Hosting guests in our homes has been a rare occasion since the start of the pandemic, and overnight stays have been few and far between. Perhaps your spare room had to turn into a makeshift office to work from home in over the past couple of years, or it could have simply become a bit of a dumping ground since you’ve been spending more time indoors.

So now you’ve got friends and family staying with you, have you considered the space where they’ll be resting their heads at night? Whether you have an Instagram-worthy guest bedroom for your in-laws, or a spare sofa for the out-of-town cousin to crash on, read on for ideas on how to make them all feel welcomed and comfortable during their visit.

Invest in new bedding

Don’t reserve your unwanted, tired old sheets for guests, instead treat them to something new that will showcase your extra effort and ensure your guests get a great night’s sleep they’ll be raving about at breakfast the next day.

Investing in a mattress protector and pillow protectors is a savvy way to ensure your guest bed stays clean and fresh – by covering the mattress and pillow with an extra layer of protection, you can easily take off the protectors and wash them between guests for a fuss-free way to guarantee a guest-ready bed. Plus, this means you can quickly and simply refresh the bedding if you have some unexpected guests at the last minute.

Scrutinise your pillows: if they're not up to your own standards, don't expect your guests to sleep on them either. Pillows should be washed every couple of months to prevent a build-up of things other guests may have left behind, such as sweat, and to deter mites from taking up residence. They’re the part of the bed that probably come into most contact with its various occupants over time and can easily collect a build-up of dirt and bacteria, so if yours are overdue an appointment with the washing machine, act now. You could even go the extra mile by creating a ‘pillow menu’. Having the option of soft, medium and firm pillows on hand for your guests to choose from, depending on their sleep position and preferences, and they’ll appreciate the effort after a great night’s sleep.

If you’re looking to revitalise an existing mattress then adding a mattress topper can help breathe life into an old mattress, or one that’s a bit too soft or too hard. Toppers are a great and cost-effective way to add comfort and support to a mattress without needing to go to the trouble and expense of buying a brand new one – an option that’s particularly appealing if your spare bed gets used very rarely. There are plenty of options out there and it's easy to choose a mattress topper to suit your requirements. Turning and rotating a mattress can also help freshen up a tired mattress before your guests arrive.

If you’re looking for something exceptionally premium (perhaps the mother-in-law is visiting…) we suggest luxury duvets and luxury pillows with a high thread count, which offers complete decadence and is sure to bring the boutique hotel experience into your home.

Inviting Aromas

Effortlessly create a welcoming ambience in your guest space with a scented candle or diffuser. There are many brands around that have specialised products containing a blend of scents specifically formulated to help induce a relaxing night’s sleep. You can also buy scented pillows or scented pillow protectors that are infused with calming scents such as lavender and vanilla to create a comforting sleep environment for your guests. Discover how to make a lavender pillow spray with our guide.

Declutter the guest room

If your spare room has become a storage room for odds and ends, then now is the time to declutter and deep clean. Make a trip to the charity shop, put what you can in cupboards and stash personal items in stylish storage boxes. These small adjustments will ensure your guests feel like the room is their own for the duration of their stay, rather than feeling that they’re encroaching on your space.

Add a bedside lamp for ease

When you’re in someone else’s home, there’s nothing quite as frustrating as when you need to get up in the night, only to not remember where the light switch is. The easiest remedy? An attractive and functional bedside lamp. Dependent on how coordinated you want your space to look, you could buy two identical lamps for each side of the bed, or two different ones if you’re going for a more eclectic, shabby chic look. Either way, your guests are sure to appreciate the gesture when they get up for that midnight toilet trip!

Treat them to their own towels

When packing for a weekend away, it’s frustrating to have to bring your own towels – especially when they take up so much room. Instead, be sure to provide towels for your guests, and not the old tatty ones you don’t use any more! Treat them to some lovely, freshly laundered fluffy towels to wrap up in after a shower for an indulgent home-from-home experience.

Make Essentials Convenient

You should never want to put my guests in stressful or awkward situations, so it is important to make sure that everyday essentials are easy to find, avoiding the need to ask for them. Keep the fresh towels folded and displayed inside the bedroom, so guests always know where to find them, instead of having to search through bathroom cabinetry or wonder if the towels hanging in the bathroom are “just for show”. It is also helpful and a nice touch to display individual wash products for guests to use during their stay, and a hairdryer is a nice way to add a hotel feel.

If there’s one thing you can guarantee your guests will seek out shortly after arrival, it’s the Wi-Fi code. For a thoughtful (and effortless) touch, you can choose to have it ready and waiting in the guest room upon arrival. You may even wish to frame the code to complement the room’s décor for a really special touch.

What if I don’t have a spare room?

Understandably, not everyone has a spare room, or maybe you’re having more people over to stay than you have rooms for. That doesn’t mean that you can’t give your guests the 5-star stay that they deserve. Just follow the same tips to make your living room as cosy as possible, so whether they're sleeping on the sofa or on an airbed, they'll still have a comfy night!

Don’t neglect your own bed!

It’s not just your guests who deserve a luxury, satisfying and soothing sleep quality experience of course, you do too! In fact, once you’ve revived your guest room you may start to look twice at your own bedding and decide it’s time for a refresh for you as well – did you know you should change your pillow every 1-2 years to ensure you’re receiving the optimum support for your sleep position, and you should also change your duvet every 2 to 5 years – making sure to wash all bedding every few months to keep things fresh. Sleepseeker have a wide and varied range of bedding to suit all sleepers at all budgets, from silk enriched hollowfibre pillows, responsibly sourced goose down duvets, mattress toppers and protectors with a range of specialist fillings, and much more.

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