Welcoming Guests For a Weekend Sleepover: 8 Tips To Minimize Stress and Maximize the Joy

Welcoming Guests For a Weekend Sleepover: 8 Tips To Minimize Stress and Maximize the Joy

 

Welcoming friends or family into your home can be an amazing experience. There is something truly special in letting other people be a part of your most personal and private space, a real pleasure in sharing it with those who are dearest to you.

That being said, providing them with more than just the most basic of necessities can be stressful, especially if you don‘t plan it right.

In order to relieve you of at least some of the stress that is usually associated with preparing to welcome houseguests, I‘ve compiled a list of eight handy tips to consider and take care of before the doorbell rings and your guests step into the house.

Make sure that you have the essentials ready

There are some items that your guests will simply not be able to do without and it is extremely important to have those bases covered. You might want to write them down and check the items off the list one by one, so as to rest assured that nothing is forgotten during the hustle and bustle of preparation.

The necessary items include fresh bed sheets, curtains or window coverings of  some sort, towels, a functioning light, a wastebasket, an additional blanket in case the nights get chilly and a shelf or a drawer for your guests to store their belongings in. Providing them with a fan, a clock and some extra toiletries is also a good idea – for more in-depth info I‘d recommend this guide on TidbitsAndTwine.com

Clear the most important issues up in advance

Do your guests suffer from any allergies that you should be aware of? Are they on a specific diet? Do they have any other preferences or dislikes concerning food or their surroundings?

Being aware of any food they might be allergic to is the crucial part of a stress-free weekend.

Nothing can ruin a joyful stay like a trip to the emergency center because you didn‘t know some of your guests was allergic to, say, kiwi or peanuts and you mixed some into that gorgeous cake.  You can read a more detailed plan on welcoming guests with allergies on WomansWeekly.com here.

Do not be afraid to ask questions and take the time to ensure that their individual needs are attended to. If the houseguests have small children, you can try and track down some baby gear to borrow for the duration of their stay, as well as make sure that there is something in the fridge that the children can eat.

Get a quality air mattress

If you are not able to offer your houseguests the comfort of a guest room, or even if there is no futon or daybed available at your apartment, do not lose any sleep over it. A good air mattress can be just as comfortable, if not more so, as the aforementioned options.

However, before you invest in one, there are some key issues that you should consider. Choose a size which will comfortably fit within the free space that you have in your apartment, while also allowing your guests to have a good night‘s sleep. If you have elderly guests coming over, buy a high-rise air mattress – the low-rise variety will be difficult for them to get in and out of.

Pay attention to the weight capacity of your preferred air bed, especially if some of your guests are heavyset. Make sure that your mattress has a built-in pump or, even better, a secondary ‘never-flat‘ pump, which automatically inflates the mattress if it loses some of its pressure during the night.

The topic of choosing a good air mattress can easily be a topic on its own, but the full scope of it is beyond this article – my go-to resource about choosing a good air bed is TheSleepStudies.com.

Create a welcoming and homely environment from the very start

Remember that the first impression is always a lasting one. Even if the guests are arriving late, make sure to light some candles in their room, provide a cozy place for them to sit down and relax at after the journey, as well as some beverages and snacks to munch on.

Give your guests a brief house tour

If they are new to your home show the guests around your apartment once they arrive. Let them know where they can find extra blankets, toiletries, dishes and anything else that they might need. If there are any quirks that they should be aware of – such as a toilet that has to be flushed in a certain way, – point them out as well.

Respect their privacy and their sleeping schedule

This is particularly important if the guests are staying in your living room. Take extra care to provide them with as much private space as is possible under the circumstances. If they prefer heading to bed early, allow them to do that and retire to your bedroom in the evening, leaving them to rest undisturbed.

Let them help you out with some small tasks around the house

Helping you wash the dishes or set the table is a way for your guests to repay you for your hospitality. Do not preclude them from doing that if they offer their assistance. In fact, doing chores with them can be a great bonding experience.

Relax and let things go

Some additional chaos and clutter is unavoidable in a situation where there are more people inside your house than usual.

Do not let the stress overtake you. Just relax and enjoy the company of your guests – the mess is only temporary and you will miss your loved ones after they leave.

A good day for everyone

This is pretty much all you need to know in order to be an incredible host. Your guests are sure to feel happy and grateful as long as you put these tips to use – and they will return the favour once the tables are turned and it is you who is stepping over their threshold!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram