Hi friends!
I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! Did you have any big plans? On Friday, my parents came to town to stay the weekend and celebrate my daughter’s ninth birthday. The weekend was pretty low key, but we had such a great time enjoying the local shopping, cooking together and catching up. As I’ve mentioned before, my parents live about five hours north of me so I don’t get to spend as much time with them as I would like. It’s normally easier for us to go up to visit them for a week or so over school breaks and holidays. Since they were making the trip down this time, I wanted to put together a few special touches to make them feel welcome and show how excited we were to have them!
We do not have a guest room so when company comes, we use my daughter’s room and she bunks up with her brother since he has a set of twin beds. I love how light and airy her room is. The afternoon sun pours in and makes it bright and cheery. Since we moved, I’ve been so focused on the public spaces and have been putting off the bedrooms. I’ve got big plans for her bedroom which I plan to share with you down the road, but I digress.
Today, I’m highlighting ways to make your guests feel welcome with my company checklist!
Make guests feel welcome with this company checklist:
- Fresh sheets
- Extra pillows
- Plush throw blanket regardless of season
- Magazines or books by the bed
- Fresh flowers in the guest room and bathroom
- Welcome guests with bottled water and a small snack tray in their room including locally made food products.
- Luggage rack and space in closet for hanging clothes
- Stock the bathroom with extra toiletries, towels, hand towels, soap, toilet paper and a hairdryer. I save the pretty mini toiletries from hotel rooms to leave in a decanter for my guest bathroom.
- Have snacks, coffee and drinks at the ready. Items guests can grab on their own are always appreciated. A batch of muffins on the counter, a bottle of their favorite wine or snacks in the pantry go a long way in making company feel welcome.
- Consider allergies or dietary needs, especially if you plan to cook at home for your guests.
- Provide a spare key and list of passwords or important instructions, e.g.; how to use the security alarm, wi-fi password, etc.
- For first time visitors, put together a small welcome pack of maps, local attractions and points of interest. This information can easily be picked up at your local visitor’s bureau.
- Plan activities but leave room in the schedule for flexibility. I like to have a running list of things to do with guests but be sure not to over plan and leave room for down time.
So there you have it! With a few personal touches and a little effort, they’ll feel like their staying at a small town bed and breakfast. What are your tips for entertaining overnight guests?
Cheers,
Christa
mallard & MAGNOLIA 