Creating Guest Spaces That Feel Like Home

Inside: Creating welcoming guest spaces isn’t about perfect rooms or special amenities. The warmth of real life is what makes people feel at home. Here’s how to share it.

Think about where you feel the most comfortable in your own home. Is it when you shut the door to your bedroom and sit in your favorite chair? Or is it in your formal dining room when the table is set for ten? Then it should come as no surprise then that your guests will also prefer a cozy and comfortable spot…. not a perfect showroom.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t set your formal dining room for guests. It’s just that their private spaces, like your guest room, should be comfortable rather than impressive.

Think about what makes you feel comfortable. Do you like being impressed? Or do you like knowing where the coffee pot is, how to use the remote, and having a quiet corner for a little privacy? Thought so. So when you’re getting ready for guests, remember that they’re people, just like you. Not judges with a rubric to grade you against.

Let’s explore how to welcome your home for guests in a way they will truly love.

Create Warmth With Lived-In Touches

Perfect spaces can feel cold and creepy, like a model home no one actually lives in. We often rush to hide signs of daily life before guests arrive. But, those human touches make people feel the most comfortable! The goal is cared for, but not untouchable.

Here’s how to strike that balance:

• Mix a few personal photos in with decorative pieces
• Leave out real books you’ve enjoyed, not just pretty display books
• Use soft items that show gentle wear – a beloved quilt or comfortable chair
• Keep functional items visible (reading lamp, coaster for water, hook for clothes)
• Add small touches that invite use – an open magazine, a plant that needs watering
• Include items with stories behind them that could spark conversation

You’re not staging a photoshoot. You’re creating a space for a person to spend time in. A gently lived-in room invites guests to relax and feel at home. They’re (hopefully!) understand that the books you’ve left out are for reading, not for show.

Give Control Over Basic Comforts

No one wants to feel like a burden, but when guests have to check with you about every little thing, that’s how they’ll feel. Would you feel comfortable letting your host know you were cold last night and could use an extra blanket? Well neither will they.

Here’s how to give guests independence without overwhelming them:

• Create a coffee station with mugs right next to the coffee.
• Leave extra blankets and pillows in the open instead of hidden in a closet (or leave a note!).
• Set out a basket with basic toiletries on the bathroom counter.
• If there are empty drawers they can use, tell them that or leave a note in their room letting them know.
• If at all possible, have the lamp in their room operated by a wall light switch.
• Leave out a note with the WiFi password.
• Put fresh towels in a visible spot.

It’s not about anticipating every possible need. It’s about handling the basics so that guests don’t have to constantly ask. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily bother you if guests are asking where things are, but it bothers them and makes them feel like they’re an imposition.

Set Up Spots That Don’t Force Interaction 

We’ve all been there – stuck on an awkward formal sofa, too close to the person next to you, feeling like you have to make constant conversation. Or perhaps worse, visiting in a house where everyone has “their” spot and there’s nowhere for you to sit. Either way, however, you set up your furniture can make people feel trapped or excluded. 

Here’s how to create natural gathering spots (without the pressure!):

• Set up seating in small clusters instead of one formal arrangement
• Set up a spot in the kitchen where someone can sit while you cook
• Leave some breathing room between seats – not everything needs to face each other
• Make sure there’s good lighting for both conversation and solo activities
• Don’t pile things on chairs.
• Have throw pillows and blankets nearby so people can get comfortable. Sometimes we like to put up a little physical barrier in someone else’s home. 
• Make it easy for people to come and go without feeling disruptive. 

The magic happens when guests can drift in and out of spaces naturally. Maybe they want to read nearby while you work or join you in the kitchen without feeling in the way. 

But I can promise you they don’t want to sit in a line in your living room. 

Carve Out Space for Alone time

• Even the most social guests need moments of privacy. But if you don’t make it obvious where these moments can happen, guests end up hiding in their rooms. Or worse, feeling like they can’t get any peace, and then the tension starts running high.
• Here’s how to give guests breathing room without making it weird:
• Create a spot by a window with (this is essential!) just one seat. 
• If you have outdoor space, make it easily accessible and welcoming
• Leave a few magazines or books in different spots around the house
• Make sure there’s good WiFi coverage in the guest room
• If sharing a bathroom have a simple lock so your guests don’t fumble or wonder if someone will barge in on them (a hook lock is best).

When people know they can have alone time when they need it, they’re actually more likely to enjoy social time. 

A welcoming home doesn’t need a beautiful guest room towel set or the best breakfast menu around. It’s about making space (both physical and emotional!) for connection to happen. When guests can get their own coffee and find a quiet moment, they stop being “guests.” They become people sharing your home.