Ways to prepare the home for Fiesta guests

CEBU, Philippines —  The religious activities of the city’s nine-day Fiesta Senor celebration have started since two days ago. And the Sinulog Festival, the cultural side of the festivities, begins today. This means visitors to the city must already be trickling in.

The thought of guests coming over is quite stressful for many homes, no matter how short these guests are staying. There are preparations to make, of course. And home owners – having grown so familiar with their own living space – may not know where to start.

It’s human nature to want to make a good impression with guests. Even if the guests are family members that are already living elsewhere or close relatives and friends, the house residents will want to put up a good front. And they fret over the possibility that their guests may notice anything not quite praise-worthy.

It’s true – no matter how people try to keep their homes in top shape all the time, there are certain “ugliness” here and there that they’ll no longer notice, because they see it every day. This is what all the stress is about. Lola or Mama may notice something that warrants an unpleasant comment. And, some guests will just keep their bad impressions to themselves.

Those who are running around frantically trying to figure out where to start may find helpful the following tips from Ronique Gibson at https://freshome.com:

1 Get the guest room ready. The guest room is the area of your home where your guests will spend the most time. Make sure that the room is ready. De-clutter the space and make room in closets and adequate space for suitcases and belongings. Put extra hangers in the closet, and clear out dressers or armoires. Have fresh linen for the bed. There is nothing more inviting than an orderly room for your guests to relax in.

2 Pay attention to the bathroom. The bathroom should be tidy clean and offer, as well. Fresh towels are a must. If the bathroom is shared with other house members, have them keep their toiletries out of the way to make room for guest’s toiletries. For added comfort of guests, have a “in case you forgot” basket with toiletries, shower cap, and razors.

3 Make it comfy and clutter-free. Guests like to stay in a place that offers them a comfortable ambiance. Take an assessment of your home to determine what areas need de-cluttering. The main living areas, kid’s rooms, kitchen, and main dining room are prime areas to check too. If you have an entertaining room – de-clutter, and make sure there is adequate seating. In your dining area, plan in advance where everyone will sit, and if extra chairs or even tables will be necessary.

4 Do some extra touches. Welcoming visitors into your home can be made especially enjoyable with thoughtful gestures. If your guests have never visited your city before, have maps, restaurant and city amenity guides for them in their guest bedroom. If possible, ask your guests before they arrive what their plans are for their stay. If they want to go sightseeing, plan in advance a few key places that your city is known for. These small gestures will make a good impression with guests, instantly.

Preparing your home for guests doesn’t have to be complicated or even be a laborious task. Depending on how large your home is, where you plan on putting your guests, and what activities you have planned, your home may already be close to being ready. If there’s a lot of work yet to be done, divide your time into sections and don’t try to tackle them all at once. The sooner you get it done, the more relaxed you’ll be when your guests arrive. - Krista Cabello