I tell you what, Samantha from Bromeliad has got it going on! She's clever and she's in the know, two great combinations.
Bromeliad was one of the first blogs that I began following, so I felt it only right to have her guest post during this celebration week. She's sharing a few wise tips on overnight hosting for the holidays! This is so needed!
We are entering one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, which means you may be called upon to host overnight guests. So, while you're hiding the thigh master under the bed and stripping the shower of any mold in preparation for visitors, consider the following.
Designers, decorators, organizers and various clever people have good ideas for how to host your guests in sumptious quarters. But many of us don't have the time, resources or space to be so fancy.
For example, I happen to live in a popular destination (New York) in a small apartment (less than 500 square feet). We've had up to four people at once staying with us in our little place. (Fortunately they were former Bosnian refugees and were pretty game about wall-to-wall people sleeping on the floor. I, on the other hand, was a wreak.) Sometimes you just have to do the best you can.
Here's how the advice stacks up:
The Decorati:
Provide a guest room.
Reality:
Who has a guest room? You don't have any room. If this is the case, consider a curtain for privacy. Or taking turns dressing and undressing in a closet. If crowding is a serious issue, take a long walk and don't come home until the guests are gone.
The Decorati:
Don't use the guest room for storage
Reality:
See point above. If you are fortunate enough to actually have a spare room, stow your junk and squeeze in a bed. See next point.
Decorati:
Dress the guest bed in Belgian linen
Reality:
Provide a bed. Sleeping on the floor is OK. Make sure the floor is clean. Make up the air mattress or whatever it is you've got with clean and comfortable sheets. Fluff the pillows. It's fun. It's like camping.
The Decorati:
Provide your guests with bottled Perrier on a bedside table
Reality:
Provide your guests with a bedside table (assuming there is a bed.)
And then don't put anything on it. Your guests will have junk everywhere. They need tables. Clear off most surfaces in the bedroom and the bathroom so people have places to put their stuff.
Decorati:
Let your guests snuggle up in an organic faux fur
Reality:
Keep your pets off the guests. Not everybody loves shedding licking barking meowling flatulent creatures like you do. Not that I have any personal feelings on this.
Decorati:
Provide slippers and a bathrobe.
Reality:
Provide a nightlight so nobody breaks their neck shuffling off to the cluttered bathroom in borrowed slippers.
Happy hosting!
