Thoughtful touches ensure pleasant stay for guests

“It is equally offensive to speed a guest who would like to stay and to detain one who is anxious to leave.” Homer (circa 850 B.C.), ancient Greek epic poet, “Odyssey” (ninth century B.C.)

Having lived in Las Vegas for more than 15 years, I’ve certainly had my share of visitors. And, I’ve loved almost every minute of it. For most of us, it’s visitor season once again; and even those unfortunate folks who don’t live in the greatest city on Earth are thinking about those summer visitors.

Aside from what to do with house guests as far as activities, sightseeing, etc., the most important thing is making a place for them in your home.

Issue No. 1: Who’s coming and what should the sleeping arrangements be? Couples, friends, relatives and children all pose different scenarios, and if you are like most of us, you don’t have a guest room to fit each friend or relative. So, be thoughtful of the bed size that you choose for your guest area.

Next comes preparation.

We’ve all heard that you should sleep in your guest room to see how it works. Going through this exercise will ensure that guests have a pleasant stay in your home and that the room functions well. Think of the things you would like to find in a first-class hotel — minus the gym, sauna, maid service and the bill.

The room should have space for guest’s clothing: hanging space (don’t forget hangers) and drawers for folding clothes. There also should be a place to stow luggage.

Night tables should include a good reading light, a clock that has an alarm for early-morning flights and room for any personal items your guests might bring, i.e., their favorite reading materials, any medications or special belongings. Stationery and pens also should be part of the bedside table. This may not work everywhere (let’s face it, not every place is a tourist Mecca like our great city), but I try to keep a supply of Las Vegas postcards so guests can send quick notes to friends.

One quick note about putting flowers in a guest room: The best advice is don’t do it. Your guests may have allergies or may just not appreciate having them in their space.

The windows should be dressed so your guests can have light or air when they want it, and darkness when they are trying to sleep.

Now, let’s talk about those beds. Not just size, but quality. A lot of guest bedrooms are furnished with all of the furniture that nobody else wants, including an old mattress that should have been sent to the graveyard years ago. Try to provide as good a mattress as you can afford for your guests. It doesn’t have to cost thousands, but it should be firm and not saggy.

Next comes bed linens. Again, buy the best you can reasonably afford. The linens should, of course, be clean and crisp (if new please launder before putting on the bed) and the comforter or bedspread should be appropriate for the season. You don’t really need a feather down comforter in the summer; and you certainly want to provide enough blankets and quilts to keep your guests warm in the winter. And, for that special touch iron your pillowcases. It’s very nice.

I remember years ago in New England I went to wake my guest one morning and found her sitting up in bed with her mittens and scarf on. She wanted an extra blanket but didn’t want to wake me to get it. I certainly would not have been that thoughtful, but don’t make your guests have that issue. Give them linen choices.

If space allows, provide a comfortable place to sit. Some folks just don’t like sitting on a bed, and guests may prefer to sit in a chair to read or they may just need a place to put on their shoes, etc.

Since most of us rely on our cellphones, a land line is not necessary in a guest room but guests should know where the closest one is located. And most folks travel with tablets and laptops, so you will have to figure out their Internet access and provide a place to recharge all of their electronics.

If you don’t have a separate room for company, there are many options for creating a space. Sofa beds in an office or den will work and, believe it or not, pull-out beds have come a long way from sleeping on a wafer-thin mattress with a bar in your back.

Murphy beds are another option but they are a little pricier than sofa beds.

Having houseguests is exciting and we want our guests to have the best experience possible. The first step is to prepare a place for them that you would like to stay in yourself.

After that successful effort, the second step is to get them to go home.

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and past president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.