Whether it’s summer vacation, the holiday season, or another time of year, having overnight guests in your home can be exciting and memorable. Being able to spend quality time with friends and family is always a treat.

Truth be told, though, having guests can also be stressful, especially if you’re not prepared. Too few towels, not enough toilet paper, or a lack of sheets can be problematic, especially at the end of a long day.

To prevent this stress and keep your guests happy and comfortable, NSA Storage presents the following guide. In it you’ll discover how to prep guest rooms for family and friends. Read on to make sure their visit is joyful, and your stress levels stay low.

Stock Up on Essentials Before Guests Arrive

Having guests over increases the need for a few very specific items in your home. To keep everyone happy and comfy, it’s best to stock up on these items before your family and friends arrive. These include:

• Toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels
• Bath towels of various sizes
• Fresh linens and blankets
• Toiletries like soap, shampoo, and toothpaste

Add Personal Touches to Make Guests Feel at Home

The nicest thing you can do for your guests is make them feel “at home” in your home. One way to do that is to add some personal touches to their temporary living space. These will make your guests feel wanted and loved, including:

• A scented candle or an essential oil diffuser
• A heavy blanket for chilly nights or to cozy up on the sofa
• Some books or magazines that focus on things they care about.
• A pretty flower arrangement

Declutter Your Guest Room and Closet

If you don’t have many guests you might end up using your guest room to store stuff, or as a catch-all. If that’s the case, you’ll want to declutter before everyone arrives. For example:

• Make some room on the hanging bar(s) in the guest room closet.
• Empty a few drawers for guests to use in any dressers or night stands in the guest room.
• Clear off the guest room desk if you have one, so your guests can work, study, or set up a laptop computer.
• Box up things like toys, sports equipment, loose clothes, etc., and stack them out of the way.
• If needed, vacuum, dust and otherwise clean the room.

Special Touches You Can Make to The Guest Room

What we’ve provided so far are good but, to be honest, rather mundane tips. The special touches we talk about, below, will take your guest room prep to the next level!

-Provide Guests a Charging Station

Most folks these days travel with at least one electronic device, if not two or three. Providing a charging station for their devices is a nice touch that will be much appreciated.

-Make Your Guests a “Welcome Basket”

Wherever you live, there are no doubt some local places with local goods such as farmers markets and flea markets. Making a basket filled with local goodies will be a wonderful treat for your guests.

-Offer Several Types of Bed Pillow

Some people love a nice, soft, squishy pillow. Others prefer one that’s more firm, or flat, or fluffy. Whatever they like, if you offer several pillow types to your guests they will sleep better while visiting.

-Have Sleep Aids Available for Noise or Light-Sensitive Guests

Some family and friends will no doubt have sensitivity to light, sound, or both. For them, providing a few sleep aids will go far toward making their stay comfortable. For example:

• A white noise machine to cover up nighttime noises
• A “blackout” curtain to minimize both natural and manmade light 
• A night light
• A bluetooth speaker

-Frame the Wi-Fi Password and Hang It on the Wall

Everyone wants to be online, including your guests. To help them get there, print out your Wi-Fi password, frame it, and hang it where it will be easy to spot. That way, they won’t have to keep asking, bother you late at night, or miss their favorite podcast.

-Provide a Foldable Stand for Suitcases

Depending on how long they stay, some guests might “live out of their suitcase”. To make that easier, have a foldable stand ready. That will bring the suitcase up to a comfortable level and make getting dressed easier and less stressful.

-Fill a Large Bowl With Their Favorite Snacks

If you know your guests well, you probably know some of their favorite snacks. If that’s the case, fill a bowl or other container with those snacks, including drinks. This special touch is even better when your guests are children, tweens, or teens.

Rent a Storage Unit to Free Up Even More Space

If you live in a smaller home or apartment, you know that space is at a premium. Having guests over in this case will still be enjoyable but might be extremely cramped and uncomfortable. To free up space, consider renting a storage unit for a month or two. That way, you can move a bunch of extra, unneeded stuff to your storage unit and have lots of extra room at home.

At NSA Storage, you can rent a storage unit for as long, or short, as you like. Why? Because we don’t have long-term storage contracts. You can rent for a single month, two months, six months, or whatever you need. That means you won’t ever be stuck in a contract that you don’t need. See our FAQ page for more information.

Hosting friends and family in your home is one of the great joys of life. Being prepped to host makes that time together more enjoyable and comfortable. Free up extra space with NSA Storage and have a stress-free holiday season!