Fill your space with these Guest Room Essentials. This list has everything you need to create a cozy place for guests.
I love hosting people in our home. It’s so much fun to have houseguests and show them around our town. Most of the time we host out-of-town family but summertime brings an influx of friends looking to hang out and have fun. Ours friends jokingly call our house, Hotel Deringer because it has all the conveniences of a hotel. So today, I thought I would share some of the guest room essentials I use to make our spare room feel like a home away from home for our guests.
:: Fresh Flowers
There is nothing better than walking into a guest room after a long day of traveling and seeing a vase of fresh flowers. Such a simple touch is so welcoming. Flowers can bring life to a small space or make a large room seem more homey. So next time you have guests, surprise them with flowers.
:: Clean Linens & Towels
This is kind of a no-brainer but the only thing better than sleeping in your own bed is sliding into some crisp, clean fresh smelling sheets. The same goes for towels. Don’t give your guests the castoffs from your master bath. Give them their own stack fluffy towels. My favorites are hotel-style towels. They are thick and absorbent and stay fluffy after countless washes. Then I use the Downy Unstopables in-wash scent booster to keep the sheets and towels smelling fresh for weeks after washing. So even if a guest pops in unexpectedly, it smells like the sheets and towels were laundered yesterday.
:: Waste Basket
There’s nothing worse than being in an unfamiliar place and not having anywhere for your trash. You don’t want to leave the room a mess for your hosts but where do you put your trash!? I’ve been a guest a number of times and had to use the waste basket in the kitchen because there was no trash can in the guest room or bath. You may not use the space often so it’s easy to overlook little things. Don’t overlook this one. A waste basket is definitely one of my guest room essentials.
:: Extra Toiletries
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten things when traveling. If you stay at a hotel it’s no big deal to use the provided toiletries or hair dryer. Why not provide the same for your guests? Stocking up on guest room essentials from trusted brands is easy at Walmart. In our guest bath I keep some of our favorites like Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo & Conditioner, Old Spice High Endurance Sport Body Wash and Crest Gum Detoxify Deep Clean Toothpaste. Since many of our friends have little ones I keep a pack of Pampers Pure Protection Diapers for them too. And don’t forget extra toilet paper! I always have plenty of Charmin Ultra Strong Toilet Paper in every bathroom of our house. Make your home feel like home to them.
:: Luggage Rack
We recently stayed with friends and they had a luggage rack in the room for us. It was so nice to have a place to put my suitcase. I know it sounds silly but the simplest touches are often the best. I’m thinking a luggage rack is one of those guest room essentials I need to get for our guest room. I love this one because it also has a place to put your shoes. But you can shop around! There are many different options. You can find luggage racks anywhere, for any budget.
:: Wifi Password & Chargers
Is your husband like mine? Do you have a crazy wifi password that looks like a toddler banged on your keyboard? You know what I mean: GTch$m16&nQ. Make it a little easier for guests and spell it out for them on a cute little sign. You can find these printables all over Etsy. Find one that matches your decor and style. Make it easy for your guests to get online. And don’t forget to leave them an extra charger. It’s the little things, remember?
:: Bedside Essentials
Another thing I like to do is make sure my bedside tables have everything a guest might need. In addition to my fresh flowers and wifi code, I like to add a clock and also a book I enjoyed. The next guest that stays can read How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. I really enjoyed it and I love passing books along. If you have guests new to your city, you might include a book or magazine with things to do. Right now Austin Monthly is featuring 101 Fun Things to do in Austin This Summer. I might pick that up and have it in the drawer with the Texas Monthly issue about Central Texas BBQ joints. You might also include a clock or water pitcher. Anything you think might help your guests have a more pleasant stay.
:: A Yummy Breakfast
My last recommendation to make the perfect guest space is to serve your guests breakfast! It doesn’t have to be fancy. Whether you slave over homemade cinnamon rolls or make some from a can, your guests will feel loved when they wake up to something delicious! Here are a few of my favorite breakfast recipes I’ve shared over the years:
- Greek Yogurt Pancakes
- Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Bites
- Strawberry Chocolate Muffins
- Asparagus and Ham Frittata
- Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake
Make breakfast clean up a breeze with Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels and Dawn Original Dishwashing Liquid. Then get out there and have fun with your guests!
Follow these simple steps to make your guest room a place your company will love. Then spend your summer enjoying your guests and showing them everything your city has to offer!
Guest Room Essentials is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of P&G at Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.
These are great ideas that I will use in my guest room.
I read years ago that you should sleep a night in your guest room and shower in your guest bath periodically. Then you know if the pillows are lumpy, the sun breaks through a chink in the curtains in the summer, or the tub is slow to drain. Most guests won’t tell a host these things.
Awesome thought—I think I will spend some time in our guest room/bath—ehile ny husband recovers from surgery.
Thanks for this useful post. All the tips and ideas are very good.