Last-Minute Guests? No Problem! Make Your Home ‘Company Ready’

Think about this. The phone rings, and your in-laws, friends, or (insert random relatives here) say they're coming over for a visit. Your whole body tenses, and your heart starts beating a mile a minute. You look around and realize your house is not ready for last-minute guests.

Create a plan for last-minute guests to provide comfortable and convenient accommodations, no matter how little notice they give you. Keep your home uncluttered, and store a separate set of linens, food and drink stash, and basic toiletries for guests. Decide where visitors will stay when they sleep over, so you have a go-to spot for them when they arrive.

When unexpected visitors arrive on your doorstep, it can be a stressful situation. However, keeping your home company-ready eases the chaos and anxiety, making things more pleasant for you and your sudden housemates.

10 Tips To Keep Your Home Ready For Guests

In a perfect world, guests give you plenty of warning before they visit, especially for overnight stays. You have weeks, maybe even months, to plan, prep, clean, and stock the fridge.

But let’s face it. Since when is the world perfect? Sometimes, relatives or friends decide to make a last-minute trip or pop by for a quick visit. Or perhaps they’re facing an emergency that leaves them needing a place to stay.

Don’t let the state of your home keep you from being a welcoming host or stress you out. Instead, use these tips to make sure you and your house are ready to host anyone, anytime.

1. Get In The Habit of Performing A Nightly “10-Minute Tidy”

It’s a lot easier to show off a tidy house to guests if you can get into the habit of keeping things that way. Don’t worry, you don’t need to keep everything meticulously organized at all times. 

After all, life happens. During the course of the day, things move around, collect in corners, and get out of place. However, a quick-clean system, like the “ ten-minute tidy,” at the end of each day, helps keep clutter at bay.

Each night, go through the house collecting anything that’s ended up on the floor or on surfaces like tables, the couch, and chair backs. Carry a bin or basket with you so you can throw everything into it quickly, then return items to their proper places.

When you get a last-minute text that guests are dropping by, you won’t have as many things to put away. For the items that do need attention, start in the entryway, since guests see that first. 

Toss clutter into a decorative basket. Wipe down flat surfaces, fluff up the sofa pillows, and do a quick pick-up in the guest bathroom.

2. Keep Special Guest-Ready Touches In Each Room

Make small details part of your normal home setup so you don’t have to scramble when unexpected company arrives. Keep a cozy throw, coasters, and a fragrant candle at the ready in the living room.

Have a fresh, clean hand towel, extra toilet paper, and spare hand soap on standby in the bathroom. If you have a guest room, keep it clutter-free and always have clean sheets on the bed.

3. Stock Up On Signature Scents

A sense of coziness isn’t just about how your home looks. It’s a whole feeling, and how your home smells can make or break the mood.

Keep scented candles, plug-ins, wax warmers, or oil diffusers on hand with clean scents like citrus or fresh linen. When you get word that guests are arriving, light a candle or turn on the wax warmer to start filling your home with a welcoming aroma.

Fabric refresher sprays that target odors are also miracle workers in a bottle. Spritz them on upholstered furniture, curtains, carpets, rugs, and any pet areas to freshen up rooms instantly.

4. Embrace Clutter-Free Surfaces

Aim to keep the flat surfaces in your home as clutter-free as possible on a daily basis. This helps your home feel more peaceful and lowers your stress levels. But it also makes it a lot easier to straighten the house for last-minute guests.

Limit knick-knacks and other odds and ends on tabletops and counters. Stow mail and papers out of sight in a file organizer or basket, and hide small kitchen appliances in the pantry or a cabinet when not in use.

You’ll also have the advantage of wiping down surfaces faster since you won’t have to move so much stuff. Keep in mind, flat surfaces refer to the floor and beds, too, so keep these areas as uncluttered as possible.

5. Maintain A Small Food And Beverage Stash For Entertaining

What if your house looks pretty good and smells nice? Then you don’t have to sweat any unexpected guests, right? Well, there’s another element to hosting you need to consider. Your guests will likely want something to drink or a little something to nibble.

But what are you going to feed them? Don’t start fretting because you can’t remember if you have anything besides stale chips and a half-full can of soda.

Keep a few easy-to-serve items in the pantry or freezer for impromptu gatherings. Some good staples are crackers, cheese, mixed nuts, or some easy-to-bake frozen appetizers.

A bottle of wine is always nice to have, and something as simple as bottled water is a go-to for quenching thirst. You could also keep a few drink mixes handy to whip up a pitcher of lemonade or iced tea.

It’s also a nice touch to have a few tea bags and coffee available. To make serving items easy, always stock a pack of paper napkins and appetizer plates. 

6. Organize A Guest Bathroom Kit

An unexpected guest who visits for a few hours is one thing, but what happens when last-minute overnight guests show up on your porch? Help your company feel at home by stocking a few basic toiletries in a cute basket in the bathroom. When you get the call that guests are coming, set the basket on the bathroom vanity, so they have the essentials.

Things to include are spare toothbrushes and toothpaste, mini shampoos, lotions, and soaps, feminine products, and deodorant. Also, keep a few extra towels and washcloths clean and ready. This way, when guests come with little warning, you don’t have to hurry and scrounge up supplies.

7. Have An Extra Set Of Fresh Linens On Hand For Guests

If last-minute overnight guests are a possibility, keep clean, fresh linens at the ready. Wash and fold extra sheets and towels monthly, so they are ready at a moment’s notice. Keep them in a labeled bin or basket with dryer sheets or lavender sachets between them.

8. Corral Clutter In A Designated Drop Zone

Designate a small area, like a hallway chest or basket in the living room corner, for clutter containment. As things pile up, toss them in the clutter bin, then make it a habit to empty the bin weekly, so it doesn’t overflow.

A dedicated clutter collection zone is an easy way to keep your home looking tidy, even when you’re busy. It also helps keep things neat for when guests pop in for a visit.

9. Create A Welcoming Mood For Guests

Have a routine that you perform when you know guests are about to show up at your home that sets a welcoming mood. Remember, the right ambiance isn’t just about having a clean house. It’s also about the overall feeling of your home.

A sample routine is you turn off overhead lights and turn on lamps and other warm lighting. Turn on a soothing playlist of jazz or classical music, light your favorite scented candle, and put a fresh soap dispenser in the bathroom.

10. Have A Guest-Ready Zone                    

You don’t need a spare bedroom to host overnight guests, however, you should designate a cozy nook or corner for family and friends when they stay the night. A sofa bed is one option, or even an air mattress that you can inflate in a pinch and dress up with sheets.

If you have the space, other nice touches are a reading chair with a snugly blanket and a side table for a drink. Other thoughtful amenities are an extra charger for convenience, a robe, and a bedside lamp. These little gestures help guests feel welcome and comfortable.

Welcome Guests Any Time With A Few Simple Touches, Not Perfection 

Perfection isn’t the goal when it comes to making guests feel welcome in your home. It’s all about a warm, inviting mood. It’s okay to leave a few signs of real life in your home, like a mug in the sink or a book on the coffee table.

In fact, these signs of life help guests feel more at ease because they don’t feel they have to walk on eggshells. Therefore, focus on limiting clutter and setting the foundation for a home you can make welcoming and comfortable with a quick refresh.

Related Guides:

• Tips For Hosting Guests Without A Guest Room
• How To Create A Home Office And Guest Room Combo
• Special Touches To Help Holiday Guests Feel At Home