Christmas is the time for comfort. From comfort food to nostalgic movies to cozy sweaters and knitted socks, the goal is to be as warm and cozy as possible.
The same goes for any guests that come to visit over the holiday period, hosting experts remind us.
Here is how they always ensure guests stay warm and cozy over Christmas, with tricks to perfect guest sleep spots, scent your space, and make a home cozy for Christmas.
How to ensure guests stay warm and cozy over Christmas
Getting your home guest ready for the holiday season is a mammoth task, but these quick comfort tips can make your guest's experience a breeze, helping to free up some of your time and energy when they arrive.
1. Pick high-quality bedding with extra blankets
The first rule to styling an inviting guest bedroom is picking high-quality, comforting bedding begins Louree Elena Maya, luxury experience host and boutique hotelier, and founder at Imaginaria Events. It is a guest bedroom essential.
For the winter months, she suggests, ‘Warm cotton flannel bedding [available in complete sets at Brooklinen] and winter-weight fluffy duvets provide warmth and comfort – as if sleeping in a cloud. Wool throw blankets draped in the bedroom and across sofas and armchairs allow guests to cuddle up whenever they please. ‘
Not all guests want to sleep warm, however, so Tom Counts, hotelier and director of sales at the Hyatt Centric Faneuil Hall in Boston adds, ‘At the hotel, we have extra pillows, duvets, and blankets available to every guest, and we talk about it during the check-in process. Everyone has a different sleeping temperature, so often, the best blanket is the thermostat. Some people actually enjoy sleeping at 72 or even 75, so we let them make the choice.
‘When we have guests at our home, we put an extra blanket over a chair, but not on the bed, so it is their choice. At the hotel, we keep it in the closet. If you have something that is not in a very obvious place, point it out to them, they will be grateful.'
This plush throw is perfect for cuddling up on the sofa or adding an extra layer of warmth in bed over winter.
Transform your bedroom into a cozy haven with the VCNY Home plaid three-piece brushed cotton comforter set. Featuring classic plaid patterns and a warm sherpa reverse, this set is perfect for adding a touch of rustic charm to your space.
The Marlow pillow can be unzipped to adjust the firmness, making it ideal for guest spaces where people will have different sleep preferences.
2. Create a cozy ambiance
Good bedroom lighting ideas can make or break your guests’ experience at your home, and can make an otherwise ‘normal’ space more cozy.
Louree Elena Maya, luxury experience host continues, ‘Above all, to ensure a more pleasurable stay during the holidays a warm home ambience is everything. Warm glow lighting, candlelight, soft background music, and don’t forget a holiday fragrance – scent the air with mulling spices simmering on the stovetop, add cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves, star anise, and orange zest to delight in the warming scents of the season.’
We have brought together some of the best simmer pot recipes for fall and winter in one place so you can instantly make a home smell festive naturally.
LED candles are a much safer choice for bedrooms and guest spaces, limiting the risk of a fire.
If you don't want to monitor a simmer pot, an oil diffuser with wintery essential oils like cinnamon will instantly make a house smell good for Christmas.
A small rechargeable speaker hidden around the home playing soft Christmas songs will instantly set a cozy, comforting tone to welcome guests in.
3. Include a heater and fan
One of the main things making a guest bedroom less comfortable is a lack of options when it comes to temperature. Danielle Montreuil, event planning expert and founder of MM Culture Group says, ‘Place a small space heater or fan in your guest's room so they can adjust the temperature to their liking. This is especially appreciated if your guests come from a different climate and need help adapting.’
This hot and cool ceramic fan heater is the perfect investment for bedrooms, helping to add a little extra warmth or cool the space without the need for several bulky appliances.
4. Curate a guest basket with treats
Curating a guest welcome box is an optional extra that will make your guests feel more welcome – and it’s an extra way to sneak your friends and family some extra cozy extras, says Anya Sarre, TV host, party host, and lifestyle expert.
‘How to make your guests warm and comfortable 101: Always have snacks, water, a phone charger, slippers, and robe in your guest room. Added bonus – you can give them the robe to keep and take home as a holiday gift!’
For even more holiday flare, swap the basket for a stocking, such as these personalized knitted stockings from Walmart, for an added whimsical touch.
These empty gift hamper packs are perfect for a customized cozy basket. Leave one in your guest room with cozy socks, robe, and anything else you know will make your loved on feel right at home.
5. Stock up on warming drinks
Is there anything better on a cold winter day than snuggling up with a warm, comforting drink? Danielle Montreuil, event planning expert says, ‘Set up a little area in the kitchen or living room with a selection of hot drinks – think cocoa, tea, or mulled cider as a warming station. Include festive mugs and maybe a jar of marshmallows or cinnamon sticks for a holiday touch.’ Why not change out your boozy home bar ideas or bar cart ideas for a festive cocoa bar instead to make it memorable?
Louree Elena Maya, luxury experience host, agrees, saying, ‘Always stock your tea cabinet with soothing herbal teas such as chamomile, cinnamon apple, and sleepytime teas so guests can feel warm and calm before bedtime (or anytime!). Also lovely – a sip of Cognac fireside to warm the soul,’ she adds.
These added little touches might not seem like a big deal, but they are the details sure to make a guest room feel more homey and ensure your guests feel welcome and not a nuisance during the busiest time of the year.
