"Growing up, we were always traveling for the holidays, and honestly, I loved it. My parents kept Christmas morning focused on our immediate family. We’d wake up at home with Santa gifts under the tree, but then we’d pack up and be on the road after breakfast. Memories of slumber parties spent snuggled in sleeping bags on my cousin’s bedroom floor or sleeping in my favorite guest room at my grandmother’s house are part of holiday nostalgia for me. I think these memories persist because (in addition to opening Christmas presents) I loved being with my family in places that made me feel warm and welcomed as if it were my own home.
Now that I do have my own house with my own visitors, I want them to feel that same welcoming warmth. I try to personalize my guest space, adding framed photos of my most frequent visitors, and separate my guest linens into a stash of guest towels and sheets so they stay soft and stain-free. Before I had a room to spare, I made sure our pull-out couch included fresh sheets, comfy pillows, and a cozy blanket.
Whether you have a separate guest room, a pull-out couch, or sleeping bags on the floor, here’s how to prepare your guest room for houseguests in five simple ways.
5 Ways to Cozy Up Your Guest Room
1. Create a welcome basket
Fill a small basket with some essentials like travel-sized soap, shampoo, lotion, a washcloth, or other toiletries. It’s a perfect use for the extra hotel toiletries you may have stored deep under your bathroom sink. Like a hotel, it can also fill the gap of something your guests forgot to pack.
Fill up this small wire basket with essentials like washcloths, extra toiletries, and more.
Need a little more room? These woven baskets come in multiple sizes, depending on your needs.
This gift set includes travel sizes of hand cream, foot cream, cuticle cream, hand salve, and a lip balm, making it a perfect addition to any welcome basket.
2. Remember home is where the Wi-Fi is
Share the Wi-Fi password without your guest having to ask. Print it out as part of your welcome basket or download one of these adorable printable signs from Etsy. Stick it in a picture frame, and it becomes tabletop art that can always stay in your guest room.
This is a minimalist design you can have out all year round.
Or this printable that is a little more cheeky and festive might be exactly what your space needs.
3. Create warmth with linens
Adding a cute holiday throw pillow or cozy blanket to your bedding can instantly warm up a room. And you can never go wrong with seasonal flannel sheets! I love visiting my brother and sister-in-law for a variety of reasons, but they get bonus points for having guest bath sheets instead of bath towels. I keep meaning to add bath sheets to our guest (and personal) towel stash.
Whether you opt for the luxurious bath sheets or a set of quality towels, keep your guest bath linens separate so they stay crisp and clean.
multiple colors available
Cozy doesn’t mean overheating, and these breathable sheets are perfect for all year round guest room use.
3 colors available
Nothing says cozy like cable knit. Drop this over a bed corner for style and function.
4 colors available
These fun printed flannel sheets will delight guests of all ages.
4. Add a scented candle
Nothing says “welcome” like a warm scent. Select a festive one for the holidays, or something classic like fresh linens for the rest of the year. Not only will it add an extra level of cozy, but it is a simple way to show you put effort into getting your guests’ space put together.
From one of our favorite woman-owned small businesses, Sweet Water Decor’s Warm + Cozy scent is extra inviting.
This fresh, clean, and welcoming scent will have your guests feeling right at home.
5. Incorporate a few extra-special touches
When it comes to knowing how to prepare your guest room for houseguests, we can start with the basics and go from there. A few additions can extend the holiday spirit and comfort into your guest space. Think, dedicated luggage space or a decorative pine tree. Add cozy slippers or a guest robe for visitors you really want to come back.
Add a little wintery touch to your guest room decor with this tabletop pine tree.
No one wants to be wandering to the kitchen in the middle of the night. Instead, fill up this bedside carafe for your guests.
Want guests to feel like they’re staying in luxury accommodations? Keep a couple pairs of slippers on hand. One size fits most.
Make accessing their bags and suitcases extra convenient with a handy luggage rack.
