The holidays are usually a great time of year for friends and family to spend extra quality time. That usually means pulling out extra blankets and pillows for overnight guests. Our usual rule is three nights max but not all guests subscribe to our rules.
Regardless of how long your guests are staying you always want to make them feel welcome and comfortable in your home. Even though your home isn’t a five star hotel, there are a few ways you can go the extra mile to make your guests feel extra special.
Fresh Crisp Linens
There are few things more enjoyable than getting into a bed with crisp clean linens. If you feel like the linens you already have are getting tired, this is the opportune time to freshen things up. Don’t worry too much about thread count just make sure that whatever you buy is 100% cotton. Bloomingdales carries top luxury brands, including Frette, Sferra and Yves Delorme. If you’re looking for less expensive options, you can check out Bed, Bath & Beyond or Amazon if you prefer something delivered to your door. For discount luxury bedding, keep an eye on Gilt.
Fresh Flowers
When guests are coming I like to scatter several bud vases around the house with light color roses. You can surprise your guests and put them in the bathrooms, on a dresser or besides the bed. CB2 has a variety of inexpensive bud vases or you can grab this beautiful Alessi Vase almost half price on Gilt. My favorite vases right now are the colorful acrylic assortment from Alexandra Von Furstenberg.
Scented Candles
Creating a nice atmosphere means warming all the senses. When the kitchen isn’t overflowing with food, I like to light up scented candles around the house. One note, try to keep the smells similar if you are lighting more than one candle. Fragrance can easily become overwhelming too. You don’t want to have a cinnamon sent mixing with a light floral smell. Some of my favorite candles are Diptyque, Jo Malone and Missoni.
Morning Barista
Most people wake up and want a warm delicious cup of coffee. There is no reason why your guests should have to open their eyes and roll into a Starbucks. Start the day off with an easy fresh cappuccino. I especially like the Nespresso machines, which are very affordable. If you’re more of a coffee gourmand, try starting the day with a french press and your favorite brew.
Apple TV
The best guests know how to retreat at the right time. I like to furnish all my guest bedrooms with Apple TV and Netflix so that my company can relax and watch a movie alone in their room. This also gives me time to recharge and watch my favorite shows alone.