Be a Good House Host

SP has many thoughts on how to be a good house guest, but there seems to me a better place to begin that conversation, and that is to offer a gentle reminder on how to be a good house host. It always surprises me when I am invited to some generous friend’s charming house only to find that some of the basic necessities of the overnight guest are overlooked. I would never tell my host this, of course, that would be the height of ill manners. I will tell you, though. To experience the ease and joy that can be a good house guest, one must pay attention to the details and first become a good house host. Remember the basic tenet of exhibiting good manners is to make people feel at ease by putting yourself in another’s shoes. Take this old advice one step further and put yourself in another’s bedroom. Literally. Spend a night or two in your guest room — or guest house — before you ever offer an invitation for a friend to stay. Sleep in the bed. Is the mattress comfortable? If not, buy a pillow-top mattress cover. This is a great way to update an old mattress if you can’t afford to buy a new one. Are the sheets comfortable and God forbid, clean? Is there a waste basket in the room? Is there an adequate reading lamp? Do the curtains shut out the light? Are the windows clean and functioning properly? Are there any empty wooden hangers, and is there room to hang clothes in the closet?  Place a pitcher full of water and clean glasses on the bedside table so your guest doesn’t feel awkward fumbling to the kitchen for a midnight drink. Put an ottoman or a chair where your guest can place their suitcase. Clear off some space on the dresser for them to put their things. If there is a private bathroom, stock the room with everything your guest might need from shampoo to shaving cream.

Encourage your guests to make themselves at home, and if you’ve considered their comfort, they will. Remember that one of life’s greatest joys is travelling and seeing the world and exploring that world from the vantage point of a comfortable home in a different city. If you provide one, you will be invited to stay in one. Stay tuned for more chapters on how to be a good house guest, because Lord knows, there is much to discuss in that area.

SocialPrimer recommends: www.sealybedding.com, for an affordable pillow-top mattress cover. Crate & Barrell for bedside water pitchers. Hotel bathrooms offer great mini-bottles of shampoo and soaps for your guest bathroom.