There are many things to prepare as you ready your home for overnight guests. Of course there are the usual things: cleaning, menu planning and entertaining, but have you given some thought to your guest room? What little touches can you add to make your guests feel more at home? Better yet, what sort of “amenities” could you incorporate to make your guest room feel more like a luxurious hotel room? With some careful planning and attention to detail, you can make your guests feel comfortable and welcome, giving them an amazing stay.

Comfortable bedding

Luxurious bedding begins with the basics. The experts over at HGTV recommend making your choice based on comfort. If a store’s return policy allows, be sure to take bedding out of the package to feel fabrics before you decide to keep it or not. If thread counts, pillow firmness and deciding between a comforter vs. duvet keeps you up at night, check out this video on bedding basics.

Luxurious guest towels

When it comes to bath towels, it is a good idea to keep a set just for guests. Without the day-to-day use by your family, they will stay looking nice and new for your guests. Choose a thick variety made with high-quality cotton such as Pima or Egyptian cotton. White towels are the classic choice, but a neutral color that matches your decor will also make a timeless choice. For a few more suggestions, read Crate and Barrel’s Bath Towels 101: How to Choose Towels.

The comforts of home

It’s easy to forget key items when packing for a trip, so you will want to be prepared with a few essentials to have on hand for your ultimate guest room. Start with some travel-sized toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. If you like you could also add a few more items like hairspray, a disposable razor, deodorant and mouthwash. Your guests will feel less troublesome if they have access to a couple of helpful items like these, and they’ll appreciate the extra planning that you put into making their stay more comfortable.

Snack and beverage basket

Let’s face it, your guests may be picky eaters or just feel hungry at an unusual time. They may not want to feel like a bother to you or may be too shy to ask, so plan ahead with a snack basket. If you like, you can ask them for their favorite snacks and drinks ahead of time to have them on hand. Arrange them nicely in a basket and place them in your guest room. As a rule of thumb, try to plan for a variety of tastes – sweet, salty and healthy, then throw in a few bottles of water, juice and soda. Take a look at these snack basket ideas to help get you started!

Wifi password

This is an easy one that almost everyone will appreciate: provide your wifi password. Yes. It’s so simple but so helpful. Display the name of your network and the password in your guest room, so they can have easy access without feeling like they have to ask you for help.

How to entertain guests when you don’t have a guest room

If you don’t have a dedicated guest room in your home, you can still offer your out-of-town friends and family a comfortable place to stay. With the addition of a Wall Bed, you can quickly and easily convert any room into a guest room. Wall Beds are easy to pull down with just one hand. Best of all, the bedding can be made ahead of time and stored on the bed while it is in the upright position. With a variety of cabinetry and storage options, your guest will have plenty of room to place their belongings too.

Entertaining house guests does not have to be overwhelming. With a few special touches, you can create a welcoming space that will leave guests wanting to come back to visit again! If you need more ideas, head on over to our Pinterest board Guest Room Inspiration.