Preparing for House Guests

If you've been following our blog for any length of time, or know much about us, you know we're passionate about family! Although many of us live close enough to visit on a weekly basis, some of our favorites are scattered around western Canada.
As often as possible we get together. This usually means preparing the guest room. It can be so much fun getting ready to host guests. Preparing beforehand takes away some of the stress and simply allows us to enjoy our time together.

These are some of the things we do to create a comfortable space for our guests.

• Ideally guest rooms have their own bathroom or are in a part of the house with easy access to one.
• Fresh flowers on the nightstand or dresser are a quick and simple way to decorate the room and welcome our friends and family.
• Beds are dressed in fresh linens; flannel in the winter and crisp cotton in the summer. Each guest gets two pillows.
• A set of fresh towels, including bath, hand and face cloths, are available for each guest.
• An alarm clock is great so guests can get themselves up on time.
• A small selection of books and magazines is available for night time reading.
• Closet space and a couple of empty drawers are important, especially for those staying longer than a weekend.
• Something unexpected, like gourmet chocolates or a pretty bar of french milled soap, is a thoughtful luxury and a way to say welcome!
• Typically meals are planned in advance and most of the shopping taken care of before guests arrive. We always leave room for guests to contribute. This could be a bottle of wine for dinner or accepting an invitation out for lunch. 

Sometimes you want to take your prep a little bit further. This video gives you a few more thoughtful ideas to make your guest's stay the best it can be.

How to Prepare a Cozy Guest Bedroom

Now the only left to do is enjoy catching up, snapping fun photos and enjoying the time together.