The last child has just gone off to college, or maybe you are just lucky enough to have the extra coveted room in your house for the occasional guest. Either way, creating a room that will make your overnight guests feel comfortable and non-intrusive takes a few personal touches that reflect not only the needs of the guest but the personality of the hostess. So find a temporary closet for the exercise equipment or sewing project and get ready to help your guests feel like you have checked them in to a luxury suite with all the amenities. But beware, your guests may never want to leave.
Keeping guest needs in mind
Extra blankets: People have varying opinions of temperature. A wife is cold, her husband is hot. Whatever the preference in temperature, keeping extra blankets in the closet will fulfill all needs.
Nightlight: A source of light is essential for anyone not accustomed to the layout of the room. A nightlight is a great alternative as it chases away the dark corners without interrupting the darkness completely. For those who like to sleep in complete darkness, they can always pull it out of the plug.
Lamps: Lamps allow a person to remain in bed with light without having to rise to turn off the switch. They also give a room a cozy, homey feel. Lamps should be placed on either side of the bed and beside any reclining furniture in the room.
Diversions: The room should be an escape for your guests to relax in privacy. Adding reading material, a few puzzle books and a few pads of paper for quick reminder notes are nice touches.
Vanity: Your guests are going to rise from bed in a strange house and it is unlikely, no matter what the relationship with the hostess, that they will feel completely comfortable emerging from the room without first glancing at their reflections. If you can't fit a vanity table with mirror, make sure that the dresser top is relatively free from baubles and there is a large mirror.
Bathroom: If there is an ajoining bathroom, give plenty of fresh towels, face cloths and new, packaged soap. The bathroom is the perfect place to add all those little extras to make a person feel special.
Helping guests be independent: Think of a charming country inn. You want to feel the warmth and charm of the homey atmosphere but would never want to count on the inn owner for all your needs, and you would certainly never wish to wake her to ask for something. These few touches will help your guests enjoy a little more privacy.
Alarm clock: As a hostess with vacationing guests in your home, you hope that they are not watching their clocks, but it is nice to know the time when you awake. A digital clock that lights up in the dark is much more practical that attempting to see your watch in the dark.
Wastebasket: This tiny touch will have the biggest impact if it is forgotten. Nobody likes others to see their trash.
Cozy chair: Supplying furniture makes a huge impact. It allows the guests to retreat to the solitude of the room without having to sit on the bed.
No family belongings: The closet and the dresser should be completely free of the family's personal belongings. Guests should not feel that they are intruding on or invading personal space. The only thing left in the closet is plenty of hangers.
Little touches
Small refrigerator: The kind used in college dorms is the perfect addition to any guest room. Most guests probably wouldn't feel comfortable running to your kitchen and helping themselves to your refrigerator. And it is relatively impossible for a hostess to know that her guest needs a drink in the middle of the night. Keeping a wet bar with a few bottles of water and juice and a snack pack or two will put any guest at ease.
Fresh flowers: Though not a need, fresh flowers can enliven any room and make any person feel more welcome.
No scents: There are thousands of perfumes and scents on the market for a reason. People have varying tastes about what smells good to them and what does not. What smells fresh to you may smell pungent to your guest. Air freshener sprays, scented drawer liners and scented candles should never be used to freshen another's room.
When it is complete, spend an evening in your guest room to actually live its comfort. By utilizing the room for yourself, you will be able to see if there is a want that someone who doesn't feel quite at home could possibly need.
While on vacation, sometimes it is those little extra touches, those over-the-top indulgences, that can make a room go from nice to indulgent.
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