How To Prepare To Host Holidays In Your Home

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Hosting holiday guests can be stressful- that’s for sure! However, if you plan in advance and prep as much as possible, you can greatly reduce your stress.

So, today, I want to talk about how to prep for your guests, so that they feel comfortable, but also for yourself, so that you can host the holidays in your home, without feeling too overwhelmed (hopefully). The holiday season is meant to be enjoyed, so I hope that these tips help you! 

Consider your fridge

Once again, there is nothing worse than not having the essentials or the things you “have” to have when staying in a new place. I always recommend finding out your guests’ preferences and trying to meet them. For example, do they like creamer in their coffee? A specific kind? If so, try your best to make it happen.

I understand that you cannot take all requests and preferences, but if you know of something that they specifically cannot live without, try your best to get it for them. The holidays are built on traditions and it can be hard visiting a new place or house in place of another tradition, so if you do go out of your way to get something different for a specific guest, I am sure they will be so very thankful! 

Guest bathroom prep

Your guests shouldn’t feel awkward or bad about forgetting a toothbrush or body wash. I know I have definitely been in that boat before and it was really awkward when my host said, ‘Umm, sorry – I don’t have another toothbrush.” In order to skip that awkward moment, stock your guest bathroom with the essentials.

This means that you need to have body soap, shampoo + conditioner, toothpaste, towels, hand towels, toilet paper, and face wash. A few extras such as extra toothbrushes, razors, floss, mouthwash, etc. are so nice, as well! Something that is less talked about, but still important, is a plunger, haha!

Your home is their home

Needless to say, an important aspect of hosting guests is to make them feel at home. Being a good host is all about those few, important details that let guests know you’re happy they’re there and want them to be comfortable.

Pick up an issue of their favorite magazine or a new book you think they’ll enjoy. DVR the shows they love. Place clean towels on the foot of their bed and fresh flowers on the nightstand.

Another great thing to consider? Different bedding needs. Everyone has different sleep needs – that is for sure. Some like fluffy, large pillows and others like thicker and firmer memory foam pillows. The same goes for sheets and blankets. While some like a lot of blankets and comforters, others cannot stand having a bed sheet.

Everyone is different and that’s why you should offer many different options. Of course, just like with the food, you cannot worry about it too much, but do what you can do to make them feel at home.

Do your to-do list ahead of time

While the top three mentions were about how your guests feel in your home, now I want to focus on how YOU feel. To stay stress-free and ahead of things, prep as much as you can before your guests arrive.

This means: have shopping finished (including groceries!), prep as much as you can, and have a house cleaner come the day before (or the day of) that they arrive. This will 100% help your stress!

Prepare yourself mentally

Last but not least, no matter how much you prep, you will probably have some stress or anxiety about hosting the holidays in your home. If your stress is too much to handle on your own, get some help, to reduce your stress and worries.

There are so many options like getting a massage to reduce stress, going to counseling, or even trying out hypnosis. Pure Hypnosis | Sean Wheeler is a great option in the Atlanta-area. He does hypnosis for weight loss near Atlanta (great for New Years resolutions!), hypnosis for relationships, hypnosis for PTSD, anger issues, stress, insomnia, addiction, and SO much more.

His reviews are killer. I mean, look at this one- “”AMAZING! I had a deep issue that was ruining my life for 20 years. After only 2 sessions that was GONE GONE GONE!!!” ~ Pierre” If you need help mentally before your guests arrive (or after!), definitely check out his services.