preparing for a weekend guest (seemingly effortlessly)

pls don't put your suitcase on my bed!!

Happy Friday! I hope the first weeks of 2024 have been treating you well. In ten days, one of my closest friends is visiting New York and staying at my apartment. I’m beyond excited! Hosting is one of my favorite things, whether it’s a weekend guest, dinner parties, or a poker night (a 2024 goal!). Let’s talk about hosting weekend guests.

5 stars!!

Hosting thoughtfully can distinguish your space from being just a place to sleep to a comfortable and inviting homebase. I aim for the latter. Hosting used to be a stressful experience for me, but I’ve come up with three steps that lessen the anxiety and help me focus on connecting with my guests. Andiamo!

I listened to an interview with Thomas Keller (chef/owner of The French Laundry, Per Se) where he said that when he first started in restaurants and was designing the dining room, he invested in what the guests physically touched, versus lighting, tile, etc. The sentiment really stuck with me (read more below). these are a few inspo images for a design project i'm working on...more to come. Image credit: Pinterest

1. If needed, make a list of ~realistic~ updates you’d like to make. Hosting guests can give you the push you need to start making updates to your space. However, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed. I like to remind myself that guests are focused on catching up, what dinner reservations we have planned, and the activities on the calendar - not my throw pillow choices. You don’t need to spend a lot of time and/or money on last-minute changes! The updates that are worth your time are the tactile aspects that your guests will directly interact with most: bed linens, towels, and in my apartment, the couch. For me, this looks like replacing some towels (I think I’m going to go with bath sheets from Italic), refreshing my shower curtain (maybe this one from West Elm), and adding a nice throw to the couch (a top contender from CB2). If you aren’t looking to buy anything new, thoroughly cleaning your shower curtain (and liner!), towels, and linens (hot wash cycle, OxiClean, the whole shebang) can provide a nice refresh. 

2. Plan tasks ahead of time. There’s no doubt that if you’re prepping 24 hours ahead of your guest’s arrival, you’ll be stressed. Instead, I’ve found it helpful to give myself a one to two-week lead time to outline tasks and prioritize. Any shopping (for towels, shower curtains, etc.) should happen at least a week prior so everything arrives in time. Two days before my guest arrives, I clean and go food shopping. This way, I have the day before to do last-minute errands, tidy up anything else, and relax. Avoiding the frantic errand-running hours before my guests arrive has made a huge difference.

3. Stock the fridge/pantry with some of your guest’s favorite treats. Having your guest’s favorite treats in stock is an easy win. You don’t have to go overboard, but if they have a favorite flavor of sparkling water, have a case in your fridge. If they love to snack on chips and salsa, have some ready to open when they arrive. Breakfast supplies (bread, yogurt, eggs, fruit, coffee, tea, etc.) are also great to have available. If I don’t already know, I ask if they have any dietary restrictions/preferences and plan accordingly. 

Bonus:

• Get a luggage rack so your guests can keep their suitcase/belongings in one place. I’m leaning towards this one, since it’s foldable, has a shelf for shoes, and I can store it in the closet when not in use. No suitcases on the bed!!

• Pick up some flowers when you go food shopping. You don’t have to spend a lot (there are great options under $15) and a floral arrangement adds warmth and cohesiveness across your space. I like to do two mini arrangements for the bedroom and living room and then one larger one on the dining room table.

  

  roses and tulips are my go-tos for affordable flowers, since they last a long time and look good in multiple types of vases. ranunculus (the third image), are also fun flowers because they can stand alone in small vases. Image credit: Pinterest

• Have some snacks out and music playing when your guest arrives. Whenever someone has done this for me, it makes me feel so welcomed and loved.

• If your guest will mainly be on their own, consider putting together a guide of any quirks in your home (how to use the shower, if the fan only works on a specific setting, etc.) along with your neighborhood favorites (ie., grocery store, coffee shop, bar) and the wifi password.

I hope these tips are helpful the next time you’re hosting a guest. This dispatch was mainly about getting your space ready, but that’s only one aspect of hosting. The itinerary/plan for the visit is equally as important, and something I’ll cover in another newsletter.

Enjoy the long weekend! There’s still time to get flowers if you’re hosting a loved one (:

xx NT