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  • Be Prepared for the Holiday Season
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Get Your Home Holiday Houseguest Ready

Having houseguests can be stressful, during the holiday season. If storage space is limited in your home, it may be difficult to have on hand the extra bedding, towels, closet space, serving dishes and toiletries your guests will require. To make the most of the space you do have, use the following tips to make your guests feel comfortable and right at home:

Create a space for coats and shoes. With visitors coming and going from your home, it is important to have an organized entryway. Install pegs on the wall by the door so guests can hang coats or hats. It’s also a good idea to clean out the entry closet, even temporarily, for use by guests. Ask visitors to keep wet or muddy shoes in the entryway under a bench or on a shoe rack. By making your entryway storage-friendly, you eliminate the clutter that can accumulate when guests toss a coat over the back of a chair or leave their shoes and umbrellas on the floor.

Set up the sleeping arrangements. No matter where your guests finally bed down, you will need to have extra bedding on hand. Try to supply a mixture of lightweight and heavy blankets so guests can adjust their comfort level throughout the night. Air mattresses or foam pads can be an adequate solution for anyone sleeping on a floor, but be sure they provide enough padding. Another good way to maximize floor space is with full-size, inflatable beds. As for the extra bedding and pillows you’ll need, store them in a Space Bag vacuum-seal Storage Tote to save space when not in use. The totes have a zippered, canvas cover and can be stacked in a closet or in plain sight.

Solve the closet conundrum. Create closet space for guests to use by relocating your items in a Space Bag Hanging Bag. Designed to hold coats, suits and dresses, the bags can hold up to 10 garments. With your items out of the way, guests will feel more at home by ditching the suitcase and hanging their clothes. Don’t forget to leave about a dozen hangers, including pants hangers, in the closet.

Put the freebies to good use. Most people tend to amass a stash of toiletries from hotel visits. These miniature shampoos and soaps are perfect for use by your guests. They don’t take up as much space as full-sized bathroom products and can be conveniently tossed out after company leaves.

Consider renting instead of buying. Large dining room setups are convenient when planning a large Thanksgiving meal or holiday dinner, but they’re less likely to be used on a day-to-day basis. By renting extra tables and chairs, you eliminate the need to store them when you don’t have guests. The same goes for large serving platters and dinnerware – visit a party rental store before trying to make a permanent place for them in your home.

Add some hotel touches. Treat your visitors like hotel guests by placing individually wrapped chocolates by their bedside. Stock bottled waters and granola bars or fresh fruit in their room, so they can snack without having to bother their host.

By giving a home to visitors’ belongings and using clever storage solutions to prevent houseguest necessities from taking over your closets, you can ensure your home is clutter-free and comfortable for entertaining guests over the holiday season.

Source: MarthaStewart.com