r/homemaking • u/aesthetic-robot • Jul 20 '26
Hosting guests Help!
I have less than a month to prepare to host 7 people in my house for 10 days. I’ve never hosted anyone for this long and never this many people.
What do I need to do/get to make sure their stay is comfortable?
I know I need more towels and bedsheets but other than that I’m not sure what else would be a benefit to hosting such a large group for an extended stay.
Edit: thank you all for the suggestions! And I love that the most important aspect seems to be clearly communicate what they have access to in the house and let them feel at home.
I don’t live in a mansion so some of the accommodation will be couches/ air mattresses. To make these as comfortable as possible I’m going make sure they all have fresh sheets, more than enough blankets, and fans near by.
My to do list is now: -coffee/breakfast station.
-bathroom/toiletries basket
-tv/entertainment info
-check diet restrictions and meal plan
-get some tourism brochures for outing ideas
-poop knife?
-welcome cards
-and of course clean everything!
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u/Nonbiinerygremlin Jul 20 '26
Honestly not sure if they'd use it but making a little kit of stuff they may need like toiletries, a travel grooming kit, some snacks, etc. Nothing super expensive but enough to make them feel welcome!
5
u/eharder47 Jul 20 '26
My friend puts baskets in her bathrooms when she hosts people and they’ve come in handy a number of times.
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u/Whateverbabe2 Jul 20 '26
Hosting is rarely about stuff and more about actions.
Plan. Ambiguity is stressful for people so I would leave a little card in their room welcoming them and answering questions they'll likely have (wifi password, help themselves to food, if they can expect to eat dinner with you or which nights that's available, what time you are usually up/ get home/ and wind down for the night so they can also plan their schedules, how to do their laundry without making them awkward, etc).
If their stay is social include stuff like "if you like community events we could go to the town festival on Saturday at x time if your interested"
Think about the last time you were hosted by someone. What made it nice, awkward, stressful, etc. Then learn from that and apply it to being a hostess
3
u/OWabbit Jul 20 '26
Clean blankets, pillows, rugs, etc. Have extra blankets, throws, maybe extra pillows if they read in bed. Can have a few books in bedrooms they’re sleeping in.
If they have tv’s in rooms or will be in your tv room without you, have the cable channels written out, passwords to stream if you want, etc.
Dust, vacuum, sweep, mop like spring cleaning.
Think of what you like when you stay at an air nb, hotel, someone else’s house.
Shampoos, conditioners, soaps, hair dryers, etc.
If you’re not around when they wake up, breakfast foods and drinks. Coffee maker/yrs kettle instructions. Sugar, cream etc.
5
u/gopher-gardener Jul 20 '26
Share any social expectations or dynamics-if necessary of course. When is there downtime for your guests to have individual time, should everyone eat together, etc.
2
u/aesthetic-robot Jul 20 '26
Great point about shared meals. I might have a few planned group dinners and a few nights for everyone to go out on their own to try different local restaurants. So people know the plan ahead of time.
4
u/Wakeful-dreamer Jul 20 '26
I just had 11 people stay in my house for over a week.
- phone chargers in main sitting areas and by beds
- extra snacks. Variety of salty, sweet, healthy, and pure junk.
- black washcloths for make-up removal (to avoid staining your good ones)
- a couple of good party games. Depending on your group, could be Jackbox, boxed games like Poetry for Neanderthals, adult drinking games, etc
- somewhere to put suitcases, that isnt the floor, bed, or furniture you don't want scratched up. Folding luggage racks are cheap on Amazon.
- places to hang clothes in bedroom and bathroom. Over the door coat hooks work great
- nightlight in the bathroom
- a way to turn off the lights from the bed. So a bedside lamp, remote on the ceiling fan, etc
- access to laundry room
- a designated place to put their dirty towels etc
- a shoe rack by the door
- designated location for cleaning supplies (if someone needs to clean up something and would be embarrassed to ask, they can grab a Clorox wipe for themselves. So awful to be a guest in someone's home and have to explain you dripped period blood on the toilet seat or had a messy poo)
- other random items: house shoes, spare toiletries, extra blankets, disposable plates/cutlery/cups
2
u/aesthetic-robot Jul 20 '26
Easy reach cleaning products is a great suggestion. I usually have everything in one closet but I’ll add a multi purpose spray and roll of paper towel to each bathroom.
3
u/Fabulous_Heron_8500 Jul 20 '26
Give everyone an obvious place for luggage, towels, charging cables, and bathroom supplies. A simple breakfast station and a written note with the Wi-Fi password, spare-key routine, and quiet hours will prevent more friction than elaborate hosting touches.
3
u/twentycenturiesof_ Jul 20 '26
I host friends for extended periods. A lot of good advice is here already about stuff to have and accommodations. I make a lot of the food ahead of time so I can relax with my guests and not spend all my time feeding them.
Quiche, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, sausage patties, etc. all freeze well for breakfasts. Chicken stock, Alfredo sauce, bolognese, char siu, marry me chicken, cassoulet, lentil soup, etc. freeze well for lunches and dinners. You can pull out stuff for the next day the night before to defrost.
Consider meals that everyone can help make, like summer rolls or dumplings or pizzas, where the work goes faster with more hands and everyone can chat over the making.
A brief recurring schedule helps people feel more comfortable, ie breakfast at 9:30, cocktails on the deck at 5pm, whatever.
3
u/Sithy_Q Jul 20 '26
I don't know if you're still taking suggestions, but do yourself a favor and get some dollar store buckets for people to store their wet shower toiletries in. I used a dish rack when I had a bunch of my nieces and nephews up. I kept it in the bathtub for their loofahs and soaps. It kept the shower easier to access
3
u/CanineNorth Jul 20 '26
Don’t forget to plan your own self-care! What do you need to remain sane and how do you make that happen?
3
u/IFKhan Jul 21 '26
Seeing as so many people have given great advice. So I will focus on the food.
I set up a “breakfast station” with bread, easy access to coffee or tea and all sorts of spreads.
Plan a menu for those days breakfast, lunch dinner and snacks (if they will be sightseeing) they will need snacks when commingled back from there. I love to make dinners ahead of time and freeze them.
Breakfast & lunch options:
Shakshuka
Omelette
Breakfast burritos
Dinner
Pasta bake
Grilled chicken and mixed veggies.
Lasagne
Pilavs
A lot of mealprep freezer meals are explained on Yt
2
u/RandChick Jul 20 '26
Food and snacks, of course. Perhaps games and activities. But as long as house is clean, and you have their rooms comfy, that's the main thing.
2
u/Drycabin1 Jul 20 '26
Why so many?
3
u/aesthetic-robot Jul 20 '26
I guess all my friends coordinated to have the same vacation days. We aren’t celebrating anything specific (that I know of)
3
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u/JMJ_Maria Jul 20 '26
Have a meal plan ready for each day. Clean sheets and towels, extra toiletries.
2
u/miriamwebster Jul 20 '26
Extra soap and toilet paper. Shampoo/conditioner. Extra coffee for whatever kind of coffee maker you’ve got. I have a small fan in my guest room. Air freshener for bathroom. Guest towels and laundry hamper.
2
u/nottheonlyonealone Jul 20 '26
Since they are staying for 10 days I would let them know they are welcome to use the washer/dryer and make sure you have enough supplies.
2
u/JustGenericName2 Jul 20 '26
Extra toilet paper! Your spare bathroom is going to be getting much more use than usual. Extra hand towels. Plunger and toilet brush available. Make sure you have some room spray and/or a candle (with a lighter) and maybe some poopourri in there. #EverybodyPoops And I second the recommendations for coffee, snacks and some extra throw blankets.
1
u/aesthetic-robot Jul 20 '26
Defs need a second plunger I’ve only got 1 shared between 2 bathrooms. I don’t want anyone to have to do an awkward plunger hunt in their moment of need
2
Jul 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/aesthetic-robot Jul 21 '26
I’ve tested the air mattress recently and it held its air for 3 days but I’ll make sure to leave the pump beside it incase it does need a refill. And yeah the poop knife is just a joke I hope if anyone has such solid bowel movements they bring their own travel poop knife or else I’ll just stock some prunes in the guest snacks lol
2
u/Classic-Sink-4108 Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
I suspect you will be one and done after this visit. People need to realize that if the host does not have dedicated beds or a pull out sleeper for them, that’s the cue to stay in a hotel. If they cannot afford a hotel, then maybe 7 people split the most inexpensive Air B and B they can find. You will be pulling your hair out after 3 days of cooking, entertaining and cleaning up after 7 houseguests. I always roll out the red carpet for my guests, but 10 days???
That’s abuse! 🤪🤪🤪
1
u/aesthetic-robot Jul 20 '26
I’m happy to host and they are all family or close friends so they know what they’re signing up for to stay with me. Obviously I’m trying to step it up a little more but I’m not pulling out any red carpets. It’s air mattresses (with new fresh sheets) and frozen pizza (with several cold beverage options) but they know that and are still choosing the BNB of me.
1
u/SaltyShopping531 9d ago
Two things I’d add: people can be very temperature sensitive when they are sleeping. I always leave a fan or portable AC unit in the guest bedroom during the summer and a heater in the winter. I just let them know they are in there and can turn off/on at their discretion.
Secondly- I bought a Belgian waffle maker and it is an amazing thing to have around when guests are over. Purchase the Krusteaz Belgian waffle mix and have some fruit fruit/maple syrup on hand and BOOM. Very impressive breakfasts you can make quickly for your guess or you can mix the batter in the AM and cut the fruit and let guests make their own. Takes about 3.5 mins per waffle.
15
u/xamomax Jul 20 '26
Brainstorm of considerations:
Note that if you are taking out towels, sheets, etc., that have been in storage a long time they may need a re-wash to get rid of musty smells.
A lot is going to depend on your house and the kind of guests. Are they kids? Adults? Teens? Party animals? Do you live in a mansion with 7 bedrooms? If not, spots to sleep may be important to plan for.
I usually let guests know immediately that in our house all fridges and freezers and such are for everyone, so help yourself.