Regardless of your actual sleeping accommodations, you should think about your guests and what their needs might be while they’re staying with you. Janel wrote a great post on the subject of guests last week, but in general, here are a few things to think about-
Sleeping surface
1. Pullout sofa – Too hard or bar in the center? How about adding an egg crate foam mattress, a futon mattress or feather bed on top to cushion the blow?
2. Air mattress – Is it easy to set up and take down? We have an Aerobed, and I highly recommend it. More expensive than some of the other versions out there, but it totally pays for itself in ease and speed of use. Also, think about what will need to be moved in order to make space for an air mattress in the room. Plan in advance where to move things so that when the time comes, set-up is a snap (and guests don’t feel like they’re an inconvenience).
3. Sleeping on the floor – Sometimes, clearing a space on the floor is the best you can do…and that’s ok. Again, the trick is to make it as comfortable of an experience as possible. Do you have removable sofa cushions you could arrange into a makeshift bed? (Sounds crazy, I know, but a good friend of mine still raves about the sleep she got at another friend’s house sleeping on Ikea EXTORP cushions on the floor!) Or how about a feather bed, comforter, blanket or futon mattress to soften things up?
Linens, Blankets, Pillows & Towels
1. Linens - Regardless of the sleeping surface, your guests are going to need ‘bed’ linens. Hopefully you have an extra set, but if you don’t – put them on your shopping list now. The problem with extra linens is that they normally aren’t used very often. Which means that no matter how clean they are, they’re likely to smell musty. Taking a few minutes to rectify this situation will go a long ways towards making your guest feel welcome. If you have a dryer, toss them in with a dryer sheet to fluff them up and rid them of their crammed-in-a-closet smell. If you don’t, spray them down with a little Febreze, air dry and fold.
2. Blankets– If possible, it’s good to provide your guests with a couple of options when it comes to blankets. Having options allows your guests to balance the room temperature, their choice in sleeping attire and their personal comfort level for themselves. Blankets can also get musty, and should be freshened in the same manner as the linens.
3. Pillows– Like sleeping temperature, pillow comfort is very subjective. If possible, provide guests with at least two pillows, of varying softness to use. Some may use one, and some may use two, but all will appreciate having a choice.
4. Towels- If possible, provide your guest with a full set of towels. Freshen them if needed, as you did the blankets and linens. Let your guest know where they can hang the towels when they’re wet and make sure to review any peculiarities of your plumbing in advance.
Light & Privacy
Often the space that your guests will be using isn’t normally used for sleeping. As a result, it may be brighter or less private than would be comfortable that purpose. Analyzing the street lights outside the window at night, the daylight streaming in in the morning and the view into the space from outside can help you determine where to position the head of the ‘bed’ and let you know if additional window coverings are needed. My favorite solutions are temporary pleated paper blinds or expensive Ikea panels and tension rods. A panel and tension rod can also be used to create a privacy ‘door’ if one does not exist (i.e. in a doorway between the living room and kitchen, etc.)
Luggage & Clothes Storage
Even if you don’t have a guest room, it’s nice to give guests a little space of their own for their luggage clothes, and bed linens. An extra chair can easily be called into use as a luggage stand, and an over-the-door hook can provide guests hanging space even when your closets are filled to capacity. Designate an easy to access, but out of the way corner to tuck away linens, pillows, etc. when not in use.
The Extras
1. A Nightstand- It’s the little things that really make your guests feel welcome. Clearing off an end table or creating a temporary nightstand out of a stack of books and a tray gives you a place to provide some niceties and your guest a place to put small personal items.
2. Reading Material - Select a few magazines and a book (short stories work best) for your guest in case they’d like to relax and read while staying with you. Help them get the lay of the land by providing a map and a guide of the area. I also keep a City Walks of my city on hand so that my guests can pick a card, pick a neighborhood, and venture out on their own if they’d like.
3. Flowers-bFlowers are the ultimate indulgence and a single bloom in a bud vase on your temporary ‘nightstand’ conveys a loving and thoughtful message to your guest. Don’t have any flowers on hand? Check the crisper drawer in your fridge. Fresh herbs are an excellent stand-in. I once used a handful of fresh poultry herbs in an inexpensive votive holder – it looked and smelled amazing!
4. Water - You’ve seen it many times before, a lovely carafe of water and drinking glass on the bedside table in a guest room. It’s a great idea, and your guests will appreciate having their own water handy in the middle of the night. Rather than stress about having the perfect carafe though, be creative! I use an empty white wine bottle with the label removed and a cork. (You can buy reusable corks online for super cheap, or better yet, use the bottle stopper you already have!) For the glass, I use a small, trusty Ikea bistro glass.
5. Snacks - It’s nice if you can leave a couple of non-perishable snacks like fruit, granola bars, pretzels, etc. at the ready for your guests. That way, if they get munchy late at night they won’t feel like they have to trouble you for something.
6. Breakfast- Depending on the occasion and your relationship to your guests, you may all eat breakfast together. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have several easy to prepare breakfast foods on hand. (If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that people get hungry at different times in the morning.) Having cereal, yogurt or bagels available will allow your guests to grab something on their own (even if it’s only to hold them over until the pancake extravaganza begins). Also, review operations and options for coffee and tea with your guests the night before. Then, if they get up earlier than you, (as may happen, especially if their internal clock is on a different time zone), they can help themselves.
Remember, the idea is to make your guest feel welcome, and you don’t have to have a guest room to do that. Any planning or preparation you do in advance of your guest’s arrival will show thoughtful consideration and reinforce the idea that you’re happy to have them staying with you.
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Great post and oh so timely with the big T-day just around the corner. I'm looking forward to a houseful of overnight guests and will surely be putting some of these tips into action! Thanks!
I second the Aerobed, mine is very comfortable and easy to use & store.
This week I had an unexpected overnight guest (miscommunication!) and realized one thing I need to obtain before my next guest stays over is a reading lamp that can be turned on/off without the person having to leave their bed!
When my parents visit, they get my bedroom with all the comforts - and I sleep in the living room on the sectional sofa.
@bepsf--- you're a good child and your parents are lucky to have you. :)
If you have a guest bath that's not used regularly by someone, I know it's expected to have soap/shower gel available, but should the host also include shampoo and conditioner?
flavorsplash - I would think it wouldn't hurt to at least have a bottle of shampoo or even better a bottle of shampoo/conditioner in one. Since it's impossible to please everyone, a bottle of a decent to nice brand is probably best.
I keep a few spare (new) toothbrushes in the linen closet in case someone forgets theirs or stays over unexpectedly.
Our accommodations are fairly humble: an Aerobed on the floor of my office. So I provide a basket of travel toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrush) and an inexpensive, one-size-fits-most cotton bathrobe so that my guests can dash to the bathroom without worrying about flashing their hosts.
I suppose there are some Aerobeds that are comfortable, but I've slept on a number of models at various friends' houses, and none of theirs were.
Whatever the bed in the guest room--sleep on it for a couple of nights yourself to be sure it's as comfortable as you would like. Some family of mine for years had their guest bed right under a very sharp dormer and I would always hit my head on it, no matter how many times I reminded myself not to--it was in exactly the wrong place. I FINALLY got up the nerve to complain and they were dumbfounded since they had never slept in the bed.
Wow, would hate to have Charlotte as a guest unless I had 5 star accomodations for her. Sheesh!!!
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions! I have a friend coming in and want her to feel as comfortable and as at home as possible!
I only want a few things when staying over as a guest. A place to sleep that the host could manage to sleep themselves - if it's too uncomfortable for you, then it's the same for the guest. The other things are more than one pillow, to know where the clean towels are in case I want/need an extra, and if the person likes to sleep in to know where to at least find some bread for toast the next morning.
I don't think Charlotte is all that unreasonable. I haven't had a good nights sleep on an aerobed either. I prefer the sofa cushion idea to an air matress. No one said you should provide a 5 star hotel. Just make sure the bed is safe and stabile - sofa cushions slide apart and sharp corners you hit you're head on is not very nice.
I too believe in the "sleep in your guest bed to check it out" approach. As it happens, I have some health problems that lead me to use our guest room some nights, so as not to keep my husband up with my coughing. I can attest that our guest bed and room are very comfortable.
Great tips!
Earplugs - the soft ones that don't stick out. These are great if you have a guest sleeping in a public space. We actually use these on our eldest daughter who gives up her room for guests and sleeps in the office or with the baby in the nursery. It really helps her to get to sleep when others are staying up and stay asleep during crack of dawn diaper changes.
I'm very proud of one of my friends who squeezed in 4 guests into her tiny NY apartment. One friend shared her bed, 2 were on the sofa bed (she moved the dining table to the side and had no coffee table), and another slept on the floor, on the sofa cushions.
It was easy to clear up, and the 6 of us hung out at her place just fine for a weekend.
Oh, and one last point: I don't really understand the point of having a dedicated guest room. I mean, really, how often are you really having guests? Now if it's a storage/office/guest room, great.
I found a daybed with a pop-up trundle at a second hand store. The frame was hideous so I made a headboard/footboard out of plywood and simple moulding. The ends are the same height as the mattress so it doesn't seem overwhelming in the small room it's in. I now have two twin beds that can be used together as a "king" bed or separately in different rooms if necessary.