Being Organized for an Overnight Guest

The day visit of a friend can easily turn into an overnight stay at a drop of a hat. Staying one-step ahead of the unexpected can reduce anxiety when an unforeseen guest spends the night in your home. Here are a couple of tips to being organized for your overnight guests.

• Bedding and bedroom. Place a set or two of clean linens in a plastic bag inside your guest bedroom's bureau. Place another bag containing a complete set of bathroom towels in another drawer. Add a potpourri bag to the drawers to maintain your linens and towels with a fresh clean smell. In the event you do not keep potpourri handy, a dryer sheet can also do the job.
• Extra toothbrushes. When you see a sale on toothbrushes and toothpastes, buy extras. Keep the extra toothbrush and tube of toothpaste inside a drawer of your guest bedroom's bureau. This way, the toothbrush and toothpaste can be kept out of everyone's reach until your guests arrive.
• Entertainment. Many homes have extra television sets that are either in the garage or in the basement not being used. Bring up a small television set and place it on a table inside your guest bedroom. Placing books and rotating magazines you have already read to your guest's bedroom provides an added touch of hospitality. It can be difficult to fall asleep in a place other than your own home. Placing a television set, books, and magazines can help your guests relax before drifting off to sleep. In addition, having another form of entertainment in your guest's bedroom can let your guests know they can still have private time.
• Tour. Show your guests around your home. Let them know where you keep your coffee or tea and condiments. Save packets of sugar or sugar substitutes. Not everyone uses a sugar substitute. Showing your guests how to use a different coffee pot can be very helpful. Although simple to you, it may not be easy to someone else.
• Double duty decor. Placing small trays or open decorative boxes can be used by your guests for putting their jewelry, money, change, or pills they keep want to keep in the guest bedroom. Let your guests know that the small baskets you have on top of the dresser can be used to place their hair brushes, or toiletries that they have brought with them. Help your guests feel at home.

Being organized for overnight guests will allow both you and your guests to enjoy the time you have together. Less time hunting around your home for getting your guest bedroom prepared for your guests while more time is spent with your guests when you are organized in advance for your guests.