Just as many of us forgot how to apply make-up or wear jeans during lockdown, so the act of hosting overnight guests has become a lost art. Or at least a little hazy. Are box-fresh towels really necessary? What about fresh flowers – cute touch or a bit Stepford Wives? Then there’s the teeny issue of the guest bedroom having been turned into an office/playroom/escape room. If there is a bed in there, it hasn’t been seen since 2019…
With the festive season upon us and friends and family time looming, it’s time to get a grip. Starting with the mother of all mucking out sessions. Guest bedrooms are generally one shoe box away from junk room status, and the global pandemic certainly hasn’t helped. Fortunately, charity shops have reopened and are crying out for stock, so get the bin bags out and be utterly ruthless. Guest rooms do not have to be barren of all your belongings, but nobody will sleep easily with boxes and bags teetering over them. Recycle, relocate and remove as much as you possibly can before getting out the Marigolds and duster. Your guests may well be more apprehensive than usual about cleanliness after the last year and sparkling clean sleeping quarters will help them sleep soundly.
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