Preparing your Poconos home for the holidays often includes getting ready for guests. And whether you plan on having a lot of visitors—or just a few—a little bit of preparation can go a long way toward making everyone comfortable. Because people tend to spend a lot of time in the family room over the holidays, you might want to check out this post about how to set up the perfect living room/family room.
There are other things you can do to get ready for holiday guests. Let’s look at a few simple tips.
Begin With Your Entryway
Your front door is probably the first thing your guests will see when coming into your home. Make sure the entrance (porch or stairs) is clear and clean. A nice wreath on the door helps set the tone. Then make sure the inside of the doorway is also welcoming. If necessary, clear away things that tend to get stored there so that guests have room for taking off boots and shoes if the weather is bad.
Make Room for Coats
A lot of hosts put coats in a spare bedroom. But then guests have to walk through your home to retrieve their wraps when it’s time to leave. And if you’re having overnight guests, you’ll want a more permanent place for coats and scarves. Clear out your entryway closet by moving things you rarely use somewhere else for a while. That way your guests can hang their coats in the closet.
Use Your Storage Space
If you have overnight guests—especially those who will be staying for a few days—you’ll want to have a place they can stow suitcases (it’s hard to feel “at home” if you’re living out of a suitcase). On top of that, with more people in the home, you may want to reduce the amount of “stuff” in common rooms such as the living room, dining room, or even the kitchen. You might even want to temporarily remove some pieces of furniture so that people have room to move around comfortably. If you’re looking for additional ideas for storage, here’s a post that looks at 6 unique storage ideas for your home.
Provide Toiletries
We all forget something when we travel. Provide some nice toiletries for your overnight guests in case they forgot soap, shampoo, toothpaste or toothbrushes. Even if your guests don’t use these items, it will make them feel welcome knowing that you thought about them. And make sure you have plenty of extra toilet paper and facial tissues in easy-to-find spots in the bathroom. Nobody wants to wander through the house asking for more toilet paper!
Create a Coffee Station
Some of your guests may be early risers who want to grab an early cup of coffee. Don't make them guess where the cups and coffee (or tea) are kept. Set up a coffee/tea making station in the kitchen with everything they need so they don't have to search.
Install Nightlights
You may know your way around your house blindfolded, but your guests may not be quite so confident. Plug in a few inexpensive nightlights that illuminate the way from their sleeping quarters to the bathroom.
