Overnight Guest Etiquette

October 22, 2012


Overnight Guest Etiquette
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    During the holiday season, schedules can fill up quickly with overnight guests. Here are some ways to help you prepare for visitors and tips for what to do if you’re invited somewhere overnight.

By Molly Wey


Tips for Hosting Overnight Guests

A clean home is a comfortable home, so start by cleaning the guest room. Then provide some small comforts sure to make guests feel at home away from home.

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Guest Basket

An overnight guest basket is a great way to greet your visitors. Here are a few ideas of what to include (double check for any allergies before stocking up on snacks):

  • Water bottle for each guest
  • Granola bars
  • Magazines
  • Toothbrush (just in case!)
  • Toothpaste
  • Individually wrapped sweet candy and chocolate
  • Gum

This makes your guest feel welcome, takes away any awkwardness they may feel in asking you for something they need or forgot, and makes it easier on you to have everything prepared.

Guest Breakfast

Another nice gesture is to make your overnight guest(s) breakfast. Try a breakfast casserole that can be prepped the day before and baked in the morning. If you really want to impress guests, here are simple breakfast recipes sure to wow them.

Tips for Being an Overnight Guest

We’ve covered hosting and overnight guest ideas, but what about when you’re invited to someone else's house?

Clean Up After Yourself

An important part of overnight guest etiquette is being neat. Make your bed in the morning and after your last night, take the sheets off the bed and put them—along with used towels and washcloths—in an easily accessible pile for the host. (If you feel comfortable, put them in the laundry room.)

Tip: To help relieve host stress, offer to provide breakfast if you know there isn’t something planned. Donuts or bagels will do just fine.

Express Your Gratitude

Think about sending a hostess gift after your trip and make sure to send a thank you note. Did your stay save you from spending hundreds of dollars at a hotel? Spend a fraction of that saying thank you. Flowers, a fruit arrangement or a food-of-the-month club are good options for an overnight guest hostess gift. Or say thanks with a heartfelt handmade hostess gift. What a nice surprise it will be for your host!

Molly is a wife, stay-at-home mom, blogger and June Cleaver wannabe. If she's not with her boys, she can be found cooking, crafting or writing on her blog, Stilettos and Diapers.

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