Making guests welcome

[popncrisps]

Following the thread yesterday about what really annoys you when you stay at someone's house - what makes you feel comfortable?

We've only recently started having overnight guests since the dc got into serious relationships.

I do the obvious things like make sure the rooms are clean/fresh bedding/towels, and cook them a nice meal/offer drinks.

Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm a bit on edge with it tbh 😂

I always think it's having things accessible, so bins with lids in bathrooms, toilet brushes. Well stocked bathroom cupboards with things like spare toothbrushes, pads and tampons and nappy bags. Then I always make it very clear to anyone visiting that they can help themselves to anything they want in kitchens and bathrooms etc.

The bin in the bathroom definitely! Like you said, access to the kitchen, making sure people have water in the night and stuff.

If you are happy for people to put their feet (shoes off, socks on) your sofas/chairs the tell them! Maybe that is more family thing though. I hate sitting with my feet on the floor and am so much more comfortable with my feet tucked up underneath me! It's what I miss most when away from home!

I usually save a few magazines for the spare room and put bottles of water in there too. Make clear where the tea/ coffee things are and that they can help themselves, especially in the morning. Clear space in the wardrobe and drawers. We are usually awake early and DH delivers them a tray of tea and biscuits. Decide how informal you want to be. One set of friends we visit announce the time of breakfast and it’s a proper sit down affair in the dining room. Another couple just tell us where the cereals etc are and tell us to help ourselves. I’ve just stayed with friends where we all wandered in to the kitchen in our pjs and helped ourselves.
Don’t programme every hour of the day. As we get older we appreciate time to sit and read/ chat/ relax and just be together.

Curtains (I’ve twice stayed with people who didn’t think they were necessary in a spare room). A bedside table or shelf for a light and to put your phone.
I find someone showing you where everything is - teabags, towels, biscuits etc and then being very clear to help yourself at any time.

Do everything as above

Make it clear for them to let you know if they need anyhting and approx what time you are expecting to get up in the morning and if they get up earleir, let them know and treat your place like their home, ie help self to cuppa in the morning etc

Bte, reading about, feet on sofa etc - we rarely get anyone other than family or short visits from others - we have a large porch and a mirroed show cupbaod - we dont walk around the house in our shoes and slip on type /she/sandals in bathrooms - and we leave a couple of pairs of shoes in the porch so family knwos to take off shoes ust as they do

my family knows I am fussy and we have real wood floors dark ones that easily sctrach but easy to clean and this is why we alsoways have leather sofas, don't mark easily, easy to keep clean - plus our house is very tidy and very clutter free and even rapir men get the message as they walk it - you soud like me, so you will be ok

A lamp beside the bed on BOTH sides that you can read by. I do judge hosts and hostesses who just have vague glows in the corner. Because I need to read before bed.

If it’s your DCs’ boyfriends/girlfriends, I’d say it’s up to DC to do the active parts of making them welcome. Are they not staying in DCs room together?

Agree with the point of having things available, even if it’s not stuff you usually use. Face wipes might be appreciated. I’m always surprised by the number of people who tell me to “use anything” and yet I can’t find anything to take off make up or moisturise. Tampons and spare toilet roll are another.

In the kitchen, I always feel more welcome if encouraged to get involved, rather than e.g. always being brought drinks.

Well they stay in DC's old rooms yes, but neither dc live here anymore.

This is my aim with my in laws. My DP's brother's partner always sits comfortably when she visits, but they've been married for 20 years. I'm quite new and can't relax, and haven't been invited to.