0
0
I like to have a guest bedroom that reflects our guests, and hospitality in general. Here are some of my personal touches to both the guest room and guest bath. Don’t get too excited–they’re not Martha Stewart quality. Many of these are geared toward family and friends coming from the States to visit us here in Germany, but most ideas can transfer to any guest room.
GUEST BEDROOM
I won’t post a photo here, but I use a place card holder to display our wifi password. Guests aren’t stressed out about bothering/waking anyone, and they don’t have to wait until morning to ask.
Next to the bed, I have placed a German guestbook. When people sign it at the end of their stay, they typically jot down some of their favorite memories from the trip. We’ve found some fun drawings in there, too. It will make a great souvenir for us at the end of our time in Germany, and guests have a comfortable way to express their thanks without getting sappy during goodbyes. Curious guests flip through and check out previous visitor comments.
By the guest book, I keep a basket of toiletries. This includes face cleansing wipes for easy freshening up, tissues, and shampoos and other toiletries. I often stick some German chocolates and/or Gummi Bears in there! On the same table, guests find adapters for their electronics. They’re easy to forget when packing, and not everyone owns adapters. If a family is visiting, kids get their own guest toiletries, treats, and souvenirs.
On both nightstands, guests will find local wooden toys. A few times sending the wooden car down its track with its monotous clickety-clack, can help put the jet-lagged to sleep. Inside the shelf of the nightstands, we keep magazines and books for people to read when they’re up in the middle of the night.
Guests who forget to buy a postcard can grab one of ours from town as they’re packing to leave. A book about our little town gives people an idea of what there is to see here, as well as the history behind the town and its landmarks. We store guide books and brochures from local attractions, bigger cities, etc., on a shelf in the family room. Visitors can borrow a pocket phrasebook while they’re here.
Guests immediately know who else has stayed in our guest room. Above the bed, photos from each visit hang on an Ikea shower curtain wire/artwork clip display. Returning guests can remember a moment from their last visit.
On the wall, I’ve hung a glass dry-erase board on which I write visitor schedules, activities, and cities we’re visiting, so they can see what’s going on. I add what people might need (sturdy shoes, nice clothes, etc.). Okay, sometimes I doodle the activity…
After each long visit, I create a photo collage canvas of our best moments, on Snapfish or Shutterfly; or I place photos in a collage frame. In the case of friends we’ve met up with, but who have not visited overnight, I frame a picture for the windowsill.
GUEST BATHROOM
It is important that people know to open the bathroom skylight while showering, in order to prevent moisture and mold. In addition to us telling people when they arrive, I created a photo canvas with a picture of open windows, from our visit to Burano, with a gentle reminder to open ours when showering.
Germans recycle like crazy, so we have to sort our trash. Female guests who experience unfortunate timing with their cycle, or other feminine issues, can place feminine products in fun plastic Toy Story bags. They have a twist tie, are not see-through, and are easy to spot when we are sorting trash.
I’m always looking for ways to make guests feel comfortable while they’re here. What does your guest room look like?
