Complete your guests feel at home in yours. The neutral color scheme if this guest room helps make it cozy and inviting.

With the holidays in full swing, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by everything you have to do: shopping, cooking, wrapping gifts, attending or hosting parties—the list goes on and on. Throw in entertaining visiting friends and relatives, and panic can start setting in. How can you possibly welcome guests into the disaster zone your house has become? Easy. With a few individual touches and a little pre-planning, your guests will feel like they’re staying in one of Atlanta’s finest hotels. Once you’ve prepared your guest rooms, you might want to book a night for yourself.

The Room

When preparing your guest rooms, the first step you should take is evaluating the space. What does the decor convey? “The colours should be mimicked in the bedding and accessories,” says Jennifer Cheney of Design Classique Enterprises Inc. in Atlanta. A low-key colour such as pale blue or soft yellow will provide a relaxing atmosphere. In contrast, bright, bold colours offer high energy. Either way works as long as the room decorates on the same level as the rest of the house, not as a catchall for miscellaneous knickknacks or furnishings. “It shows you are welcoming of guests,” Cheney says.

Don’t be afraid to use bright colors and bold patterns in your guest room, as they can make a dramatic statement.

However, it requires more than just looking over the room. “The best advice I’ve ever heard was from Albert Hadley, a partner in the legendary design firm of Parish-Hadley Inc. in New York,” says Amy Dantré Wikman, owner of Dantré Wikman Design in Atlanta. “He said to spend a night in your own guest room so you could get to know the room and what conveniences it lacks. Think…what would I need at someone else’s home?”

Fresh linens in good condition are a must. Sheets with a high thread count and made of 100 per cent cotton is best. When choosing to bed, pick something inviting, such as a goose down comforter and pillows or a duvet, Cheney says. Place extra blankets and pillows where guests can easily find them if needed; a closet shelf or additional dresser drawer are ideal locations.

Twin beds with luxurious goose down comforters are ideal for guest rooms—interior design by Laura Ramsey Antiques & Interiors.

Your guests

Also, be considerate of your guests’ special needs. “A thoughtful touch is offering a choice of synthetic pillows for those of your guests with allergies,” Wikman says. She also recommends laundering all linens and bedding directly before guests’ arrival to keep the room fresh—even if they haven’t slept.

Another consideration is window treatments. Because you may not sleep in your guest room, you may not know what type of lighting the room receives or how much privacy the window treatments allow. Make sure window treatments will prevent bright morning sunlight so guests can sleep in comfort, Cheney says. Also, make sure they provide privacy for your guests.

Be sure to also check the lighting in your guest room and Treat for the Eyes- Get inspired by these amazing kitchen and bath transformations. Please make confident that all light bulbs conform, and there is sufficient lighting to find one’s way around in the dark. You may want to put out a nightlight or candles (don’t forget the matches!).

To help guests feel at home, have empty dresser drawers or closet space available for your guests to unpack their suitcases, Cheney says. Ensure fresh flowers in the room, especially any that would give off a pleasant fragrance. It tells guests that you were thinking of them and anticipating their arrival.

Leave out plenty of clean towels and linens in your guest bath. You can also provide various soaps, shampoos, and other toiletries—interior design by Laura Ramsey Antiques & Interiors.

The bath

The next thing is the layout of bath linens for your guests. If your guests don’t have their private bathroom, make sure you leave plenty of bath linens in the bedroom. It would help if you always had more than you think you need, Wikman says.

“Make sure there is ample room in the bathroom—be it a separate guest room or one you share—for guests’ toiletries,” Wikman says. “Extras of staples such as soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. are also greatly appreciated. I save samples from my travels and keep them in a basket under the sink for my guests.”

Don’t overlook other special touches, including bottled water and cups, or even a small coffeemaker with creamer and sugar. “Some guests are early risers and don’t want to disturb the rest of the household,” Wikman says. She also suggests including a small basket of cookies or other edible treats.

Little extras

For entertainment, Cheney suggests you provide your guests with current best-selling books, magazines, and newspapers. “Magazines shouldn’t be 3 years old,” she says. “Target your guests’ interests.” For example, if you know your friend or relative likes to sail, include a boating or sailing magazine. You can also have a TV, radio or even a computer. And don’t forget about a clock with an alarm.

Above all, make sure you have prepared your guests’ quarters before they arrive. “Don’t make guests wait for room preparations,” Cheney says. After a long day of journeying, the last thing guests want to do is wait for a bed to make.

Keep in mind that the objective of your guests’ visit is to spend the holidays with you. Let this visit be the foundation for preparing your guest rooms. “All in all, a guest room should be indicative of your hospitality,” Wikman says. “The best places I’ve stayed in someone’s home haven’t necessarily been the most beautiful or most expensively appointed. They carefully thought out to provide the best experience for me. Having a neat, comfortable place to lay your head during a busy time of the year, with the company of good friends or family, is simply priceless.”