How to Prepare your Home for Overnight Christmas Guests

If your plans this Christmas include having a house full of overnight guests you’ll need to ensure you’ve thought of everything when it comes to getting the house prepared.

If you do it in the next week or so, you’ll be organised and ready to go and won’t have to think about this aspect of Christmas again.

So, here’s a little checklist I’ve put together to help you get organised for your overnight Christmas guests.

How to Get your Christmas Home Ready for Overnight Guests: 15 Step Guide

Here are our 15 essential steps to ensuring your home is ready for overnight guests this holiday season.

1. Prepare the Spare Bedroom

This is the main issue for lots of people. Where on earth are you going to put your overnight guests at night-time. If you have a spare room, that’s brilliant, so let’s talk about what you need to do to get that ready.

The bed will need a refresh. Ensure you have fresh sheets, extra pillows, a throw or blanket or maybe an eider down to keep your guests warm and comfortable at night.

Image: Urbanara

Next assess the lighting and give each guest a reading light or table lamp next to the bed. The bedside table can be fully equipped with flowers or small plant, a few essential toiletries and a phone charger.

Maybe add a coaster and glass for an evening sip of water, plus a few magazines for easy reading. For younger guests you could add a nightlight too.

Giving guests a chair in the room or some hanging space in a wardrobe is a good idea for clothes storage, and of course don’t forget a bundle of soft, freshly laundered towels. It’s really only a few bits but doing all of this is very thoughtful and helps your guests feel welcome and settled in your home.

2. Create Alternative Sleeping Arrangements

Now if you don’t have a spare room, you need to make alternative sleeping arrangements and plan for this in advance.

Do you have a sofa bed perhaps in an office or dining room?

This is great for extra beds when you need them, just make sure you have the duvet and pillows all set up and ready to go so you don’t have to fight with the duvet cover at 11pm at night.

Just store them in a cupboard or blanket box as soon as you can. Make sure you have a side table and bedside lamp that you can pull into position when you need it.

Ideally, the sofa bed works best when it’s situated in a room you close off. If it’s on the main walkway to the kitchen your guests may be getting an early alarm call, particularly if you have children.

3. Prepare the Bathrooms

Prepare your bathrooms for all the extra overnight guests. Spare toothpaste and brushes for emergencies. Piles of spare towels, shower wash, shower caps, toiletries and loo roll all make the event go off without a hitch! Just add a few extra things to your shopping list this week and don’t give it another thought.

4. Ensure you’ve enough extra seating

Maybe you’ve been so concerned about the sleeping arrangements you’ve forgotten to consider where everyone will sit during the day. Spare chairs are great, but it’s good to make your home look natural, like you planned all these extra seats into the scheme.

Not always easy to do I admit but see what you can do. Slot an extra dining chair into the living room. Bring in a couple of colour coordinated stools or pouffes. Beanbags work well for kids in the den/playroom area, or larger cushions for younger guests who don’t mind lounging on the floor.

Benches at the dining table can seat many more people than simple chairs can. But a stack of stylish chairs in the corner of the room works wonders when you need a bunch of them for dinner. They look cool and you can keep a good number of them to hand for when they are required.

5. Stock Up on Essentials

Before your guests arrive, visit the guest bathroom to ensure it’s fully stocked with toiletries. Place extras of everything—think rolls of toilet paper, bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, and even unused toothbrushes and toothpaste. Little touches like a spare razor, feminine products, and a hairdryer can go a long way in making guests feel at home.

6. Set Up a Coffee/Tea Station

In a convenient spot in your kitchen or the guest room, prepare a coffee and tea station. Equip it with a coffee maker or kettle, an assortment of teas, coffee, sugar, creamer, and some biscuits or granola bars. This gives guests the freedom to enjoy a warm cup whenever they please, without having to rummage through your kitchen.

7. Check Lighting and Electronics

Assess the guest room for adequate lighting—add a bedside lamp for night readers and ensure there’s a bright overhead light. Also, make sure there are enough power outlets to charge multiple devices; if not, a power strip is a handy solution. A small Bluetooth speaker for them to play their own music can also be a nice addition.

8. Clear Closet Space and Drawers

Nothing says ‘welcome’ like having space to unpack. Clear out some closet space and a few drawers for your guests’ use. Supply plenty of hangers for hanging clothes, and consider adding a few thoughtful items like a plush robe and slippers.

9. Provide Fresh Linens and Towels

Lay out a set of freshly laundered bed linens and fluffy towels for each guest. Place an extra blanket at the foot of the bed and a variety of pillows, as preferences for pillow firmness can vary widely.

10. Plan for Entertainment

In the guest room, create a small entertainment nook. Include a stack of recent magazines, a few bestselling novels, and maybe even a tablet loaded with movies and shows. If you have a smart TV, include a guide for using any streaming services you subscribe to.

11. Create a Welcome Kit

Assemble a welcome kit that includes a local map, a spare key, the Wi-Fi password, and a list of your favorite local spots. A couple of bus or subway tickets and a small umbrella could also be included for those ready to explore, regardless of the weather.

12. Ensure Home Safety

Conduct a safety walkthrough of your home. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and ensure that a fire extinguisher is on hand and not expired. In the guest room, place a small card with emergency contact numbers, including yours and local services.

13. Prepare the Kitchen

Consider your guests’ dietary preferences and allergies when stocking up on groceries. Label the cabinets and drawers or give a quick tour of your kitchen to show where they can find essentials like dishes, pots, and snacks. Perhaps prepare a batch of homemade cookies or treats to greet them with.

14. Adjust the Home Climate

A day before arrival, adjust your home’s heating or cooling to ensure the guest room is at a comfortable temperature. Place a small fan or space heater in the room, so guests can adjust the temperature to their liking without altering the whole house’s setting.

15. Add Personal Touches

Adding personal touches can make a guest’s stay memorable. Fresh flowers on the nightstand, a small basket of varied chocolates, or even a handwritten note can make guests feel truly welcome and cared for. If they’re repeat guests, include something that reminds them of their last stay or an inside joke shared between you.

So how do these tips work for you? Is your home ready for your Christmas overnight guests? Did I miss anything?

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If you like this post then check out our other seasonal tips:

50 Living Room Updates for Christmas

25 Best Christmas Coffee Table Decor Ideas

How to Prepare your Kitchen for Christmas

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