There are all types of guests — family who we enjoy, family who we must endure. There are friends who we hold dear to our hearts and those who we love to go out to dinner with but can't seem to understand how we will get through a weekend of them in our home! Some guests are messy and spread themselves all over your home — some are needy — others are mindful and helpful in their own needs and in your home. Some guests may have a different clock than you — rising and going off to sleep at hours you are not comfortable with. Then there are children which are attached to some guests who have their own set of needs and rules.

I have done considerable traveling and have stayed at many inns. Several times I have had the opportunity to stay at someone’s home. You would be surprised at how often — despite the wealth of the family — the sleeping accommodations were very mindless of someone sleeping comfortably in the room. One extreme case was once I stayed in a home that had several pets — there was cat and dog hair on the bed — in between the sheets and all over the room! To make things worse it was a teenager boys room where there were dirty clothes on the chair and filthy sneakers on the floor — that visually made it awful to be in the room. There was no place to hang my clothes and the heat was off on a night where it got extremely cold. Needless to say, I made up some excuse of not being able to stay a second night. — And no, I did not sleep that night!

When building or designing your home think about having guests in your home. Often the guest room is a fleeting thought and placed off the same hallway as the other bedrooms in the house. Often the "guest" room functions as an office or an arts and craft, sewing/catchall room. This is fine — just be mindful of your guests and their needs. If you are fortunate to be building your home consider having a separate wing or level for your guests. This area can have its own entrance so if anyone needs to come and go no one is disturbed. Do you have a game room or a television room where your guests can feel free to go to when they want? This can be something to consider too for your guests if money is of no object.

Choose colors that are warm and inviting for the guest space such as pale yellows rather than cold hard colors. The artwork can express your design taste but be mindful of having art that is appropriate for all ages, religions and political perspectives! Often a lovely landscape may be the way to go for it is inviting and relaxing. It is a thoughtful gesture to have fresh flowers in the room but be careful of having too many knickknacks or breakable objects. It is helpful to have a clock, tissue box and maybe some new magazines — which leads to lighting. Have a reading lamp near the bed and keep a hall light on so if your guests need to walk through your home in the evening they can find their way. Guests need a place for their luggage and a tabletop to put their odds and ends upon. I suggest strongly to buy a new mattress, pillows, sheets, and blankets for the room — Be aware that old hand-me-downs or out dated kids furniture in the room is like sleeping in a junkyard — not fun. There are so many places to buy nice furniture for not high costs. I often suggest that you sleep in the guest room at least once to see what it feels like. And be mindful of the air quality of the room. Open the doors and windows and air the room out if it has not been used for a while — and check for spiders and others little crawly things. It is delightful to have a separate bathroom for the guest, but in any event make sure you have fresh soap, shampoo and conditioner, extra toilet paper, tissues and towels for your guest. Check the room for cleanliness.

I invite you to invite people to your home — it is such a lovely way to share your life — sitting up all night talking and relaxing together. Of course if the guest room is too comfortable your guests may never want to leave!