Picture it…you’re a guest at a friend’s house, excited for a weekend of relaxation and indulgence. Yet, despite your friend’s best intentions, you never quite get comfortable. You find yourself:
- Rummaging through drawers for spare towels or extra toilet paper
- Struggling to find a good place with adequate lighting to curl up and read
- Setting your toiletries out without any real rhyme or reason, wherever you find space
- Longing for a seating arrangement that invites conversation between everyone at once
- Nervous to touch ANYTHING in the kitchen because you don’t know what goes where
We’ve all experienced different levels of discomfort as guests in other people’s homes. Even with our best friends or closest family, if the home isn’t set up for visitors (which is NOT the same as setting up a bedroom for someone who lives there), guests will struggle.
The following 40 (yes, 40!) home details each make an impact, big or small, on your guests’ experience in your home…work them together into your home design, and you will elevate your home to the ultimate entertaining haven and ensure your guests feel pampered, impressed, and thoroughly at ease.
READ: anyone with a vacation rental should study this, too…the same list applies. Setting up a vacation rental is about guests who stay for short periods, which is NOT the same as a space where someone lives full-time. (Think about what people tend to do on vacation, and what they tend to travel with…it’s different!)
Now, let’s take a look…
The List:
- Luxurious bedding — Invest in high-quality linens, plush pillows, and a cushy duvet to create a dreamy retreat for overnight guests.
- Ambient lighting — Set the mood with dimmable lighting options (including table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces) to create a cozy atmosphere that anyone can adjust to their needs.
- Scent — Infuse your home with a captivating fragrance that welcomes guests and leaves a lasting impression. Be VERY sure not to go overboard, though…some people are highly sensitive to aromas.
- Personalized welcome basket — Compose a thoughtful selection of snacks, beverages, and local treats to greet your guests upon arrival. Ask first so you can fill it with what they like, and what they’ll most look forward to after a day of travel!
- Smart home technology — Integrate smart devices for effortless control of lighting, temperature, and entertainment systems, enhancing convenience and comfort. Show your guests how to adjust lights and temperature upon their arrival.
- Artisanal toiletries — Stock the bathroom with artisanal soaps, lotions, and candles to indulge your guests with a spa-like experience.
- Cozy throws — Provide soft throws draped over the sofas and chairs for added warmth and comfort during gatherings.
- Outdoor Oasis — Create an inviting outdoor space with comfortable seating, ambient lighting, and lush greenery for al fresco entertaining.
- Cocktail station — Set up a stylish bar cart or dedicated bar area for mixing drinks, complete with premium spirits, mixers, and elegant glassware. Know how much drinkware you need, too…
- Entertainment nook — Designate a cozy corner with a selection of books, board games, and puzzles to keep guests entertained during downtime.
- Gourmet coffee bar — Create a coffee bar with a selection of specialty beans, a high-quality grinder, and stylish mugs for a morning pick-me-up. Keep the counters nice and clear so you can set it out as an open invitation to dive in, no matter what time guests get up!!
- Personalized stationery — Provide guests with custom notepads and pens for jotting down memories or leaving thoughtful notes.
- Breakfast aura essentials — Equip your breakfast nook with fresh flowers, artisanal jams, and gourmet pastries (or whatever your guests love to eat) for the perfect morning spread.
- Ambient music playlist — Have a selection of different “vibe” playlists ready for any gathering.
- Designer seat covers — Adorn your dining room seating with seat covers in luxurious fabrics and eye-catching patterns to add a touch of elegance.
- Monogrammed towels — If you have a regular visitor, like your mother who stays for a few months each year, elevate your guest bathroom with monogrammed towels and bathrobes that come out every time she visits.
- Fire pit — Get cozy with a fire pit or outdoor fireplace perfect for gathering around on chilly evenings.
- Wine cellar — Showcase your wine collection with a dedicated wine cellar or with stylish wine tasting accessories, complete with tasting notepads and glassware adornments to keep track of whose glass is whose.
- Pet-friendly amenities — Cater to furry friends with pet beds, toys, and treats to ensure they feel welcome and pampered!!
- Fresh flowers — Brighten up your home with fresh flowers or vibrant floral arrangements to add color and fragrance to any room.
- Aromatherapy diffuser — Enhance your atmosphere with an aromatherapy diffuser and a selection of essential oils to promote relaxation and well-being. Just remember…if your guests are sensitive to aromas, you can go instead for aroma-free humidifiers (if you’re in a dry climate).
- Outdoor movie screen — Host unforgettable movie nights under the stars with an outdoor movie screen and cozy seating options!!
- Corner work desks — Whether your guests need to check work emails during their stay or just want a place to sit and post to social media, put a small work desk in the guest room, located conveniently with outlet access and good lighting.
- Heated bathroom floors — Treat guests to the ultimate luxury with heated bathroom floors, ensuring their comfort during chilly mornings.
- Chef’s kitchen — Equip your kitchen with ample counter space and professional-grade cookware for culinary adventures.
- Coordinated table settings — Set a stylish table with coordinated table linens, dinnerware, and stemware for an elegant dining experiences.
- Home library corner with reading nook — Create a cozy reading nook or home library stocked with a selection of books and magazines for guests to enjoy.
- Outdoor shower — If you have a pool or beach access, provide guests with the option of a refreshing outdoor shower, perfect for rinsing off after a day of outdoor activities.
- Meditation space — Designate a tranquil corner for meditation and mindfulness practices, complete with comfortable cushions and calming decor.
- Pampering shower or bath experience — Transform your bathroom into a real retreat with a soaking tub, rainfall shower, or steam shower. (Here’s how to ditch the dated tubs if you have one in your home…)
- Indoor-outdoor flow — Enhance connectivity between indoor and outdoor spaces with sliding glass doors, seamless flooring, and cohesive design elements.
- Statement wallpaper — Elevate your home’s aesthetic with statement wallpaper in key areas like the entryway, dining room, or powder room, adding texture, pattern, and personality to the space.
- Custom window treatments — Frame your windows with custom roman shades, blinds, or shutters to enhance privacy, control natural light, and add a touch of elegance to every environment.
- Hammock lounge — Create a relaxing hammock lounge area for lazy afternoons spent lounging in the sun or stargazing at night.
- Designer door and cabinet hardware — Upgrade your home’s hardware with designer knobs, pulls, and handles on cabinets, doors, and drawers, adding a subtle yet impactful finishing touch to every room. Be sure to consider the cabinet hardware that’s easiest to open for all sizes of hands!!
- Poolside cabana — Provide guests with a shaded retreat in a poolside cabana, complete with comfortable seating, cooling misters, and refreshing beverages…for inspiration, look at our award-winning pool cabana in Keller, Texas.
- Outdoor kitchen — Transform outdoor entertainment with a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, featuring a grill, sink, refrigerator, and ample counter space for food preparation.
- Home theater — Create a cinematic experience with a dedicated home theater, complete with comfortable seating, surround sound, lots of space to set cups and dishes, and a large-screen display or projector.
- Custom art collection — Showcase a curated art collection throughout your home, featuring works by local artists or pieces that reflect your personal style and interests. Add some tags to share the name of the piece, of the artist, and the origin of how you acquired each!!
- Anticipate spills while ensuring no guest feels lousy later! — If you’ll be entertaining a lot, favor the performance fabrics in your furniture that is easy to clean in the event of a spill. The biggest buzz killer is when you spill on someone ELSE’S couch, so don’t let your guests feel bad after an accident once the libations get flowing.
Bringing it all together…
How many of these items do you have already?
How many surprised you?
How many are items that didn’t surprise you, but stress you out a bit…leaving you with that feeling of, “oh, I’ve thought of that, I’ve been meaning to…”
How about that sinking feeling when you realize how many of these items have implications on the LOOK and FEEL of your home…and acquiring them also means making the right selections that “fit” together in your interior style.
That’s where a professional interior designer comes in.
From conceptualizing your vision to discussing the type of hosting and entertaining you do, you can let a professional designer navigate weave it all together into the ideal home environment that reflects your taste, lifestyle, and commitment to hospitality.
Why wait? Connect with us and tell us who the next guests are on your calendar!! Together, we can make an unforgettable experience they’ll be talking about for years to come…
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