Over the course of the first 3.5 months of this tour, I've stayed in dozens of homes. I've slept in (probably) close to every kind of place you can imagine. All the way from king-size beds in a guest room that is nicer than I'll probably ever have as a master bedroom, to hotel rooms where the police are in the adjoining "suite," to kids' beds where my feet hang off the end, to couches and loveseats in freezing-cold living rooms. I've been many places, and I have just a short list of "Things to Remember" if I ever become a homeowner with a room for guests to stay. I thought I'd share them with you, in case you have a home that you like to share with others.
Desired items most often "missing" from guest rooms:
- Garbage can --> what to do with my toothbrush package? take it to the kitchen? pack it out?
- Lamp(s) --> purely because I like to read in bed. lamp on a bedside table = the best.
- 3-pronged outlets --> probably not much you can do about it now. but just so you know, i guess.
- WARMTH --> why aren't there heating ducts in the guest rooms? not very welcoming when the entire house is warm except the guest room.
The most comfortable guest rooms:
- Are warm, or have extra blankets available
- Aren't next to the baby's room
- Have a table or dresser to set things on
- Have a lamp
How to make your guest uncomfortable:
- Shout at your children in front of your guest
- Ask your guest to pray for meals
- Don't clean the room your guest is staying in--especially if there are dirty videos strewn about
- Ask them their life story
- Tell them your life story
How to make your guest most comfortable:
- Offer them something to drink
- Introduce them to everyone else living in the home
- If they are tired, let them sleep
- Share meals with them
And, just a personal one. . .
- No margarine. Butter, butter, butter. Please?
This probably won't be helpful to those of you with common sense or if you have been a guest in someone's house, but just thought I'd throw it out there. Mostly it just has to do with offering something to your guest that you anticipate they may ask for--it is uncomfortable to ask for things as a guest in someone's home!
These lists may grow as the tour goes one, or they may get shorter. . . who knows?
