” I’m driving home for Christmasssss……Oh, I can’t wait to see those faces…..I’m driving home for Christmas, yeaaaaa”

I’m sure everyone has heard/sung that Chris Rea song while driving somewhere this holiday season and a lot of those drives consist of visiting family in different cities and countries. If you are welcoming guests this holiday season here are some tips to help them feel relaxed and welcome!

1) First thing to remember is that your guests have a) spent the day travelling through the Christmas road craziness/weather craziness of the season and  b) chosen to leave the comforts of their home (and bed!) to spend the holiday season with you. This is a good thing to remember because most people just think about how it impacts their lives (ahhh…another bed to put together!) but forget that it’s quite hard to spend the holidays away from your own home and routine.

2) Refresh the room they will be staying in by adding an essential oil diffuser (I have this one and LOVE it!) or a nice holiday smelling candle. Sometimes our dedicated guestroom does not get used often and needs to be re-energized! While other times that second bedroom is also the office, playroom, laundry space etc. and could use some fresh-ness! Pop in a candle for a nice smell and cozy feeling guests will enjoy.

JMS TIP: Mix together various essential oils to create your signature house scent. During the busy holiday season I suggest mixing spearmint and peppermint together or lavender and rose – they smell amazing and provide a very calming feeling!

3) Decorate for the holidays! Since your guests will be away from home, make them feel more relaxed and ready for the holiday season by adding in some Christmas decor around the room. Add in some twinkle lights or set up a small second tree if possible – anything that makes the room feel more seasonal. You can also take it one step further and add in festive bed sheets and towels as well. How cute is this set of bedding from the Bay or Simmons – either would really bring in that festive feeling for the holidays!

4) Leave a good book read in case your guests may have forgotten to bring something to relax with. During the holidays one of my traditions is to read the book “Silent Night” by Mary Higgins Clark. It is a captivating story that takes place on Christmas eve and keeps the audience in suspense throughout the whole book. Also the book is just 224 pages and can easily be finished in a couple of hours.

(Silent Night – Mary Higgins Clark)

5) Have a basket/drawer of mini items that your guests may end up needing during their stay. These items can include: toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, razor, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, cotton swabs, mouthwash etc. Having these items out readily makes it easier for guests to access and not to feel like they are bothering you every time they need something.

JMS TIP: Collect mini sized products as you travel throughout the year and keep adding them to your pile. Ask for additional mini soaps, shampoos, lotions etc. when staying at hotels and bring those back home – this saves you money and provides guests with a variety of items to choose from. The same tip applies to the dentist – I always come home with a free toothbrush, toothpaste, floss etc. Those items automatically are added into my guest pile to be used in the future. 

6) Try to provide various temperature options for your guests – leave extra blankets in the closet/dresser in case they are needed at night. If your room tends to run cold invest in some good flannel sheets to keep your guests warm. You can also add in a heater or fan into the closet if you have spare ones and guests can use those if required.

7) Provide basic house information so your guests are not confused all day long. You may be used to all your special house quirks (ie. pressing the toilet handle down twice for it to flush!) but your guests may easily feel lost at times. Give them a cheat sheet that outlines wifi passwords, alarm instructions, remote control help, special switches etc to make things easier. Also providing a schedule of when people will be coming by/home is always a help as well. This can consist of kids coming home from school, any deliveries scheduled, cleaners coming by etc. If you will be out of the house for most of the day leave a map of the area (stores, parks etc) for your visitors – this way they can have something to do and can explore on their own.

JMS TIP: If you create these documents ahead of time and save them on your cloud/googledocs/computer you will always have them available if needed for the next visitor. Also they can be emailed to your guests ahead of time to save paper!

8) Let there be snacks! Do everyone a favour and setup a goodies basket in the room so your guests do not have to roam around the kitchen at midnight if they want a pick me up. Even if I tell my guests a million times to help themselves to anything in the fridge or cupboards they still seem to shy about it – this allows them to enjoy some snacks without having to feel worried they are imposing. I load up my baskets with water bottles/juices, granola bars, Pringles, candy, chocolate etc – whatever you think they will enjoy! I also suggest adding in a garbage can into the room if there is not one already.

9) Touch base with your guests before they arrive to see if you can get anything they may need. Since you will be out doing grocery shopping already it would be nice to pick up some almond milk if they don’t eat dairy or grab some special crackers that their child may enjoy. Anything that you can do to help save some room in their luggage is always a plus!

10) If you do not have a dedicated guest room here are a few things to consider. Take the time to make room in a closet or dresser drawer as well as in the bathroom. This will make guests feel welcome and like you truly want them there. Sometimes this means being creative and sticking a bunch of items in the back of your own closet for the weekend but it’s worth it!

I hope these tips help with your seasonal visitors! Who are you entertaining this holiday season??