How to Prepare Your Home for Family Visits

The holidays are approaching and you may be having family members stay at your home. What are some things you can do to make their stay more comfortable, for them and for you?

Clean.
Start off with a basic housecleaning. It’s a good time to make sure that your kitchen is tidy and your refrigerator wiped out. Try to survey rooms with an impartial eye—so often we don’t really “see” the spaces we use every day! Next focus on the bedroom and bathroom that your family members will be using, making sure there’s extra toilet paper, plenty of soap and clean towels ready for your guests.

Their Space.
A couple of extra touches can make your guests’ space feel extra homey and cozy. Make sure there are plenty of pillows and extra blankets. Try to make space in a closet in case your family members need to hang up clothing. Make sure they have a spot to hang up coats and set out suitcases.

Extras.
In my guest bedroom, I have a little basket containing travel-size shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, and other toiletries. You can set out a glass for water, an alarm clock, tissues, a reading lamp, maybe even a couple of magazines or books that they can read and take with them if they don’t have a chance to finish.

Snacks.
It’s thoughtful to have your family member’s likes and dislikes in mind when you go shopping. Buy a few of their favorite snacks and beverages and ask them about any food allergies or dietary needs before their stay.

Logistics.
You may want to have a spare house key for your guests, write down garage and alarm codes and post your wifi password if they have smartphones. Make sure they have the right phone numbers to call in case of questions or emergencies. If your family members might need help operating the remote control or the fancy new coffee maker, writing down the instructions is a nice idea.

Touch Ups.
If you have the time, you may want to touch up with paint any areas that are particularly scuffed. If you decide to repaint a room completely, our previous blog posts for paint ideas.

There are many things you can do to make your family members’ visit as enjoyable as possible for them and for you. Preparing ahead of time means that after they arrive, you can kick back and enjoy your time together, stress-free.