Hosting Guests in Your Home

You may think that hosting guests has little to do with Interior Design, but you would be mistaken. Designing multi-use spaces to suit your needs in the everyday, but quickly adapting that space to fit guests is a very important part of designing your home these days.

When I hosted guests, I tended to get caught up in the details and overexerted myself to make sure my home is immaculate. Don't take a page from my book. The easier the transition for you, the more enjoyable the entire experience will be for you.

Here's a few easy steps to make sure you avoid stressing yourself out:

1. Keep your house semi-clean. I'm not talking magazine ready all the time here. Just make sure that if you receive a surprise phone call from a friend or loved one, that you can feasibly pick up your home fairly quickly
   
   My Mom is a master at this. Every night we did what we call "blitzing" where we took 10 - 15 minutes to pick up the house and get ready for the next day. It makes the next day easier and more organized and when I do this, I feel more prepared for the day.
   
2. If you have a small house, make sure your "guest supplies" in an easily accessible area.
   
   
   Here's a rudimentary list of items that you should have on-hand for your guests.
   

1. Linens - Big, fluffy bath towel, had towel, washcloth, sheet set, pillowcases, pillows, blankets and/or comforters
2. Toiletries - Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and I like to have a lufa on-hand that is strictly for the next guest, and then it immediately gets thrown away when they leave. A good trick to stock up on these items is to a - take them from each hotel room that you stay in and keep a stock of good samples, but if you do not visit hotels that often, visit the toiletry section of your favorite superstore for travel sized bottles of nice toiletries. It's a nice tough and your guest will love it.
3. Reading material - If your guest likes to read, it's a nice touch to supply them with reading material. Also, don't be surprised if they end up asking to take the book with them. :)

Just remember to enjoy yourself and your guest will too. I can't wait for the next time I can host my family in my tiny apartment. I hope these tips make you an expert at hosting your own guests, no matter how big or small your space.