How To Treat Your Guests The Best This Holiday Season, According To The Experts
5 Southern tastemakers share their secrets for making visitors feel at home.
Haley Jane Photography
A good host encourages visitors to make themselves at home, and a great host has a bowl of cheese straws and a house cocktail at the ready; but the best hosts are those who go the extra mile on thoughtfulness, anticipating even the tiniest things that their guests might need and orchestrating gestures that will bring a little extra delight. Here, five Southern tastemakers and experienced hosts are sharing the super considerate moves they practice with overnight guests in their own homes, from providing a sound machine to personalizing the guest room decor.
Include Surprises
Dallas designer Javier Burkle sets up a miniature artificial tree for festive flair. “I love leaving a present wrapped under it,” says Burkle. “Little touches like an unexpected gift and a welcome package in the bath—think extra toiletries, a nice bar of soap, and a few water bottles—help friends and family feel truly special.”
Consider Visitors of All Ages
Beyond a fresh duvet and a nightstand outfitted with the essentials, Maddy Howey, cofounder of the bedding line Pippen House, also equips the space with her youngest guests in mind. “For those with children, I offer a portable crib, a baby monitor, a sleep sack, a lovey, and a few books,” she says.
Provide Plenty of Options
“I like to give people control over their environment,” says Atlanta interior designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis. “I have a bowl of disposable earplugs at the ready and a sound machine just in case. Pillows with different levels of firmness also help them feel comfortable.”
Focus on the Details
“A bloom-filled bud vase and snacks plated on a piece of Christmas china will put visitors at ease and get them in the holiday spirit,” says Atlanta decorator Mallory Mathison Glenn, who pulled together the charming room pictured above.
Make It Personal
“I have to give my sister Alexandra credit for this touch. Frame a picture of yourself with your guests, and put it in their room,” notes Annemarie Dillard Jazic, a vice president at Dillard’s. “Nothing feels more welcoming than seeing that thoughtful detail."
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Read the original article on Southern Living.
