When I met my husband many years ago, one aspect of his family that impressed me was how they were so welcoming to guests. I arrived there for a short stay and my husband's mom had a beautiful bedroom clean and ready for my visit. She laid out clean towels and made delicious foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I felt like a queen.
Every visit to my husband's mom's house was the same even after we were married and when we had our children. She always greeted you with a warm and welcoming home. I want to do the same for my friends and family, but there's some work to do to make that happen.
First of all, our home isn't set up well for guests. I need to think about how I might rethink the set-up to give guests a bit more privacy and comfort. And, some of our furniture is not too comfortable, especially the beds. I made a poor choice of some inexpensive bed frames that, in the end, have been mostly a waste of money. When you don't do your homework and invest in something of quality, generally you waste your dollars. So, I need to see if I can either repair those frames or find new bedroom sets for those rooms to make my guests comfortable. Then, as my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law do so well, it's nice to add a few decorations to the rooms to make those rooms inviting. One hotel chain that does a great job with that is the Lark Hotels--their decor is always fun loving, bright, simple and welcoming.
Food is another important aspect of making your home guest-ready. You don't need lots of fancy foods, but some homemade cookies, muffins, brunch and dinner dishes can offer good nutrition, delicious tastes and make your home smell good at that same time. Also making sure you have the staples ready and available such as cereal, milk, bread, pbj, cheese, crackers, fruits, and veggies.
When I visit someone's house, I like to know what to expect. In this regard, having a loose-tight itinerary is good too. For example, I visited relatives recently and they had a good loose-tight plan in place with some fun, outdoor activities and meals planned as well as down time to do what we wanted. That added a nice structure to the visit and helped us to prepare as well. If people are visiting from out of town, it's great to add activities that highlight the local culture, amenities, and history. If they live close by, it's always good to ask them what they want to do before the visit. Often visitors want to visit other friends when they come your way as well.
I want to make my home more guest-ready in the days ahead. It's a good objective to focus on before the holiday season arrives. Also, the cool fall air is a good time to do house projects. If you have ideas related to this, I'd love to hear them. Onward.