Essential Tips for Organizing Your Home for Guests

Are you hosting company over the holidays? If houseguests feel at home, everyone will enjoy a relaxed visit. Here are some tips:

• Declutter/clean: Decluttering the guest room and common areas is the first step (foyer, living room, kitchen). If you don’t have time for a good cleaning, hire help. Potomac Concierge is happy to help declutter and organize your home.
• Modify decor: Decorate guest area sparingly, perhaps with some simple flowers and a few books they might like. Remove knick-knacks to add storage space.
• Ensure privacy: Check the curtains or blinds. If your guests will sleep in the living room, buy inexpensive privacy screens.
• Supply the nightstand:  Supply a good reading lamp along with a box of tissues, some magazines, an alarm clock, a bottle of water and a glass. A phone recharger would be a nice touch.
• Put out a suitcase holder: Allow your guests to unpack off the floor (e.g. foldable luggage rack).
• Provide a desk: If possible, provide a small desk or cleared tabletop and stock it with pens, paper, note cards, envelopes, and stamps.
• Hang a mirror: A full-length one is ideal.
• Supply fresh sheets:  They should be freshly washed. Starched and ironed cotton or linen sheets will give them hotel crispness.
• Have enough pillows: The rule of thumb is 2 per person (1 soft, 1 firm). Provide both light and heavy blankets as well as a lightweight throw for afternoon naps.
• If you don’t have a guest room: If you’re using an inflatable mattress, make sure it’s in good condition. Inflate beforehand and check for holes. Vacuum surface so it’s free of dust.
• Provide closet space: Declutter the guestroom closet, and supply a variety of hangers that will hold pants, jackets, and dresses.  If no guestroom, clear an area in your bedroom closet.  Give them at least one drawer or shelf space.
• Have dedicated towels: Get new ones, and color code so multiple guests don’t mix them up.  If the bathroom is short on hooks, ensure there’s a place for wet towels in their room (e.g. hooks, over-the-door rack).
• Supply essentials: Have toiletries ready (e.g. shampoo, toothbrush, soap, razors, etc). If bathroom is shared, you may prefer them in a basket where the guest will sleep. Have lots of toilet paper so nobody has to make an awkward request for more. 
• Plug in night lights:  If the bathroom isn’t attached to the bedroom, have the path to the hall bath slightly lit.
• Allow for temperature control: You may wish to give your guests a fan or space heater.
• Provide activities: Come up with a list of activities your guests may enjoy and provide them with website links, local maps, timetables, and train/bus schedules.
• Create an extra house key: If they arrive while you’re out, tell them where it’s hidden. Give them a copy so they don’t have to ring the doorbell every time.
• Be hospitable with food:  Have breakfast basics on hand.  Coffee is often a must for most.  Offer guests regular and herbal tea.  Don’t forget snack foods.
• Post tech instructions:  Alarm systems, remote controls, and thermostats all work differently. Leave instructions on how to operate.

Contact Potomac Concierge for Decluttering and Organization

Give houseguests five-star treatment. The little things matter and can be key to a successful visit. If you lack the time for all the prep, call Potomac Concierge. Our professional organizers will get your home into guest mode with our help for the holidays. We’ll take care of everything – de-cluttering, organizing, shopping and everything else.