Entry #330, November 13, 2010
In a few weeks the relatives and friends will start arriving at your door, and your home will turn into a bed and breakfast! For most, this is exciting, for others the thought of having to squeeze suitcases into cramped closets and making the guest rooms (s) look nice is a whole other story in itself!
Welcome guests with fresh towels
Today on Stagetecture Holiday DIY Saturday, I’ll show you easy ways to start preparing the guest room, so they will feel welcomed, and you will be content being their gracious host.
You Tube Video: How to get ready for house guests with Thomas O’Brien from Target.
Here are tips for Cleaning up the guest room, from Good Housekeeping.
Prepare your home now for guests
Cleaning:
1. Make room.
You’ve turned the guest-room closet and dresser into backup storage for your stuff — but there’s an easy way to give visitors a place to hang clothes and stash socks. Take 10 or so full hangers from the middle of the closet, and rubber-band them together in a couple of smaller bunches; then temporarily relocate them to your own room or even the basement. Tuck several empty hangers into the newly opened space. Also, empty the contents of the top dresser drawer into a box, and slip it under the bed or onto the closet floor. (If this room has collected everything from your son’s outgrown ice hockey skates to that fabric you plan to use someday, box it up and take it out.) Finish by setting a pretty dish on the bureau to hold guests’ jewelry and loose change.
2. Dress the bed.
Kudos to you if you planned ahead and put on clean sheets after the last visitors left (and if not, now’s the time). Even so, the bedding could probably use some sprucing. Pop the pillows (any type but foam) with cases on into the dryer on the low-heat setting for about five minutes to de-dust and fluff them — the shape of the pillows will actually help pull wrinkles out of the cases as they tumble. Replace the winter comforter with a lighter blanket. As you make up the bed, spritz some linen spray or Febreze Fabric Refresher ($5 for a 27-ounce bottle), which gets rid of odors instead of just masking them, on the fitted sheet. If your guest quarters are a sofa bed, open it up and run a hand vacuum over any crevices where dust, crumbs, and stray coins may have collected.
3. Spiff up surfaces.
First, turn on all the lights and pull up the blinds so you can see where the dust has settled — before guests do. Use a microfiber cloth to whisk furniture tops, lamp bases, the headboard, and any framed pictures or mirrors. Eyeball the ceiling for dangling cobwebs and zap them with the cloth on the end of a broom. If the blinds are dusty, flip them the other way. Empty the wastebasket; put in a clean liner. Finally, vacuum, but only in the middle of the room, where dirt is most noticeable. Back up to the door as you work, so you can step out at the end without leaving footprints on the carpet.
Prepare the guest room for an inviting stay!
How to make the room feel like a hotel:
These tips will help your guest room feel comfy and cozy, from About.com!
1.) Comfortable Bed:
Don’t give your guest the oldest, most saggy mattress you have. If you can’t afford a new or good used bed, think about getting a quality air mattress. They’re really quite comfortable and can be placed on top of a box spring, over a sofa bed mattress, or on the floor.
2.) Upgraded bedding:
Beyond clean bedding, think about adding wonderful bed linens and comfort items often supplied by fine B&B’s: a featherbed mattress topper, a choice of pillows, a cozy down comforter, extra blankets, and freshly ironed pillowcases.
3.) Fresh Bed Linen:
Always have an extra set of bed and bath linens available for your guests. Accidents DO happen! Or you may have one of those wonderful guests who insists on changing the sheets when they leave. Let them do it! And thank them profusely!
4.) Area for suitcases:
Clear a space to put a luggage rack or a small table or bench to set down a suitcase. No one likes to have to stoop over to the floor to pull out a clean pair of socks. Even a chair is better than nothing!
Prepare a snack basket for your guests, from Do it Yourself.com
Welcome your guests with a basket of comfort!
How to make a welcoming basket for your guests:
Tools and Materials Needed:
- Scissors
- Bottle of sparkling water, wine, cider or soda
- Box of gourmet crackers, Melba toasts, rye crisps pita chips, or popcorn
- Imported cheeses such as Swiss Gruyere, British Stilton, or Black Diamond Cheddar
- A container of soft, spreadable cheeses such as Brie, or Camembert, Manchego or goat cheese
- Almonds, walnuts, pecans, a variety of nuts, or pretzels
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Small bottles or jars of imported caviar, Foie Gras, or a smoked fish like salmon or lox
- A wicker basket, fancy box, or container to arrange all of the items
- A piece of colorful fabric or tissue paper in various colors and prints to place in the bottom of the basket, box or container
- Paper plates, napkins, plastic wineglasses, bottle opener, wine screw
Step 1- Line the Snack Box
Begin by lining the basket, container or box with cut pieces of fabric or tissue paper. By placing a decorative liner of some sort adds a festive appearance to the basket rather than leaving it plain. Colored tissue paper in solids or even patterns relative to the time of year can also give off a personal touch.
Step 2 – Arranging the Items
Next, arrange all of the ingredients to look festive and appealing. Place taller items in the back of the container; smaller items can be propped against the taller items. For example, place wine bottles or other spirits in the back, then arrange small boxes of crackers, popcorn, etc. in front. Cheese wedges and other treats can fall down in the bottom of the container, so propping them up against larger items makes them more viewable to the guest.
Step 3- Placing Unrelated Food Items
Place all paper plates, eating utensils and napkins also in the basket, container or box. Since these may be the least attractive of the contents, placing them at the bottom or underneath food items makes the snacks stand out better. If you choose more elaborate dishes, cloth napkins or fine China and wine glasses, surely place them where they can be seen.
Step 4- Final Sprucing Up
Place the entire contents on a table or near a lamp where guests can see the guest basket when they enter the guest room. Add final touches such as a greeting card, flowers, small plant or decorative ribbon tied on the handle of the basket or container.
For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.
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