Of the many things to love about the summer season, hosting guests might just top the list. Whether it’s an old friend or far-away family, welcoming visitors is your chance to catch up, express affection, and, of course, show off your home.
But, for many travelers, getting comfortable in a new space is always a challenge. We’ve all been there. Without being able to control your environment (as you can at home), it can be quite difficult to relax somewhere new.
Want to spruce up your guest room for a better hosting experience? Luckily, it only takes a few tweaks to give your guests a top-tier space.
From our laundry and lifestyle experts at WaveMAX, try these simple steps to create a guest room so lovely, you’ll have to beg them to leave!
From Decor to Laundry: 9 Guest Room Ideas for Visitors This Summer
Provide Flexible Lighting and Temperature Options
To replicate the at-home sleeping experience, be sure to give your guests plenty of ways to adjust the feel of their room. Lighting and temperature are especially key! Here are a few things to incorporate:
1-2 cooling methods such as a ceiling fan or standing fan
Blackout curtains, both for temperature and lighting
For lighting, be sure to add one lamp on each nightstand, one on the desk, and at least one form of standing lamp. To make things extra cozy, choose warm-toned light bulbs!
Include an Assortment of Pillow Sizes and Styles
No two visitors will have the same sleeping preferences, which means it’s up to you to provide multiple pillow options.
To play it safe, invest in at least one softer pillow and one firmer pillow. Four is ideal for a full-sized bed or larger.
When it comes to decorative or throw pillows, think about functionality. Will they be able to prop up a guest who wants to sit up in bed? The answer should be yes!
Between visitors, it’s also a good idea to wash the guest room pillows. Read this blog to learn how.
Make Charging Easy
Whether it’s a five-star hotel or a roadside motel, everywhere you stay these days has an outlet an arm’s reach away from the bed. Your guest room should be no different! However you choose to arrange the room, make sure your visitors can charge their phones from the nightstand.
For an extra dose of hospitality, have multiple charging cords plugged in and ready to go before your guests arrive.
Build a Welcome Basket
No one gets to a travel destination without leaving a thing or two behind—usually from the toiletry department. Make your guests’ arrival day easier than ever by building a welcome basket complete with:
Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash
A fresh bar of soap
Unopened shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (sample-sized works!)
A loofah
Water battles and drinking glasses
A few packaged snacks
Chocolate, cookies, or another sweet treat
A candle with a new matchbook
A list of wifi passwords, any security codes, and important phone numbers
Select a Soft Area Rug
Depending on who you’re hosting, your guest might be shy about making noise. A reliable way to ease this concern is donning your guest room with a large area rug. To minimize sound, be sure to choose one with a soft and fluffy material!
However, area rugs can quickly become hot spots for allergens and dust if left uncleaned. Check out this article to master DIY rug cleaning!
Keep the Decor Impersonal
Is your guest room currently filled with family photos? As much as your guests likely love seeing everyone’s faces, they don’t necessarily need to look at them while falling asleep or waking up.
As you dive into decorating, try your best to keep the personalized embellishments to a minimum! This list has plenty of family photo-free inspiration.
Use a Laundry Scent Booster
For any laundry you do in preparation for a guest's arrival, consider incorporating some form of scent booster. You can:
Use a freshly scented detergent (liquid is usually best for smell)
Mix a dash of essential oils into your wash cycle
However, strong scents can trigger skin sensitives in allergy-prone guests. If you know your visitor is sensitive to smell, skip this step!
Provide Fluffy, Matching Towels
Nothing says luxury like large, soft, and fluffy towels. Wondering why hotel towels feel so spa-like? At nicer hotels, they’re usually made from 100% Turkish cotton. If grandeur is your goal, be sure to read our other Airbnb towel tips!
If luxury towels don’t fit your budget, you can still achieve a hotel feel by giving your guests a matching set. Include 1-2 body towels, 2 hand towels, and at least 2 washcloths.
Oh, and don’t bother adding fabric softeners to your load of towels. It can damage the texture! Instead, add a dash of distilled white vinegar.
Choose Lightly Colored Linens
There’s a reason most hotels use white sheets – they look welcoming, feel refreshing, and represent all-around cleanliness. Even if it’s subconscious, your guests will likely feel more comfortable climbing into white bedding!
If you’re in the market for a new set of white sheets, be sure to check out our blog on choosing the right ones for hosting guests.
If you’d rather deep clean the ones you already have, keep in mind that linens require specific cleaning techniques. This blog covers the basics, and this one covers bleach-free methods.
Tap a Laundry Professional
Spending time with guests is tons of fun, but preparing for their arrival can be nothing short of stressful. Whether you’re in a time crunch or determined to impress with the best, the WaveMAX team of Denver laundry professionals is here to help!
We not only have the best laundromat in the Denver Metro at your disposal—we can also do your laundry for you with pick-up and delivery. Click here to schedule yours!
Need professional laundry for a vacation rental? Head to our Airbnb laundry page to learn more about our commercial laundry service.
