How to Prepare Your Home for Guests During the Holidays

Decluttering your home is the first step when you’re preparing for guests, whether it means temporarily storing bulky items in a storage unit or getting rid of things you no longer use or need. Clearing floorspace opens up your home, making it feel airier and more spacious, and also eliminates the risk of your guests accidentally tripping or bumping into objects. This includes areas with lots of foot traffic, like the entryway, hallways, living room, kitchen and dining room.

Don’t forget to remove any unnecessary items from kitchen countertops, coffee tables and other surfaces as well. It’s best to declutter a few weeks before your guest’s arrival to give yourself plenty of time to find a new home for items that are taking up a lot of space.

While you’re stowing things away in your storage unit, garage or basement, take stock of what you already own so you don’t buy anything you don’t actually need. Tucked-away areas like closets and cabinets may already contain spare bedding, pillows and towels you can repurpose for guests. You may also have multifunctional furniture, such as fold-out beds or side tables, that you can bring back into your home, as well as items like lamps and throw blankets that can elevate your guest area.

Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to deep clean your home — especially common areas like the living room, bathroom, guest area and kitchen. You can use our Deep Cleaning Checklist for a detailed step-by-step guide to cleaning different areas of your home and any supplies you’ll need, but here’s a simplified version of the checklist:

Living Room

• Dust everything. Start from the top — light fixtures and fans — and work your way down to tabletops and baseboards. Spot clean any smudges or dirt that can’t be dusted off.
• Vacuum upholstery. Vacuum sofas, chairs and cushions to remove dust and dander. For furniture upholstered in fabric, consider spritzing a fabric refresher or rinsing the covers (if they’re washable).
• Clean under furniture. Move couches, tables, rugs and chairs to vacuum or mop the floor beneath them.
• Wash rugs. Follow the manufacturer's instructions or care tag on your rug. If you can wash it at home or a laundromat, do so at least a week before your guests arrive. Otherwise, take them to a rug cleaner.
• Wipe electronics. Dust often accumulates on TVs, stereos and other devices. Use a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching them.

Spare Bedroom or Sleeping Area

• Bed linens. Strip the bed and launder all linens, including mattress covers and pillow protectors.
• Dust and vacuum. Just as with the living room, dust from top to bottom. Pay special attention to headboards and footboards.
• Closet space. Empty and clean any closet space designated for guests. Make sure there are a few empty hangers they can use for winter coats.
• Windows. Clean windows and make sure they’re properly insulated to prevent drafts from entering the room.

Kitchen

• Deep clean appliances. This includes the oven, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher. Remove any old food items and wipe down all interior surfaces.
• Sanitize surfaces. Use a disinfectant on countertops, sinks and faucet handles.
• Clean floors. Sweep and mop floors, ensuring corners and beneath appliances are clean.
• Purge and organize. Empty out pantries and cabinets, wiping down shelves and discarding expired items.

Bathroom

• Scrub and disinfect. Give the toilet, shower, tub and sink a thorough scrubbing. Don't forget to wipe down the shower door or place the shower curtain in the washing machine.
• Floors. After sweeping, mop the floor with a bathroom-friendly cleaner.
• Mirrors and fixtures. Wipe down mirrors with a glass cleaner. Chrome fixtures can be shined with a mixture of water and vinegar.

Whether the guest area is a spare room or a makeshift space like the living room, you’ll want to ensure that it has everything your guest needs for a comfortable stay. If you don’t have a spare bed or mattress, here are a few alternatives that don’t take up too much space when you’re not hosting:

• Futon (a sofa that’s specifically designed for sleeping and often features a pull-out mattress)
• Air mattress (simply inflate and deflate as needed, then place in a storage unit or closet)
• Roll-up floor mattress (usually made of foam, these can roll up easily and have a minimal footprint)

You’ll also want to provide your guest with fresh sheets, pillows and a comforter with a few extra blankets, depending on how cold your home gets at night. You should also make sure there’s a lamp nearby to provide your guest with light when it’s dark and a dresser or rack to hang up clothes. If you have a storage unit where you keep these kinds of spare items, be sure to go through your unit before you buy anything new.

If your guest is staying in a common area, consider getting a room divider to create a partition that gives them some privacy during their stay. Shoji screens, typically made from wood and translucent paper, are a lightweight, minimal and stylish type of divider that you can easily fold and place in self storage when you’re not using them.

If you want to go above and beyond, you can also provide the following items for your guests:

• A small desk and chair
• A bedside table or stool
• Books and magazines
• Charging cords
• A pair of house slippers
• A fan or space heater

Before your guests arrive, do a quick scan of the bathroom and kitchen, taking note of any essentials you might need to replenish.

For the bathroom, make sure you have enough:

• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Towels (including face, hand and bath towels)
• Shampoo, conditioner and body wash
• Toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss
• Razors and feminine hygiene products

For the kitchen, consider stocking up on:

• Breakfast items like bread, milk, eggs, coffee, tea, fruit and cereal
• Snacks like nuts, chips, dips, crackers and fruit
• Drinks like water, seltzer, soda, kombucha and alcohol (if appropriate)
• Holiday-themed desserts and treats (even better if they’re homemade)

If you know your guest has a dietary restriction or food allergy, make sure you buy some specialty items and store them on their own shelf or in a separate part of the kitchen so your guest doesn’t go hungry.

While you know where everything is in your home, your guests may not. To make your home comfortable, you’ll want to ensure whoever’s staying with you has everything they need. This means writing down the wi-fi password and placing it somewhere visible, like on a small card near their bed or in a welcome basket. You should also debrief them on adjusting the thermostat so they can control the temperature to their liking. If they’ll be coming and going independently, offer a spare key or set up a keyless entry code for convenience. Walk them through any key appliances or entertainment systems they might use, and let them know where to find essentials like extra towels, chargers and kitchen supplies.

Lastly, if your guests have small children or pets that will be staying with you, it’s important to remove any potential safety hazards before they arrive. Move fragile and valuable items from easy-to-reach places, and make sure bookcases, TVs and larger pieces of furniture are securely mounted to walls to prevent them from tipping over. You’ll also want to keep cleaning products, over-the-counter medicines, and prescription drugs out of sight and reach, as well as move any plants that may be toxic to pets.

After your guests leave, keeping your space clutter-free can be easily managed by storing guest area items in a storage unit. Start by packing away bedding, pillows and blankets in vacuum-sealed bags or storage bins to save space and protect them from dust and moisture. Fold down any multifunctional furniture like fold-out sofas, futons or portable bed frames, and store them upright to maximize unit space. Use labeled boxes for smaller guest essentials, such as extra towels, toiletries or decor items like lamps and side tables, so they’re easy to locate for the next visit. If you’ve moved furniture around, return everything to its usual place in your home, and keep items for the guest area together in the storage unit for convenient retrieval. This approach not only helps maintain a tidy living area but also ensures that your guest essentials are easily accessible when needed again.

We hope these tips have helped you get your home ready for guests during the holidays. For more organization and storage ideas, head to the SmartStop blog. In the meantime, happy holidays and hosting!