Getting the Guest Room Ready for Summer Visitors

Summer in New Zealand is visiting season. Family arrives for Christmas, friends from out of town stop over on their way to the beach, and the spare room that has spent eleven months holding boxes and a clothes airer suddenly needs to become somewhere a person would want to sleep.

The best test we know is simple: sleep in your own guest room for one night. You will learn more in eight hours than from any checklist, including where the light switch is, whether the curtains keep out the 5.30am sun, and whether there is anywhere to put a glass of water. In the meantime, this is where to start.

The bed comes first

Everything else in a guest room is a bonus if the bed is comfortable. Wash everything, including the pillows if you can, and air the room for a day before anyone arrives.

Summer guests are better served by a cotton quilt than a heavy duvet, with a lighter layer folded at the end of the bed for cooler nights. The Reversible Khaki Gingham Cotton Quilt suits exactly that, relaxed and easy, and it looks just as good turned back to its plain khaki side. For a twin room, a matching pair makes the whole space feel planned.

Offer two pillows per person, ideally one firm and one soft, because you cannot know what your guest sleeps on at home. A pair of euro pillows at the back, like the Ivory Frill Euro Pillowcase, makes the bed look finished and gives guests something to sit up against.

A bedside that actually works

Nothing makes a guest feel more at home than a proper bedside table. It needs somewhere to put a phone, a light they can reach from bed, a glass of water and a clock.

A water carafe with a glass is one of the most thoughtful touches you can offer, particularly on a warm night. The Amalfi Fluted Glass Water Decanter is a lovely choice, with a tumbler alongside. If the room has no bedside lamp, or the power point is on the wrong side of the bed, the rechargeable URI Pure Portable LED Lamp solves both problems and dims for reading.

Guests in an unfamiliar house often wake unsure of the time. A quiet alarm clock like the Karlsson Belle Alarm Clock, with a silent sweep, means nobody has to reach for a phone in the dark.

Towels, set out and obvious

Guests rarely like to ask for a towel. Put a set on the end of the bed or on a chair: a bath towel, a hand towel and a face cloth per person, plus a beach towel if you live near the coast. A Turkish Towel is ideal for the beach because it dries quickly and packs small.

A small face towel folded on top, such as the Nawrap Organic Face Towel, feels like a hotel detail without being fussy.

Small touches in the bathroom

If guests share the family bathroom, clear a shelf for them and say so. A small tray with the basics, such as a hand cream and a spare toothbrush, tells them they are expected. The Marble Silicone Tray is light and practical for a shared vanity.

Make it smell like a room people sleep in

Rooms that have been shut up for months take on a closed-in smell that guests notice the moment they walk in. Open the windows the day before, and add a soft scent. A small reed diffuser works quietly in the background, or a light mist of the Therapy Lavender & Clary Sage Room & Linen Spray over freshly made bedding just before they arrive.

A final checklist

• Clear at least half the wardrobe and leave a few empty hangers.
• Empty a drawer, or leave a luggage rack or a clear chair for their bag.
• Put the Wi-Fi password somewhere obvious.
• Leave a spare phone charger by the bed.
• Check the curtains or blinds block early summer light.
• Leave a note with the spare key, the best beach, and when breakfast happens.

If you host at a bach or holiday home, our holiday home hosts page and The Bach Edit gather pieces chosen for exactly that.

The Takeaway

To get a guest room ready for summer visitors, start with a freshly washed, comfortable bed with a cotton quilt and two pillows per person. Set up a proper bedside with a light, a water carafe and a quiet clock. Put towels out where guests can see them, clear a bathroom shelf with a small tray of basics, and air the room and add a soft scent before they arrive. Finally, clear wardrobe space, leave the Wi-Fi password and a spare charger, and check the curtains block early summer light.