For many of us, it’s almost unbelievable that the holidays will soon be here again. As North Texas home builders, we know many of you will be having guests for Thanksgiving and Christmas, some who may stay the night. We thought it was the ideal time to offer a few tips on how to make your home warm, comfortable, and inviting.
The first impression is the most important, so make sure your home feels inviting from the moment guests enter. Give your home a thorough cleaning, burn a few vanilla or spice scented candles, and if the temperatures are chilly, light a fire in the fireplace. Lamps rather than overhead lighting will also lend to the cozy, relaxed atmosphere.
If you have family or guests who will be spending the night, place a welcome basket in the room in which they will be staying filled with magazines, snacks, an extra blanket, travel size toiletries, and other things that will make them feel at home. Guests hate having to ask for an extra towel, blanket, or shampoo – especially late in the evening when you may have turned in for the night.
Consider leaving ample closet space for your guests along with extra hangers so they can hang clothes and not have to drape them over a chair or the bed – or even worse, stuff them into their suitcase. If you have Wi-Fi, leave the password on the nightstand so guests can connect if they feel so inclined. It’s also a good idea to write down the street address in case of an emergency, and inform guests about nearby convenience stores, pharmacies, or where the nearest coffee shop is located.
To make guests feel really welcome (whether they’re staying the night or not), set up a station in the kitchen complete with coffee, flavored teas, hot chocolate, snacks, fruit, and other goodies so they can help themselves any time they please, without having to feel they are inconveniencing you.
The holidays are a special time of year, and above all else, you want everyone in your home to feel relaxed, welcome, and happy. Enjoy your friends and family, and have the best holiday ever.
At Bud Bartley Custom Homes, we build custom homes in Flower Mound, Highland Village, and other Dallas suburbs in North Texas. When nothing but the best will do, count on our team for a beautiful, quality upscale home you’ll love as much 20 years from now as you did the day you moved in.
