One of the things my husband Alex and I were most excited by when we bought our homestead in Montana is inviting our friends and family to stay with us. We have an entire floor of the house dedicated to guests and have plans to turn part of our barn into a separate guest house as well.
We’ve begun the process of designing and furnishing our guest floor. We have two rooms, a bathroom and a separate living room. The furniture is slowing turning up. Which means it is time to work on the details of making it as comfortable and hospitable as possible. Naturally we asked Twitter to weigh in on what makes people feel at home in someone else’s house. And you did not disappoint.
Toiletries
Traveling with full toiletries and skincare can be a challenge especially when flying. Here is a list of the most requested grooming items and toiletries
- Hairdryer
- Roundbrush & Styling Tools
- Shampoo & Conditioner & Body Wash
- Lotion & Body Moisturizer
- Skincare Basics (SPF, Face Creams)
- Skincare single use masks for face & under eye bags
- Dental Care (Brush, Paste, Floss)
- Small Individually Wrapped Soap
- Q-Tips & Cotton Rounds
- Tampons & Pads
- Tissues
- Bandaids & Pimple Patches
- First Aid Items (Headache, Allergy)
Bathroom Comfort
Grooming items isn’t the only thing that you need in the bathroom. Personal hygiene requires some thought.
- Trash Bin
- Dark Towel for Makeup Removal
- Plenty of Extra Bath Towels
- Wash Cloths
- Hair Towel & Turban
- Extra Towel Hooks
- Plunger & Brush
- Bidet and Squatty Potty
- Septic Care Sign
- Cleaning Items
- Extra Toilet Paper
- Tissues
- Poo-pouri or matches to mask smells
Organization
Keeping your personal items from overflowing can help make a guest room feel more comfortable. Remember power strips & plugs! Some of the most requested items include:
- Pens & Notepad & Scissors
- Desk Power Station
- Bedside Power and USB
- Hangers (including pant & skirt)
- Trays/Landing Zones for small items
- Coat Hook
- Dresser & Closet Space
- Full Length Mirror
Bedding and Sleeping
Getting a good night sleep in a new place can be very challenging. Providing for your guest’s sleep and relaxing needs was a top request.
- Extra Pillows
- Hypoallergenic Options
- Duvet Cover
- Robes & Slippers
- Dirty Clothing Bins & Laundry
- Dimmer & Good Bedroom Lighting (not too bright, preferably lamps)
- Books & Reading Materials
- Nightstand Space (w/ power & USB strips)
- Eye Masks & Earplugs (ideally also blackout curtains)
- Water Glasses & Jugs
- Wifi QR Codes
- Speakers or White Noise Machine
Other requests including desks and working areas. Our current plans are to have adjustable standing desks and ergonomic work chairs in each bedroom. Plenty of landing spaces and areas to keep your items visible but not cluttered (including luggage stands) is also commonly requested. Separate sitting, sleeping and working areas is best. Also a surprisingly large number of people suggested a white board. So clearly our friends like to brainstorm on the road. External monitors and keyboard were also mentioned.
We have plans to write a basic FAQ document that includes things how the house works. We will include details on water filtration (we have an expensive filtering system so you can drink from any tap in the house), where food is kept and expectations on hours and interaction. Also details on things like heating and cooling are crucial for comfort. People should be able to maintain their ideal temperatures for sleeping and working.
We are also planning to outfit the guest common areas (private to guests and separate from the house common areas) with a mini-fridge stocked with favorite beverages and snacks. Having a coffee maker and tea service was a popular request as well. We are also considering extra boots and outdoor gear for city guests that do not have country gear or simply cannot travel with Wellingtons and barn coats.
Another huge area of interest was maintaining health and fitness. We have a full gym including squat rack, pull up bar, treadmill and a Pilates reformer along with mats for stretching and yoga. We’ve got a Theragun, medicine balls & foam rollers. I am also keen to have supplements for basics to keep your immune system happy like Vitamin D, C and Zinc. We also have a hot tub and have plans for an infrared sauna (might even include a cold plunge).
If you’ve got hospitality suggestions we’d love to hear them. And of course if you are one of our many virtual friends we’d be delighted if you’d consider becoming an “IRL” or in-real-life friend by coming to visit us. We are booked through October but would be thrilled to have you come for ski season!
