Fresh Ways To Welcome House Guests This Summer
Here are ways to welcome house guests this Summer such as having enough seating for conversations, a welcoming living room (and pretty coffee table), coffee and drinks stations where guests can help themselves, hotel robes, a refreshed patio with new outdoor pillows, and more thoughtful touches.
I’m joining a great group of women showing us how they are refreshing their homes for the Summer season. Their links are at the end of the post!
We are going to have six family members staying here for the July Fourth holiday (yay!) and I want them to feel like they are truly on vacation but at home. Here’s what we are doing for their comfort:
1. Sufficient Comfortable Seating In the Living Room
Aside from outside areas, our living room/great room is the main place to gather as a group for conversation. This meant that we needed to add two comfortable but lighter-weight (for movability) armchairs on the far side.
These chairs in performance fabric “round out” the conversation area but can be moved for a movie night.
2. How To Style Your Coffee Table
It should feel fresh and uncluttered but not “museum-like.” And you want to be able to easily take things off for a board game or appetizers.
I like lighter accessories for Summer, but my system remains the same.
Clean the table then:
1. Start with a tray and books
2. Add boxes for interest and to store remotes, coasters, reading glasses, etc
3. Have something fresh like flowers, a plant, or fruit
4. Add a candle for ambiance
Mix new and old.
Shop The Living Room:
3. Hotel Robes For Lazy Mornings
A lightweight cotton robe is a nice indulgence for guests…in fact, I am going to buy another.
4. Beverages: A Self Serve Coffee Station
In the drawer under the Nespresso maker are the coffee pods, sugar, etc.
And there is also a mini fridge under the counter by the grill
It’s filled with lots of drinks like sparkling water, soft drinks, and beer.
That bamboo chair is not inexpensive but it’s on sale at Serena & Lily right now.
5. Clean Patio With Fresh Throw Pillows
We hang out here a lot now…so I wipe things down often.
Shop The Patio
Other things we do to welcome house guests:
- soft cashmere throw blankets for too much A/C…this one from Quince is extra luxe for a reasonable price!
- menu planning where guests feel they can “Pitch in”
- clean sheets, of course, on the guest beds with extra pillows
- bedside lamps
- bottles of water on the nightstand
- a suitcase luggage rack in each guest room
- phone chargers and internet wifi passwords in each bedroom
- fresh white towels, washcloths, and toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soap, and toothpaste in the bathrooms
- lots of hangers in the closet space
- we have two bikes and we purchased three refurbished bikes for guests who want to use them
- sun hats and sunscreen available by the back door
You may also like Hosting An Outside Inside Dinner Party In Our New Home.
Let’s check out how my friends are refreshing their homes for summer!
Hi Mary Ann,
Everything looks perfect and ready for your special guests! I’d love to be greeted so warmly and with every detail thoughtfully considered wherever I visit!
Enjoy your summer.
Xo Heidi
Thanks so much, Heidi!!!
Mary Ann, your home is absolutely gorgeous and any guests lucky enough to stay with you will feel like they’re staying in a 5 star hotel, only better because they will be treated like royalty by you and Howard. You’ve thought of everything to make your guests feel at home and very detail is perfection. Have a beautiful July 4th celebration.
Thanks so much, Gail!!!
Hi Mary Ann,
You and Howard think of everything, you both are so thoughtful and kind to think of everything to welcome your house guests. Now, how many people would think of buying refurbished bicycles. Wow, the challenge you face is no one will ever want to go home. Are you prepared for that. 😊
Mary Ann, it is always nice to have guests. Great ideas for making them feel welcome and at home!
What a fun weekend you have coming up! Enjoy.
You’re the 2nd designer who’s mentioned when you’re decorating your living room, be sure to have enough places to sit in the living room for the # of people your house sleeps/the number of people your dining table seats. And that you don’t have to buy all the furniture at once. The additional pieces will come to you over time.
Also – the hooks you hang the guest robes from – do you have a source? Thx.
Thanks!! The hooks are vintage…I will source them on Sunday with other hooks in our home. And I DID have to wait a bit to see and afford the extra chairs.
How great that will have a house full for July 4th. I love all your welcoming touches, your guest might want to move in.prior to my disability, having lots of family abroad, we’ve frequently had guests visiting. I miss those days…
MA! You and Howard are the hosts with the mosts … lucky guests! You’ve thought of everything … and have the beach right outside your door. But I bet it’s not easy prodding guests to leave the nest with all the wonderful amenities provided … and now the pool. Your living room is so pretty and you know how I covet that coffee table! xo
Mary Ann
You and Howard are two of the best hosts anyone could possibly imagine. Anyone lucky enough to be your guest receives the royal treatment. Those low-back chairs are a great addition to your living room (extra seating without being too busy).
I like them and the fabric is a similar shade as the sofa slipcovers…but in performance fabric.
Oh my, Mary Ann your guests may not want to leave! 😂
I love your attention to detail!
Thanks, Paula! They were here for Christmas and it’s so nice that they want to come back.
Mary Ann! Your guests are going to feel as comfortable as being home, but also like they are staying at a luxury resort! Having been a guest in your home a few times, I can certainly say that I felt so welcome and so comfortable!!
Enjoy your family on the 4th!!!
Xo
A
A perfect list of ways to be a gracious hostess, Mary Ann! I was recently reminded I need to print out the wifi password again for our guest room. Enjoy your family and your precious little one!
Mary Ann, I love your guest hosting ideas. The robes are the cutest touch too. I like the idea of having a coffee station that people can just self-serve. We have the same cute stripe pillows!
How exciting to have everyone there! Your home is looking beautiful.. Oh love the new chairs too.
xo
You are the sweetest, Kim!
Can you provide further details about menu planning? Because we have a home in Naples, we have the challenge of entertaining up to 8 groups of guests a year …especially during Covid! I get very overwhelmed by this and am always seeking ways to get guests more involved with helping out. Maybe I need to ask Dear Abby for this?!
Howard or I will start a rough outline and then ask for volunteers. For example, Tommy has already volunteered to make his BBQ ribs on July 3. Everyone else fills in with the other dishes or appetizers or drinks. I think people like to help. Hopefully, Luca will make his paella one night.
Pretty and welcoming! I would love to know your tips for styling a round coffee table. It’s a different challenge than the square or rectangle sisters.
Try the above method but in elements of three…sort of in a triangle.
Wow! I’d love to be a guest at your home. Your guests will never want to leave.
Your patio is so inviting too. It looks like the perfect place to hang out.
Love your tips and will be incorporating some, even though we rarely have guests, but when we do I’ll be prepared!
Thanks, Nancy! It takes some effort to get here so we want to make sure they want to come. And so far they do. We also have a six seater golf cart with a good sound system that everyone likes to go out in (including the dogs).