7 Ways to Make Your Home Guest-Friendly
1. Provide Entryway Storage
Offering plenty of space to store shoes, keys, and coats helps make guests feel welcome as soon as they enter your home. Depending on how much space is available, anything from a temporary folding shoe rack to a hutch or organizer that stays permanently could do the trick for a reasonable price. Here's a link to
storage ideas at Bed Bath & Beyond.
2. Share the Wi-Fi Passcode with Style
Sometimes it's the little things that create special touches! Here's a stylish template from the
Elegance and Enchantment blog that you can use to
print out and share your Wi-Fi password. (The link to the template is below the very last photo in the post, or click on the image here.) After downloading, open it in Adobe Reader and you'll be able to type in the Wi-Fi code.
3. Offer an Alternative Kitchen Option
Would decreasing traffic to the kitchen area make life easier for you and your visitors? If so,
an in-room mini-fridge might be a good idea. Pair this with a small microwave or a coffee maker and you might just find yourself checking in with your guests to make sure they're still there. :) Currently Amazon has some nice-looking mini-fridges with good reviews, like
this Magic Chef for sale for under $125.
4. Add a Luggage Rack and Extra Closet Space
A simple luggage rack can be helpful to guests who would like their suitcase out of the way without feeling like they have to unpack immediately after a long trip. If closet space is tight,
consider an easy-to-assemble free-standing closet as well. This Whitmor free-standing closet costs under $40 and can be taken apart and stored until it's needed again.
5. Create a Cozy Coffee Station
Is there a space in the kitchen for
a dedicated coffee station with plenty of cups and coffee fixings? This is a great way to make guests feel welcome, and also eliminates a lot of "Where is the...?" questions on the first morning.
6. Use Night Lights to Guide the Way
Even if you're not much of a night light person,
they can make life far easier for guests (especially children) who might have to find their way to the kitchen or bathroom during the night. Choices run from minimalist styles to the strangely tempting
"bears toasting marshmallows" motif.
7. Share the Emergency Plan
Make sure everyone knows where the exits and fire extinguishers are, and where to gather if there's an emergency.
The Bottom Line...
Helping guests live comfortably in your home without having to ask for directions is one of the best ways to make them feel welcome. This often takes the form of simple things, such as printing instructions on how to run the entertainment system or dishwasher, making sure extra towels and toiletries are easy to find, or even just opening up food containers so that visitors feel free to dive in rather than having to wonder if a sealed packet of chips or cookies is up for grabs. (We've all been there.... :)