Nov 28, 2012
Hosting Guests Without A Guestroom
It's the holiday season (a.k.a. time to hit the ground running season) and in between the shopping, home decorating and coordinating with friends and relatives for holiday parties and gatherings, you're on one busy schedule, to say the least. But that's no excuse to not be well-prepared for your holiday house guests; after all, they are coming from far (and maybe near) to visit you! What's that you say? You don't have a guest room? No problem! Whether you're short a room, or have limited living space, chances are you might already be prepared to welcome loved ones into your home. Check out our no-guest-room essentials, then dust off your welcome mat for the holidays!
Sofa Bed/Futon
In the case that you don't have a spare room and plan on having house guests stay with you often in the future, consider investing in a sofa bed rather than a plain sofa or, if that's a little out of the budget, a futon. Room Essentials® Black Storage Futon, $160, available at Target.
Air Mattress
The easiest and most budget-friendly option for hosting guests without a spare room is to invest in an air mattress. A queen-sized mattress will comfortably sleep two people -- just be sure to have extra pillows and blankets! Pure Comfort Raised Suede Top Air Bed with Built in Pump, $70, available at Amazon.
Side Table
Make the sofa bed/futon layout feel more like a real guestroom with a conveniently placed end/side table for your guests to place their most essential belongings, as well as a handy table lamp. Sutton End Table, $96, available at Target.
Table Lamp
Even if your makeshift guestroom is properly lit via recessed lights or decorative wall fixtures, a reading lamp within reach of your guests' bed will be nice for those late night trips to the bathroom or bedtime reading. Sweep Gloss White Table Lamp, $56, available at Overstock.
Charging Station
Chances are your guest(s) will be traveling with a few electronic devices of their own, so why not provide a charging station to keep their phone, camera and what-have-you's cords neat, organized and in one place? System-S Universal Charging Station, $31, available at Amazon.
Room Dividers
The key to making your house guests feel as comfortable as possible in your home is by giving them their privacy. If a spare room is out of the picture, then a few divider panels will help do the trick. Avington 4 Panel Room Divider, $140, available at Target.
Bathroom Storage
One final, yet very imortant part of hosting house guests is making sure they have all the bathroom supplies and toiletires they need for a worry-free stay. Clear some space in your bathroom cabinets or shelves for your guests so they can store their toiletries or, in case they run out, so you can stock them up with fresh towels, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper and the like. Wood Bathroom Storage Cabinet, $40, available at Walmart.
