Whether it's your in-laws or a close friend from college, preparing for overnight guests can feel stressful. You start viewing your house through a magnifying glass—panic-cleaning the baseboards, rethinking your paint color choices, you know the drill. And when we say you, we mean we. We all do this, always or occasionally, and it doesn't have to be this way.
If you want to be a great host, you have to think like a guest. It's really that simple. What makes you comfortable in someone else's home? Boom, there's your answer. Below, we're giving you a quick refresher of essentials and extra touches that make a guest room feel like a five-star resort, even if it's technically a spare office.
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"Just in Case" Toiletries
Avoid the “Um, do you have an extra…” conversation by stocking the bathroom with travel-sized toiletries people tend to forget—toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, disposable razors, hair ties, shampoo, conditioner, basically anything that would cause a minor meltdown if left behind. You can either store these items in a drawer, using inserts to separate by category, or make it cute and put it all in a little welcome basket on the counter.
Visible WiFi:
Your guests are going to ask. It’s inevitable. Instead of repeating your 20-character alphanumeric password twelve times, write it down on a cute little card like this one here.
Luggage Rack
The floor is not a storage solution. Provide guests with a luggage rack (like this one here!), plus a few empty hangers and drawers, because bending over to fish clothes out of a suitcase is basically cardio—and nobody signed up for that.
Handwritten Note:
It doesn’t have to be a novel, but a little "Welcome to your home away from home" note is a sweet touch. It'll make you seem like the host with the most, even if you just wrote it five minutes before they arrived. Need stationery? Shop our picks here.
Coffee Station:
There should be a quick pipeline between tumbling out of bed and stumbling to the kitchen to pour that cup of ambition. But since your guests probably don’t want to see other human beings before caffeine consumption, set up a coffee station in the guest room.
It doesn’t need to be anything fancy; a cute tray with a mini coffee maker, a few mugs, and clear canisters for storing pods, bags of tea, sugar, creamers, and stirrers will get the job done.
Extra Blankets:
Some like it hot, some like it cold, and some just like to cocoon themselves in five layers of blankets. Keep extras on hand, stored in a large floor basket next to the bed, so your guests don’t wake up at 3 a.m. wondering where the thermostat is.
Charging Station:
Have you ever had to shift the bed over to access an outlet? Not ideal, especially in someone else’s home. Stock the room with a universal charging station and extra cords, because nothing says "I'm a thoughtful host" like helping your guest avoid low battery panic (and lower back pain from maneuvering behind a giant bed).
Full Length Mirror:
Give your guests the luxury of seeing their entire outfit at once in the form of a full-length mirror. No one should have to do yoga poses in front of the bathroom sink mirror just to see their shoes. Place an elevated (yet affordable) mirror like this one here in the corner of the room, and it doubles as a decor piece.
Towel Sets:
Have a set of fresh towels waiting—one bath towel, one hand towel, and one washcloth for each guest—on the bed so no one mistakenly uses a decorative towel and leaves mascara stains. Even better, place a few of these black makeup remover towels in clear view as a subtle directive.
A Cozy (But Washable) Rug:
Rugs are an easy way to tie a room together and add another layer of comfort. But word to the wise: Make sure it’s washable. People make mistakes. Things spill. A washable rug makes life easier for everybody. We believe in this strongly enough that we designed our own collection of washable rugs with Ruggable. They look as great as they feel. We made sure of it. Shop the collection here!
Water Carafe:
Bottled water works fine, but a carafe says, “I’ve thought of everything, and I am indeed that girl.” It’s a small touch that feels spa-like, and let’s be honest, it looks amazing on a bedside table. This carafe here comes as a set with matching drinking glasses for one less thing to worry about.
Plunger:
No one wants to talk about it, but everyone is relieved when it’s there. Keep it chic and discreet with the 3-in-1 Plunger, Brush, and Trash Can Unit from our Walmart collection so all bases are covered.
Extra Toilet Paper:
We’ve all been there, but your guests shouldn’t be. Stash extra rolls in plain sight so no one has to go hunting under the sink or hall closet in the middle of the night. Bonus points for putting them in a chic basket that matches the overall look and feel of the space. Yes, toilet paper storage can be chic.
Bedside Lamp:
No one wants an overhead light glaring down on them while scrolling through their phone before bed. Instead, add a stylish bedside lamp that’s bright enough for reading but cozy enough to set the mood like this one here.
Snacks:
Want to really impress your guests? Give them a snack basket that rivals a hotel mini-bar (minus overpriced room charge) with all their favorites. It’s the customization that counts, so if you aren’t sure where they fall on the salty to sweet scale, go ahead and ask.
