5 Essentials to Make a Guest Room Feel Like Home

The holiday season is peak houseguest season, and if you're planning on hosting loved ones overnight, you want to create the most welcoming experience possible. Of course everyone knows about supplying the basics like bedding and towels, but what about the extras that truly make a guest room feel like home? We're here with a small checklist of five items you won't want your guest room to be without.

Phone Charging Pad

Charging a phone at bedtime is a part of nearly everyone's routine, and when you're an overnight guest, having the means to do so available right on your night table is a vital part of making yourself at home. A wireless charger is an excellent universal option, and it means that neither you nor your guest will need to spend time digging around for the right USB cable. All they'll need to do is plug in the pad, lay the phone on top, and let it charge.

Space Heater and Fan

When your home is bustling with guests, everybody agreeing on a thermostat temperature is about as likely as everybody agreeing on pizza toppings. One person will be bundled in layers while someone else is in a t-shirt complaining about how hot they are. There's no pleasing everyone's climate preference all the time, but when it's time to sleep, everyone will retire to their respective rooms and have their own space to modify to their ideal temperature. Outfitting your guest room with a space heater as well as a fan will ensure your guests have the means right at their fingertips to create the exact conditions they need for a good night's sleep. Whether your guests are hot sleepers or cold sleepers, keeping a fan as well as a heater at the ready means they'll be able to make themselves comfortable enough to drift into dreamland.

WiFi

You probably don't spend much time in your own guestroom, and there's a commonly-overlooked issue that needs to be addressed here in the 21st century: Have you ever tried connecting to the wifi in there? Be sure to add a wifi-check to your list of guest room preparations. If you do have trouble getting signal in there, you've got time to make some modifications before your guests arrive. Try moving your home's router to a more central location and place it as high up as you possibly can. If that doesn't work, you might need to shop for a solution. A wifi extender will work in a pinch, but if you're looking for a more long-term solution, a new router or mesh system may be the way to go.

Reading Light

As you may recall from our article about sleep hygiene, it's a good idea to have an evening wind-down activity to signal to your brain that it's almost time for sleep, especially an activity that isn't backlit. If your guests have a pre-bedtime routine like reading a book or doing a puzzle - or you just want to gently encourage them to do something other than doomscroll on their phone before bed - keeping a clip-on LED reading light available on the nightstand is a great idea. They'll be able to attach it to their book, magazine or newspaper, and be able to clearly read every sentence, sudoku number, and crossword clue. Keeping some puzzle books and sharpened pencils in the nightstand drawer isn't a bad idea, either!

With a little bit of planning, you'll have the perfect guest room ready to go for any guests this holiday season. Being a good host means attention to detail, and we're glad you're taking the time to make sure you've got everything necessary to be as hospitable as possible to your guests. Enjoy the holidays, and have fun with your houseguests!