How to Make Your House Guest-Proof for the Holidays

The holidays are upon us, and as the end of the year creeps ever closer, millions of people will hit the roads, skies, and train tracks to visit friends and family. Having houseguests is stressful for both hosts and the guests themselves, especially if your guests don’t know how to read body language and refuse to leave.

Preparing your house properly for houseguests can remove some of that stress—no matter how much you love your friends and family, they’re not part of your household. They don’t know how you run things, and your property will never be as important to them as it is to you (and there are always eggnog-related mishaps involving tipsy relatives). To ensure that you can relax and enjoy your guests (and to avoid unnecessary beefs), take the time to guest-proof your home before the crowds arrive.

Prepare the entryway

The entryway of your home is obviously the first area visitors see. Whether it’s through the garage or the front entrance, take some steps to ensure your home is protected:

• Check that the outdoor lighting is working and sufficient to light the way from parking areas to the front door.

• Clear snow and ice from steps, walkways, and porches.

• Protect the floors with spare rugs, waterproof mats, and/or boot trays so your guests don’t ruin your floors with rain and snow.

• Make sure there are obvious places for folks to hang coats and leave umbrellas, boots, or anything else they might want to discard once they’re inside. You should also clear your own coats out of the way to make room.

• Have house shoes or slippers available for anyone who wants them.

If a rule is important to you, make it known

Your home is your castle, and you obviously get to set the rules. If something is important to you (e.g., asking guests to remove their shoes) you should make it very clear so there’s no misunderstanding. Don’t be afraid to place a sign in the entryway with a list of house rules if they’re important to you—better to make these policies clear than to quietly (and then, after some of the aforementioned eggnog, not so quietly) resent your guests for violating a rule they aren’t even aware of.

This rule of making stuff that might seem obvious to you even more obvious extends to the kitchen: Make sure the garbage and recycling are clearly marked and easy to access. If it’s hidden behind a door or inside a cabinet, for example, a sign might be a good idea. This way your guests won’t wander around, or be tempted to leave garbage and empty cans and bottles sitting in the sink or all over the counters. You should probably double-bag your receptacles, too, to protect against torn bags and leaking horrors.

Protect your private spaces

Just because you’re opening your home and inviting people inside doesn’t mean they automatically have the run of the place. While certain areas of the home, like the living room, kitchen, and guest bathrooms are going to be considered open to your guests, you can definitely mark certain areas of your home as private—and you should. Your own bedroom, the master bathroom, and any room you’d prefer people not enter for any reason whatsoever (because your pets are sequestered in there, or because you have delicate stuff stored in there) can be marked as Do Not Enter. Don’t be afraid to lock a door or put up a sign to make this very clear.

Speaking of privacy, if guests are on their way, take a moment to inspect the rooms they’ll be in for private stuff you might not want them to see. This includes things like prescriptions in the bathroom medicine cabinet—which people absolutely, positively, snoop on if given the chance.

Secure your valuables

It’s doubtful that your relatives or dear friends have come to your holiday gathering as part of an elaborate plan to rob you—but accidents happen. Stuff gets knocked over, pushed over the edge of a table or dresser, or picked up and put down in an unexpected spot. To prevent any misunderstandings or property loss, walk through the house before guests arrive and put up anything you’d rather not lose.

Consider some fabric protection

It’s a rare holiday gathering that doesn’t include at least one spill, regurgitating child, or dog-related dinner theft—so be prepared by protecting your furniture and rugs. Some temporary slipcovers over your couches and chairs mean your guests can spill all the wine they want and you’ll remain sanguine and calm. Carpet stain protection sprays are cheap and easy to apply, and can ensure that even if Fido drags the holiday ham all over the house, the cleanup will be relatively easy.

Stock up the bathrooms

Guests are going to use your bathrooms and probably wander in and out of the kitchen—so prepare both rooms. In bathrooms, make sure stuff like extra hand towels, rolls of TP, and extra soap very easy to see and grab, so guests don’t have to get creative.