During the holidays, you are likely doing one of two things: traveling to stay with family or preparing for guests to stay with you. If you’re in the latter group, before you start feeling overwhelmed about home preparations, take a breath. There’s no need to stress about having picture-perfect decor and magazine-worthy meals for your guests.
Perfection is overrated. The best way to make your guests feel welcome this holiday season is to create a home-like atmosphere. Home is never perfect; it’s oftentimes loud, messy, and chaotic. That’s also what makes it wonderful. Here are a few simple ways to prepare your home for guests during the holidays and make them feel like they are a part of the family.
1. Stock Your Kitchen and Bathroom With Staples
To prepare your home for guests, first stock your home with the basics. Check your kitchen pantry and fridge for essentials like bread, oatmeal, bananas, seasonal fruit, eggs, milk, cheese, and cereal. Of course, check with your guest for any dietary needs or restrictions before heading to the grocery store. Also, don’t forget to stock the bathroom with toilet paper, fresh towels, hand soap, bar soap, essential oils, and anything else you think your guests might need.
2. Add a Personal Touch
Whether it’s a handwritten note, a welcome basket, a book you think they’ll enjoy, or a coffee mug with their favorite coffee grounds, the little things make a space feel special. Adding a personal touch shows you took time and effort to prepare your home for them. The small details instantly elevate hospitality into true thoughtfulness.
3. Offer Options, Not Obligations
Of course you want to make your guests feel welcome, but you also don’t want to make them feel pressured. Let your guests set the pace. You can share your schedule with them and invite them to join you in any activities, but don’t make it an expectation. Guests should feel free to sleep late and go out for meals alone when they want to. Keeping the environment light and easy will create an inviting atmosphere.
4. Put Out a Flower Arrangement—Whether Fresh or Artificial
A little pop of color goes a long way to livening up a space for house guests. Flowers add personality and brightness to any room in the house. You can add a vase of flowers to the kitchen table, the bathroom windowsill, or your guests’ bedroom nightstand. Be sure to check if your guests are allergic to flowers, as this will determine if you buy real or fake ones. Also, lean into seasonal flowers for an extra touch of elegance and intentionality. Orchids, tulips, and violets are in full bloom during the chilly, winter months.
5. Anticipate Their Needs
Before your guests arrive, think about everything they’ll need from the beginning to the end of their trip. Set up a homey guestroom with clean sheets, closet and drawer space, extra pillows, and a good night lamp. Write a handwritten welcome that includes any passwords for Wifi, gate entry, or security. Plan a house tour to show them where supplies are stocked and how everything works. You can even make them a welcome drink for when they arrive, like Rachel’s tasty, holiday sangria. Cheers to giving your guests the warmest experience!
