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Original poster

What things make you feel really comfortable when staying over at someone’s house?

143 replies

SteaknSalad · 07/04/2023 17:45

We recently moved into a new house and now have a spare bedroom, so we can have guests to stay over. Our old flat was far too small to ever contemplate this! Our very first guests will be my PILs over this Easter weekend, and I want them to feel really relaxed, welcomed and at home.

What things, big or small, help you to feel comfortable and relaxed when staying as a guest at someone’s home?

OP posts:
Doingmybest12 · 07/04/2023 19:38

Host being up and about at a reasonable time.

Notatmine · 07/04/2023 19:38

A private, exclusive use bathroom.

RidingMyBike · 07/04/2023 19:44

Somewhere next to the bed (both sides of double) with a light and space for book and glasses.

Ragwort · 07/04/2023 19:45

Clear 'guidelines' about what time breakfast is .. if I have guests I always get up promptly and take the guests tea/coffee in bed at a prearranged time (keeps them out of the kitchen as well!) and breakfast table is properly laid with clearly laid out food .. ie; is it just cereal and toast or would they like a cooked breakfast. Nothing worse than being asked 'what would you like' or 'help yourself' and not really sure what you can have.

We stayed with family a few years ago and they just didn't get up .. my DH had previously offered to some DIY so he got up and did that, I went out for an hour's walk and a takeaway coffee and when we returned there was still no sign of anyone up Grin.

EasterBunnyy · 07/04/2023 19:46

Nothing.

junebirthdaygirl · 07/04/2023 19:46

My one big thing is being warm. I am often cold in bed in other people's houses as l like a good warm duvet and an extra blanket..cold feet. I often sneak an extra blanket from home.

CarolinaInTheMorning · 07/04/2023 19:46

Decent coffee in the morning that is easy to access.

MyDarlingClementine · 07/04/2023 19:50

Freedom, not being watched.. Guest more important than floors

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 07/04/2023 20:09
  1. My own bathroom. Not always possible obviously but is a massive one for me. Literally sleep on the floor under a blanket if I had my own bathroom!
  2. A decent sized bed, king-size minimum.
  3. Side table with a socket
  4. Decent sized towels
  5. Glass/carafe for water in the room
  6. Blackout blind
  7. If your guest room is above the kitchen, not having appliances running overnight (or clattering about with dishes at gone 1am for an hour - looking at you GMIL 😂)
  8. Being upfront about things you are and are not happy with, like can I make my own drinks? Help myself to food? Sleep as long as I want?
  9. Don't have complicated refuse rules that you expect others to follow (weird but GMIL related again 😂)
Mumwomansisterdaughter · 07/04/2023 20:12

Leaving me things so I don’t need to ask like bath towels in the bedroom . Making sure I can use and eat anything without asking ( altough I would always ask )

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 07/04/2023 20:14

Ooh yes, the ability to set my own sleeping temperature, so a radiator thermostat if you like the heating on overnight or a small oil heater in the room? Extra blanket?

RosesAndHellebores · 07/04/2023 21:04

Crikey. I am beginning to feel sorry for my guests.

They get twin beds, a shower room, bath sheet, hand towel and flannel, two synthetic pillows, a duvet and clean linen. They have a small chest of drawers between the beds with a lamp and a three foot wardrobe.

If they want water, they can take it up with them. If they want to charge their phones they can bring a charger. They are told to make themselves comfortable in the morning and that we shall be down by 7.30am.

The shower room has guest soap.

ClaudiaCustard · 07/04/2023 21:12

Some of these suggestions are absolutely hilarious.

A freshly laundered bath robe? Leaflets for the local area?

Honestly - just provide a clean and clear room with fresh bedding and a lamp - unless you really are planning to open a hotel

MaidOfSteel · 07/04/2023 21:15

An en-suite bathroom!

Failing that, though, a table with a mirror over it so I can do my hair safely & easily.

I keep a raffia type basket full of towels, shower products, hair products, can of deodorant etc for any guests we have.

TribeD · 07/04/2023 21:18

I love threads like this...

I dream of having a huge house with several guest rooms, all en-suite, so I can have friends and family come and stay.

I really enjoy hosting, and would have people to stay every other weekend if i could.

Ragwort · 07/04/2023 21:19

Roses your set up sounds perfect, so many hosts offer guests a tiny standard double bed ... both my DH & I are on the large size, at home we have separate bedrooms, squeezing into a tiny double bed is a nightmare, in fact one of us DH has been known to sleep on the floor in a certain relative's house. We no longer accept invitations to stay over Grin.

Goodread1 · 07/04/2023 21:21

Good books and good magazines to browse at,
A hand towel and a big towel and small guest style toiletries or normal sized toiletries to use

New cheap slippers from Home bargains store or somewhere else, to put on feet

You know the ones that just help to keep floor clean,
But are bit fluffy like as slippers

Goodread1 · 07/04/2023 21:25

Good music to listen to in some way,
Hot water bottle with fluffy cover option just in case

Tasty chocolates or savory or sweet or a mix of both types of treats/snacks to nibble on too

ExtremelyDetermined · 07/04/2023 21:27

Just leaving blackout curtains slightly open doesn’t really work, partly for privacy reasons and partly because you just get one beam of light in an otherwise very gloomy room in the morning. Nothing more depressing than waking up in darkness.

Justhereforaibu1 · 07/04/2023 21:44

Congrats on the new house OP. For me the most important thing is not loads of household stuff/clothes in the room, with plenty of space to put your things away. Someone I stay with (family) never has so much as a drawer to put anything in. I wouldn't dream of mentioning it but it drives me mad working out of suitcases! Even a portable clothes rail and hangers would be great.

RosesAndHellebores · 07/04/2023 21:51

I certainly don't provide bedroom slippers. Guests can bring their own or go barefoot. I take my own

PacificallyRequested · 07/04/2023 21:57

Wow. My guests have to put up with a room with spare furniture piled up, no WiFi and a shared bathroom (the horror!) when they stay. But luckily they come anyway.

Essexexile · 07/04/2023 21:59

In our guest room we have:
A king size bed
Two types of pillows
Freshly washed & ironed duvet cover
Two good bedside lamps on good sized bedside tables
A dressing table with stool with a plug socket beside it
A hanging thing, a bit like a hat & coat stand with hangers
A large storage cupboard
A bin
Blackout curtains
Bath & hand towels, one of each per guest

I’m quite proud of our guest room, I’d like to think it’s a room I’d happily sleep in myself 😁

Essexexile · 07/04/2023 22:04

Forgot to add, I’m usually up early so unless any guest is up at sparrows fart, I’m on hand to make them a cuppa & will offer a cooked breakfast or just toast or cereal if that’s their preference. If we’ve had guests for more than a few days, I’m also happy to put their clothes in the washing machine for them (this has applied to my in laws specifically).

sm40 · 07/04/2023 22:06

Enough shampoo and shower gel in
The shower.