down time, keep an assortment of classic family friendly DVDs available that kids and adults will enjoy.
To help bond and bring out the holiday spirit at home, plan an activity your family and your guests can do together — and involve the kids too. Whether you decorate cookies, build a gingerbread house or walk around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights and decor everyone will feel a sense of togetherness that will diffuse any tension or stress from the craziness of the season.
You’re already providing a place to stay for your houseguests, so don’t feel that you need to be Martha Stewart when it comes to the menu. Breakfast can be cereal, store-bought croissants or donuts and orange juice, and lunch can be a self-serve buffet of deli meats and fruit or make it simple by cooking pre-package ready to cook crockpot dinners. Most Importantly, Relax! Your guests won’t notice little details and certainly won’t be judging you on not being the perfect host.
