Guests notice four places: the kitchen counter, the bathroom, wherever they sleep and the entry. They do not open your closets and they do not care about the junk drawer. Spend the weekend on the four places and let the rest go. For the dinner itself, How to set a holiday table covers the table, and if you are the guest this year, Gifts for the host has you covered.
Saturday morning: the kitchen counter
In an open plan the counter is the first thing anyone sees, and it is where everybody ends up standing. Clear it completely, wipe it down and put back only what you use every day. Everything else goes in a cabinet or onto one organizer, so twelve bits of clutter become a single object.
Homode 3-Tier Countertop Organizer
What it is A three-tier corner organizer in rustic wood on black iron. Oils, spices and the coffee setup go up instead of out.
Style it Tuck it into the corner of the counter. Group things by height on each tier and it looks like a styled shelf instead of storage.
Saturday afternoon: the bathroom
Guests spend more time alone in your bathroom than anywhere else, which means they are looking around. Put out fresh hand towels and a new bar of soap, and give the counter one object that makes it feel considered. Then leave a small bin of guest basics under the sink, a spare toothbrush, pain reliever, a phone charger and an extra roll, and tell them it is there.
Fewile Duck Ceramic Soap Dish
What it is A ceramic soap dish shaped like a duck. Small, glossy and a lot more fun than the saucer it replaces.
Style it Put a bar of good soap in it, something that smells nicer than what you usually buy. The duck is the joke. The soap is the hospitality.
Sunday morning: the guest bed
Guest room or pull-out, the bed needs a few things within arm's reach: a light they can switch off without getting up, a spot for a phone and glasses, and somewhere to charge that phone. Fold a weighted lap blanket at the foot of the bed for the guest who runs cold. If there is no nightstand, this is the weekend to fix that.
Nasonet Nightstand with Charging Station
What it is A mid-century nightstand with a built-in charging station. Guests get a place for their water glass and an outlet without crawling under the bed.
Style it Add a small lamp and a carafe of water. That is a hotel move, and once the nightstand is there it costs almost nothing.
Sunday afternoon: the entry
The entry makes the first impression and is usually the messiest spot in the house. Clear the shoe pile, add a hook or two for coats and hang a mirror so people can check themselves on the way in. A small mirror by the door makes a narrow entry feel wider, too.
Eaoundm Oval Antique Wall Mirror, White
What it is A small oval wall mirror, roughly 14.5 by 10 inches, in an antique white frame. Big enough to check your coat and small enough for the narrowest entry.
Style it Hang it at eye level beside the door, with the goose key holder next to it if you want the entry to have a sense of humor.
Counter, bathroom, bed, entry. One weekend. For a guest room that feels warmer, the Warm & Modern mood has nightstands, lamps and textiles, and every organizer we carry is on the storage shelf.