Getting Ready for Guests

(We had the best time last week hosting family for the holiday weekend. We spent tons of hours at the pool (with plenty of sunscreen and my new DIY Day hat!) and enjoyed so many delicious meals, drinks and laughs together. 

Brad and I are often hosting friends and family and so we have a great little routine for prepping the house and guest rooms to ensure our visitors have the best stay. Today, I'm sharing some of my guest prep secrets (post the obvious clean house and clean sheets) so that they feel comfortable, at home, and even a bit pampered as they arrive. 

1. Add some greenery

Some fresh flowers or branches bring such an organic and natural feel to the space. I think of it like adding jewelry to your outfit, but for your room. A little accessory that goes a long way. The green stems I have pictured have lasted for over 3 months from Trader Joe's and I've only changed the water once so it's a really low cost way to make a big impact. 

2. Pillow it up

Weather you go with a couple of oversized pillows or a cascade of throw pillows, adding pillows brings in some character and tons of comfort. I found these jumbo ones for such a deal at Home Goods. I'm so obsessed with pillows, I think overtime I'll add a few more. I may get a smaller one that I can easily change with the seasons or feel of the room. 

3. Get the Essentials

Lay out towels on the bed (bath and pool towels if applicable), ensure the bathroom is stocked with extra toiletries and plenty of toilet paper and clean out all the trash cans. There is nothing worse than being a guest at someone's house and realizing at the last minute you forgot shampoo or even worse, finishing a roll of toilet paper and having no idea where to find another. Keeping everything in the guest area stocked make it easy for your visitors. As an extra bonus, head over to your local CVS or Walgreens and get a few travel sized goodies that you can keep in the bathroom. You can also get these in bulk on Amazon and keep them on hand for your next guests. 

4. Gift Basket Galore

This is something my mom still does for us when we come visit and it always makes us feel so special! Stock a basket with water bottles, snacks, sweet treats, and more. You can be creative and play it up based on your guests and what they like. In this batch, I included some of their favorite snacks and magazines for pool reading. I knew my sister and brother in-law were going to be on east coast hours so got them some energy material if needed too. 

I always have so much fun prepping for guests and finding little ways to make their stay a bit more memorable. Sometimes I do it through the activities planned, other times through the meals we have, but always through the first impression as they walk into their rooms. 

I'd love to hear how you prep for your guests too, what are some of your favorite things to do or decor to add to the rooms?

xoxo,

Jessica