The Welcome Mat

How to be a good host 

Let's face it, some houseguests are more welcome than others. I mean, we've all seen Houseguest starring Sinbad, and some of us even own it on Blu-ray disc. But as a hostess with the mostest it's courteous to take the time to prepare your home and make it equally as comfortable for all guests (unless they're pop-ins, in which case you have no time). Here are 5 things you can do for your guests to make them feel at home away from home.

Try to give guests their own private space.

It's easy if you have a separate guest room, but if not, consider making your kids give up their room. Or maybe turn the laundry room into a cozy little bunk with a cot. It depends on your guests, but some may prefer a room with a door to a comfortable bed. You might want to ask their preference in advance. Then before your guest arrives, clear out everything you think you might need from their room.  You don't want to keep going in and out of their temporary personal space.

Make sure you've provided enough pillows and spare blankets.

Some people are always cold. Some people like to build a wall of pillows around their sleeping bodies. You never know.  Leave a few extra pillows and blankets out just in case.

Put a few bottles of water in the guest room and/or in the bathroom.

This is a nice touch, and something my family does for me (I'm a very discriminating guest). It's convenient to have water on hand – that way guests won't have to walk to the kitchen and go through every cupboard looking for a glass.

Set up night lights in the bathroom and/or hallways.

Your house is unfamiliar to guests, especially at night in the dark. Plug in some night lights that lead the way to the bathroom. You don't want guests blindly feeling their way in the middle of the night and leaving a trail of fallen wall hangings and broken vases in their wake.

Send a note to tell them you enjoyed their visit.

Traditionally the guest sends a note to thank the host for his or her hospitality.  But to be extra kind, especially if you actually liked having your guests in your home (and would like to be invited to their home some day), send a little note to express your thanks for their company.

What nice things do you do for your houseguests?