One of the most exciting parts of Christmas is getting to spend time with family and friends…especially those who come from out-of-town that you don’t see often. Because of the coronavirus, visiting family during this time of year has slowed down quite a bit, but there are some who are still planning to travel and celebrate Christmas as usual! When you are hosting overnight guests during the holidays, it can be stressful on you, especially when trying to make your home feel warm and welcoming! But, hosting guests during the holidays during a global pandemic takes the stress to another level. Not only are you concerned about your guests feeling welcomed and comfortable, but also safe and healthy, as well.
Here are some things we recommend doing while preparing for your overnight guests to feel welcomed and comfortable while staying at your home:
Discuss ahead of time about mask wearing and social distancing. Whether you wear a mask or not…discuss this ahead of time with your guests so they know what the expectations are and you avoid any surprises or uncomfortable situations.
Declutter your home…especially the guest room and common areas- kitchen, living room, and dining room. Remove anything unnecessary from countertops and coffee tables; if it’s out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now.
Make space in the foyer. It’s the first thing guests see when arriving at your home, so make a good first impression when they come in. Place a rug or welcome mat at the entrance to protect floors from mud and snow. Clear out any shoes, umbrellas, or other clutter that has accumulated there. Add extra hooks to the walls so guests can hang coats and hats. A storage bench is also a good place where guests can remove boots and shoes.
Set up a coffee station. If there is not already a coffee bar set up in your kitchen, or even if there is, consider moving it in the family room or dining area slightly away from the kitchen. The kitchen is the command center for the holidays and can become crowded and hectic. Setting the coffee station out-of-way will cut down on chaos while preparing the holiday dinner. Also, make sure your station is well-stocked with cups, coffee, sugar, creamer and all the things that coffee lovers need!
Make sure there is enough sleeping space for your guests. Even if there aren’t enough beds for everyone, go ahead and plan out the extra sleeping arrangements whether on the couch or on air mattresses. Decide in advance where you will place air mattresses in your home. Make sure that you have the proper bedding and pillows for each space to make your guests as comfortable as possible.
Make sure the bathroom is well-stocked and extra supplies are easy to find. There is nothing worse as a guest than running out of toilet paper last minute and not knowing where to find the extra rolls! Make sure the towels, toilet paper, soap, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste are all fully stocked, and let your guests know where to find the extras if they run out. Put a bathmat on the floor below the shower to make sure no one slips when getting out of the bath, and to make them feel like they are at home.
Set up sanitizing stations. Because we are all heightened to germs and bacteria, setting up a sanitizing station is a great way to make your guests feel safe and comfortable staying in your home. Of course, it’s necessary to make sure the soap in the kitchen and bathroom are well- stocked, but also have hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol available to use. Also, placing a LiViliti Paptizer in your home is a great way for you and your guests to disinfect frequently touched items as often as they see fit. The Paptizer is a chemical-free sterilizer that uses UVC LED technology to disinfect up to 99.9% of bacteria, germs and viruses on any item that will fit in the box, in as little as 3 minutes. Your guests can use it for their cell phones, car keys, face masks, eye glasses, wallets, tv remotes, you name it! Cut down on germs as a whole by having the Paptizer at the entryways of your home or in a common area like the kitchen so everyone is able to use it.
Preparing for guests in your home, especially during Christmas, is always a little stressful. Making your home feel comfortable, warm AND safe can be a challenge. BUT if you do these things ahead of time, it will make your life easier and allow you to enjoy your company during the holidays.
To learn more visit us online at LiViliti Health Products!