Holiday houseguests are a big part of this time of the year. Family and friends gathering to celebrate and visit together are not tough customers - your nearest and dearest don't mind if the towels aren't brand new or if the magazines are outdated. BUT, some small niceties go a long way to making them feel welcome and making you feel like a great host. You likely have most of these items already, they just need to be gathered up, spruced up and set up bedside. Jump below for a quick list:
1) A Good Reading Light. Example shown: Script Desk Lamp, $59.95
2) A Cozy Throw or Extra Blanket. Example shown: Tessuto Throw, $39.95
3) A Carafe and Cup for Water. Example shown: Cora Carafe with Cup, $9.95
4) Local Area Guidebooks. Examples shown: Chicago Architecture and Design, $16.95 and Eat Shop Chicago for $14.95
5) A Small Vase with a Fresh Flower or Two. Examples shown: Mini Bud Vases for $1.50 - 1.95
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I am a terrible klutz and tend to knock over any vessel of liquid, so please supply water in something with a lid!
the lamp is perfect
If your guidebook doesn't have a map, a local map is a must.
My recent guests also enjoyed copies of Savannah magazine and The South magazine. So, I would say some local reads would be nice. I also have some books in my guestrooms on Savannah history that seem to be faves with guests. No copies of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil though :)
i always prepare a little package of all things Chicago and place it on the end of the bed or on the side table: wrigley's gum, a city map, chicago home & garden or CS Interiors magazine, fannie may chocolates, something from the cubs or white sox (depending upon who's staying!) and any other little "chicago" things i think of. it makes it really personal, special and undoubtedly Chicago!!
Not everything I'd expect to have...but maybe I would rather my guests have more personal things around.
Our guest room when guests will be over is sure to have: nice bed linens, plenty of lighting sources (even if we have to move a lamp into the room), extra pillows and blanket, a few misc magazines and/or some books, and since a mini-fridge is in the room, we'd stock it with bottled water.