In the second in our series of Perfect Hosting ideas, we help you prepare for overnight guests and make them feel at home in your house.  Missed the first one? Find our Perfect Hosting dinner party tips here.

No matter where you live or what style of home you’ve chosen, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to welcome some overnight guests into your home. While this can be a daunting experience, there are some simple but effective things you can do to help prepare for visitors.

With our tips for preparing for overnight guests, you can make sure that the experience is so enjoyable; your guests will be planning their next overnight visit before this one is over.

1         Clean up

Your guests will feel more comfortable and relaxed in a clean and tidy home, so make sure you’ve de-cluttered the house and cleaned all of the rooms they’re likely to use. Run a vacuum around all the rooms to make sure they’re free of dirt and dust and use air fresheners or cut flowers to make sure all your rooms smell pleasant and inviting.

Make sure that there is also fresh bedding on the guest bed and the guest bathroom is spotless with facecloths and dry towels available.

2       Stock up

It’s worth taking stock of what you have at home, and going shopping before your guests arrive so you can cater to all of their needs. You’ll have extra mouths to feed at meal times, so make sure the fridge and pantry are well stocked with essentials like bread and milk, easy meals your guests can make themselves if they’re peckish, and grab-and-go snacks like fruit and snack bars.

Make sure the guest bathroom is also stocked up with basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and – most importantly – toilet roll. It’s easy to forget some of these essentials, and your guests will be thrilled to find that they have everything they need.

3       Show Guests Around

If your visitors have never stayed overnight at your home before, it’s worth showing them around so that they can find anything they need with ease.

Show them their room and bathroom, including the best place for them to store clothes and other luggage during their stay. To help them feel at home, take the time to demonstrate how any appliances and gadgets work so that they can have a shower, make themselves a coffee or watch TV whenever they want during their stay.

4       The House Rules

If you ask most homeowners, they would say that they don’t have house rules; but there will always be certain things that they always do and never do in the home. Your overnight guests won’t know these unwritten rules, so think about any you might have and which ones you’re prepared to break when you have guests.

For example, if you usually don’t wear outdoor shoes in the home, one very welcoming idea is to offer your guests a cosy pair of slippers to use in the house during their stay.

5        Remember the kids

If your guests are travelling with children, make sure that you’ve made allowances for them in your home so that they enjoy their stay just as much as their parents do. Make sure they have a comfortable place to sleep and there’s space in the guest bathroom for their own toothbrush and toiletries. It’s also a good idea to have some games or books available to keep them entertained. 

A strange home can be a daunting place for very young children, so make sure they have a night light in their room. One tip that can help them feel more comfortable is some spare pillowcases to make up a miniature bed beside theirs for their favourite soft toy to sleep in.

With many of our homes offering spacious guest room accommodation including built-in storage and en suite, they’re ideal for making your overnight guests happy and comfortable.

Our stunning show homes can also give you some fantastic interior décor inspiration for guest rooms.  Take a closer look at our beautiful new homes today.