Organizing Your Guest Room for Holiday Visitors

The winter holiday season is prime time for hosting visitors. Friends and family might be coming in from different areas of the country (or different areas of the world) to celebrate and enjoy the season. If you are expecting guests any day now, you might feel overwhelmed at all that you have to do to get the guest room and closet organized and ready. The good news is that it won’t take you very long to get this area of your home company-ready. Read on to learn about how you can organize your guest room for holiday visitors.

First and foremost, it’s important to rid the room of any dirt or dust that has accumulated. If you aren’t using the room for anything else and don’t go in there frequently, you probably need to give it a good dusting. Don’t forget the ceiling fans, the central air or heating ducts, and the tops of any shelves or cabinets. The fewer knickknacks you have in the room, the less work this will be, so if you have the time and inclination, you can also box up any extra belongings that you don't need to keep in the guest room.

After the room is nice and clean, the next step is to make sure there’s enough room for your visitor’s belongings. Clearing out room in the closet and maybe a drawer or two in the dresser is sufficient. Make sure there’s room in the closet or under the bed for your guest to stash his or her suitcase so it won’t be tripped over.

Does your guest room have a non-convertible bed? Is it large enough for the number of people who will be staying? Think about what your guest or guests will sleep on if there is not a regular bed in that room. A pull-out sofa could be a good alternative to a bed. For extra comfort, consider putting an egg crate mattress on top of the regular mattress. An air mattress is another option, but be sure to keep the pump in the room in case it begins to deflate after the first or second night. A futon can also be a decent option for one person. If you have a child staying with his or her parents, you might be able to simply use a mattress on the floor.

You want your guests to feel like they are at home in your home, but the reality is that they will want to avoid bothering you, especially the first night or two while they are getting comfortable. Supplying some special touches in the room will help them feel more at ease and will also allow them to avoid asking you for a lot of different items.