Genius Home Prep: A Guest Room in a Box
No dedicated guest room? Make hosting overnighters easier by keeping the essentials in one place
Alison Hodgson
November 7, 2015
Houzz Contributor. Author of The Pug List: A Ridiculous Dog, a Family Who Lost Everything, and How They All Found Their Way Home http://alisonhodgson.net
Houzz Contributor. Author of The Pug List: A Ridiculous Dog, a Family Who Lost Everything,... More
Last month I got in touch with a friend to tell her our family was coming to her city for a few days and wondered if we could get together for dinner. She wrote right back and invited us to stay. They had plenty of room. Her husband would be out of town, but she and her two little boys would love to have us. We had planned to book a hotel but were delighted to accept her invitation, and had such a wonderful visit.
It occurred to me that had I been in her place with a demanding job, a husband away and two young children, I don’t know if I would have flung open my doors for a family of five to spend several nights. It’s not that I don’t love having company. I do, but to be perfectly honest, I dread all the preparations.
It occurred to me that had I been in her place with a demanding job, a husband away and two young children, I don’t know if I would have flung open my doors for a family of five to spend several nights. It’s not that I don’t love having company. I do, but to be perfectly honest, I dread all the preparations.
Perhaps it would be different if we had a dedicated guest room.
In our first home, we had a bed in the corner of the basement playroom. I was always fighting mayhem in that space, and every time we had guests, I had to do a massive cleanup, which was less than ideal.
In our first home, we had a bed in the corner of the basement playroom. I was always fighting mayhem in that space, and every time we had guests, I had to do a massive cleanup, which was less than ideal.
Before we moved into our current home, I asked our teenage son if he was willing to have his bedroom also serve as our quasi guest room, and he graciously agreed.
We bought him a queen-size bed, and anyone who stays comments on its comfort. The room has big windows with a beautiful view, so that’s nice, but it’s still a lot of work transforming the room of a teenage boy, who is, let’s say less than fastidious, into a pleasing place for a guest.
My son does all the picking up and vacuuming, but I change the bedding and, since the dogs are frequent visitors, launder his duvet and duvet cover.
We bought him a queen-size bed, and anyone who stays comments on its comfort. The room has big windows with a beautiful view, so that’s nice, but it’s still a lot of work transforming the room of a teenage boy, who is, let’s say less than fastidious, into a pleasing place for a guest.
My son does all the picking up and vacuuming, but I change the bedding and, since the dogs are frequent visitors, launder his duvet and duvet cover.
I set aside specific linens and pillows for guests only, but there were times I would go to grab them and find they had disappeared. The last time we had company, I looked for the guest pillows and discovered my youngest had commandeered them to create a bed in a laundry basket for her pug.
That was the last straw. Right then I thought of creating a guest room in a box and got to it.
That was the last straw. Right then I thought of creating a guest room in a box and got to it.
I decided to start fresh and bought new sheets, towels, washcloths, pillows and a coverlet. I chose white because it’s simple and clean and bright. The coverlet will look right in my son’s room, and I liked the pattern.
Finally, to keep everything clean and organized, I bought an enormous plastic bin and packed everything in it. I shopped sales, but even so, everything added up. Because I don’t shop frequently, it was worth it to me to get it all done at once.
If you have extra linens, you may need only to shop your own linen closet, organize everything and purchase a large container. If your family can be trusted, you may even be able to get away with placing everything on a higher shelf. For our family this is the perfect solution to keep everything we need close at hand and clean and secure.
Now I can’t wait for our next guests.
Your turn: What have you found to help make hosting a breeze?
More: How to Add a Murphy Bed
If you have extra linens, you may need only to shop your own linen closet, organize everything and purchase a large container. If your family can be trusted, you may even be able to get away with placing everything on a higher shelf. For our family this is the perfect solution to keep everything we need close at hand and clean and secure.
Now I can’t wait for our next guests.
Your turn: What have you found to help make hosting a breeze?
More: How to Add a Murphy Bed
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When storing items in a plastic bins, an old sock with several pieces charcoal will absorb odors without imparting any scents of its own. Useful for guests who dislike certain scents or may have allergies. Avoid charcoal infused with starter fluid.
Please don't scent your linens. Many people, especially men, do not want to smell lavender or other scents as they are sleeping, and many people are sensitive to scents. It can make them sick.
Living in Vegas, we have had about 60 guests in our two bedroom house in the past year. (Not all at one time, lol). Anticipating this, we have one bedroom dedicated to guests: kingsize bed, luggage rack, adjacent bathroom, toiletries, etc. If there are several guests, I have two plastic bins, each containing a twin blow up mattress and bedding. I also have a hanging sweater holder in the closet containing extra bath towels and blankets. A couple of bathrobes and a tray with snacks and water is ready for them as well.