10 Tips to Prep for Overnight Guests

Hosting overnight guests doesn’t have to be stressful or require a picture-perfect guest room. With a few simple touches and a little prep, you can make anyone feel at home in your home. Keep reading for easy, practical tips to help you welcome guests without the overwhelm!

Before our 4 children came along and claimed all the bedrooms in our farmhouse, we had a dedicated “guest room” for when out-of-town family came to visit.

We no longer have a dedicated guest room… but we have had guests stay with us on occasion. It’s tight, but doable!

Eventually, we may have a more spacious guest area for friends and family after our outbuilding renovations are finished… but in the meantime, there are plenty of simple, frugal things we can all do to create a cozy and inviting space for guests in our home (even if it’s just the pull-out couch in our den.

If you hope to host overnight guests in the near future, here are 10 helpful tips to prepare…

1. Sleep in the room/space for a night.

Do a trial run before your guests spend the night in your space — just to make sure everything is as it should be.

This is the best way to quickly spot things you forgot or something you should adjust.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Is there an obvious place to charge phones or computers?
• Is there a place to hang a wet towel? Wet bathing suits? Bathrobe?
• Is there a place to put their suitcases or other bags without constantly tripping over them?
• Is there adequate privacy? (Curtains on windows, room dividers, locks on the doors, etc.)
• Are there hangers in the closet? Or at least somewhere for them to put their clothing?
• Is there a mirror in the room?
• Do you have a bedside lamp?
• Is there a clock and/or an alarm clock?
• Is the room too hot or cold? Do you need a fan, a heater, or an extra blanket?
• Is it quite noisy (people walking on the floor above), in which case you might need a noisemaker?

2. Be tech-ready.

Technology is a big part of travel these days. Making sure your guests can easily use their tech items in your space will go a long way to helping them feel welcome.

• Have visible and easily-accessible outlets for them to charge their devices.
• Post your Wi-Fi password on their dresser or bathroom mirror (or just text it to them).
• Have extension cords or power strips available in their room.
• Tape a quick “how to” note on the TV remote, DVD player, etc.

3. Remove your personal items.

Before your guests arrive, take anything you might need to use out of the space.

For example, if you keep your vacuum or extra dining chairs in the guest closet, you should remove them before they “move in” to the space.

It’s also a good idea to remove anything of yours that could get in their way (even if you won’t need to use it during their stay).

For example, if you store holiday decorations in the closet or extra beach towels in the dresser, remove them to make space for their items. You might just need to put them in the garage, basement, shed, or even your own bedroom.

4. Declutter the space.

Along with removing your personal items from the room, it will be much more welcoming for your guests to have a neat, clean space to settle into.

• Move knick-knacks (picture frame displays, office supplies, etc.) off surfaces that your guests may want to use.
• If furniture is too bulky, shift it to another location, if possible.
• Create enough usable space in the closet, dresser, or other storage areas they may need to use.

5. Clean the space.

Once you remove your personal items and extra clutter, you’ll also want to make sure the space is clean.

• Dust, sweep, and vacuum.
• Clean whatever bathroom they will be using.
• Wash all the bedding.
• Wipe down baseboards, door frames, and light fixtures.
• Clean mirrors and windows.

It also might be a nice idea to leave a container of sanitizing wipes or a dustbuster in their space so they have the ability to clean up any messes they make without bothering you.

6. Provide extra toiletries.

While it’s not essential to provide toiletry items for your guests, it can make their stay much easier and compensate for items they may have forgotten but are too shy or embarrassed to ask you for.

Consider creating a little care basket with some or all of the following:

• shampoo, conditioner, and soap/body wash
• lotion and/or sunscreen
• toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• feminine hygiene items
• nail clippers
• ear plugs
• diapers and wipes (if they are coming with a baby)

This could be a great way to use up sample-size products and hotel freebies!

7. Have snacks available.

Guests often feel awkward asking for a snack when they are hungry, so it’s usually a nice idea to have some non-perishable snacks available in their room.

• granola bars
• small bags of chips/popcorn/crackers
• dried fruit
• trail mix
• candy
• gum/mints
• water bottles

If guests are staying with you for several days, it’s also nice to offer a heads-up on your plan for meals.

• what times you normally eat
• what foods you plan to make
• when/where you plan to go out to eat

The more information you can provide without them needing to ask “when will we eat” or “what’s for dinner”, the more comfortable they will be in your home.

8. Explain your “house rules”.

I don’t think we should expect our guests to be robots in our home, but I do think it’s nice to alert them to how we normally do things.

• normal meal times
• normal wake and sleep times
• if you’re a shoes-off house
• if pets are or are not allowed on furniture
• if little kids or teens are regularly awake and loud at an abnormally early or late hour

Other house tidbits could be helpful for guests, too. Things like:

• Does your toilet handle require a little extra shake to get the water to stop running?
• Does the backdoor sometimes stick a little when it’s humid?
• Where are the extra towels if necessary?
• What is the code for the garage door?

These might seem like overkill, but they can make a big difference for your guests without much extra work on your part.

9. Add a personal touch.

A few flowers, a sweet card/drawing from your child, a fun photo of you and your guest, or a favorite treat you know they will love are simple, frugal, and very fun ways to welcome guests into your home.

10. Plan logistics and activities.

Before your guests arrive, take a few moments to think about their entire stay and the most important things you want to make sure to do together.

You may even discuss with them ahead of time so you’re both on the “same page”.

Once you have a mental plan, make work of creating actual plans, reservations, etc.

• Buy tickets for an event you want to attend together.
• Make reservations for your favorite restaurant.
• Scope out the weather forecast so you can plan outdoor activities on an appropriate day.
• Find a car or bikes for your guests, if necessary.
• Have extra carseats, cribs, highchairs, toys, or other baby/child gear, if necessary.
• Ask around for local gyms that might offer a free week’s trial, if this is something your guests would appreciate.

These are the things that aren’t totally necessary, but will make a huge difference in your guests’ stay — both for your guests AND for you.

Oh, and one more thing… try to relax a little and enjoy the time with your guests!

They came to see you, so don’t stress about making everything perfect (yes, I’m preaching to myself here too!)

Do you have other simple tips to prepare your home for overnight guests?