Tips for Hosting Overnight Guests

Hey everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. We had a very memorable one, that's for sure! Every year we host a Cinco de Mayo party at our house for all of our friends and it was extra special this year for a couple of reasons. One, Cinco de Mayo finally fell on a Saturday this year, so we actually got to celebrate on Cinco de Mayo! And two, it was our first big get together with Kai! We had a taco bar, lots of chips & salsa, and of course, margaritas! On Sunday though, it was one of the best days ever. We baptized Kai and had a beautiful luncheon at our house to celebrate with all of our family. It was one of the most special days of our lives and we are so overjoyed at how much love everyone has shown our little boy! Thank you to everyone for celebrating with us and sending him congratulations!

So in the spirit of having an overnight guest this past weekend and many more to come over the summer, I wanted to share with you how we make our guests feel welcomed into our home and ensure they have a lovely stay with us! I've picked up some tips over the years and know when we go the extra mile for our guests it is much appreciated. So here are the extra special little things that I do in our home when we have friends and family stay with us.

Fresh Flowers in Guest Room

I try to always have fresh flowers in our guest room when we have a visitor. They are always such a cheerful welcome! In the summer months, I usually have an orchid sitting pretty on the nightstand and in the colder months I will put a pretty bouquet in it's place.

Light a Candle the Day of Arrival

So the only real use our guest room ever gets is Wrigley laying in the sun spots, so sometimes I feel like it can be a little stale in there. To liven it up, I always light a candle the day our guests are going to arrive. I also do this in our guest bathroom. Not only do they make our whole upstairs smell great, but they make it feel so warm and inviting when we show ours guests to their room.

Set Towels Out

One thing I always do for our guests is set out a bath towel and multiple face towels out on the dresser. I personally always feel awkward asking for towels or snooping around for them, so I try my best to have it all ready for them when they get here. This way if they want to shower or wash up after a long travel day, they can do so right away.

Have Extra Toiletries in the Guest Bathroom

Another awkward thing I've found when I'm visiting others is if I forget any toiletries, I always feel bad asking to borrow their stuff if it's not in the bathroom I am using. So, I always make it a point to have extra shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and an unopened toothbrush available in our guest bathroom.

Clean the Room

I know this one may seem obvious, but some of us have kids and some of us have pets, so it's very easy for our houses to get messy. I know I've had it happen in the past where the guest bed is all messed up from Wrigley trying to snuggle on it, and I get so embarrassed! So obviously put clean sheets and blankets on the bed and make sure you dust the surfaces. Also, make sure there isn't too much clutter in the room. You want your guests to experience a peaceful setting while they're staying with you. Then shortly before they arrive, do one final quick over to make sure everything is still tidy and cleaned up.

Stock Your Kitchen

Obviously your guests won't be confined to your guest room the whole time, so you want to make sure other parts of your home are inviting, too. One way to do this is to stock up on lots of food and drink options in your kitchen. It is always nice when you're offered a few options at someones house. Not everyone may like the same drinks and snacks as you, so that is why it's good to have some variety. Unless of course you know your guests' favorite food and drinks then it would be nice to have those things on hand to make them feel extra special that you thought of them before hand!

These are just a few things I like to do to welcome guests in to our home and make their stay with us extra special! I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

Make sure you follow me on Snapchat (@dianakaravida) for lots of fun videos of Kai and Wrigley!