Our Head of Christmas, Cydney Ball, shares fail-safe ways to make your guests feel welcome
Christmas is coming and, with it, all the conundrums of hosting. Whether you want to spruce up your spare room for anticipated guests, or ensure you have a back-up plan for unanticipated ones – on those nights when the party carries on a little later than planned – here’s how to make everyone feel welcome.
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Invest in a sofa bed
A sofa bed is always a good investment, especially since they’ve evolved in leaps and bounds to be able to provide a truly decent night’s sleep. There are hundreds to choose from, whether click-clack designs that switch from sofa to sleep space in one easy move, or more traditional pull-out beds.
If you don’t have room for an additional sofa bed or air bed, opt for a sleepover chaise. Alternatively, look for a corner sofa or corner chair that offers comfortable seating day-to-day but easily converts into a sofa bed, too.
Provide your guests with a little extra comfort in the form of cosy bed linen; natural linen bedding is super soft and needs little – if any – ironing. Try a deep shade, such as forest green or inky blue, to transform your day space for sleep.
Cover mattresses with a fitted sheet, then shake out a coverless duvet from brands such as Night Lark and The Fine Bedding Company.
Make sure your guests have a duvet weight that’s suitable for the weather – a winter duvet should have a tog between 10 and 15 – which you can layer with a bedspread or throw for extra-cosy vibes.
We’d also add a well-placed side table or pouffe to the setup – perfect to house a glass of water and personal belongings.
The finishing touches
Wherever you plan to put guests, check the space: is it dark enough? Is there a space for them to keep their things? Somewhere to charge their phone?
Maybe leave out a pair of slippers, a hot water bottle and an eye mask. A carafe for water, mini toiletries and a scented candle will make them feel at home. We also love a dimmable lamp to softly light the room before bed.
If they’re likely to need your wifi, you could write the password in a notecard and leave it by their bed, along with something easy to read, such as a book of short stories, to add a personal touch.
Finally, plump up a cushion or two, stack up a pile of fluffy guest towels for the morning, and you’ll have some very happy friends and family.
