A guest room does not have to be a hotel suite. It has to do about six things well: let a person sleep, let them find their things, let them charge a phone, let them close a door, let them get to a bathroom without a search party, and let them leave without feeling that they have been in the way. If those six work, the rest is decoration.

This guest room checklist is for the holiday visit, when someone is coming to stay for a night or a week. It is written as a Less list: a simple refresh that takes an afternoon, and an optional upgrade list if you want to go further. It also covers the guest who sleeps on a sofa bed or an air mattress, because that is how many visits actually go.

Start by looking at the room as a guest

Before you clean, spend five minutes standing in the doorway and then sitting on the bed. You will see what a visitor sees.

• Is there a place to put a suitcase that is not the floor?
• Can they reach a light switch from the bed?
• Is there somewhere to put a phone, a glass of water and glasses?
• Is there a hook, a hanger or a drawer?
• Is there a smell, a draft or a noise that would bother you?

Write down what you find. The list is your plan.

Step one: clear the room

If the room has become storage, the refresh starts there.

1. Remove anything that does not belong: boxes, exercise gear, a pile of laundry.
2. Clear the surfaces. A nightstand, dresser and desk should each have a few clear inches.
3. Empty a space for clothes: one third of the closet, or at least a few empty hangers and one drawer.
4. Sort what must stay, and put it in a bin in the corner of the closet, a labelled box or another room.
5. Check the floor. A clear path between the door, the bed and the window matters most at night.

Step two: the bed

The bed matters more than anything else in the room.

• Fresh sheets, washed and dried, on a mattress that is clean and supportive. Flip or rotate a mattress if it has not been moved for a year.
• Two pillows per person, one firmer and one softer if you have them, with clean cases.
• A blanket for the bottom of the bed, since people vary in how warm they run at night.
• A mattress protector if the bed is used rarely, because it keeps dust and moisture at bay.
• A sofa bed or air mattress: check that it holds air or locks open, and test it before the visit. Put it where there is room to open it, and add real sheets, pillows and a blanket.

Step three: light, power and comfort

Small things make a stay easier.

• A bedside lamp that is easy to switch on, in addition to the ceiling light.
• A night light in the hall or the bathroom, especially for older guests and children.
• A phone charger on the nightstand, or a power strip in reach of the bed. Tuck cords away from the walkway.
• A water carafe and a glass on a tray.
• A small clock, because many people prefer not to use their phone as an alarm.
• Curtains or blinds that close. If the room gets streetlight, a clip or a pinned blanket helps.
• A tissue box and a small bin.
• A fan or a quiet heater: guests differ in what they need. If you use a heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and never leave it on when no one is in the room.

Step four: storage and surfaces

Guests should not have to live out of a suitcase on the floor.

• A luggage rack or a low bench or a sturdy chair near the door.
• Hangers: a handful that match, and a few hooks on the back of the door.
• An empty drawer or a shelf, with a liner if you like.
• A mirror, on the wall or the back of a door.
• A small surface for a watch, glasses and medication.

Step five: the information card

A small card saves many questions.

• The wifi network and password.
• Where the towels, extra blankets and spare toiletries are.
• Quiet hours, if you have them, and breakfast times.
• Instructions for anything that is not obvious: the shower, the heat, the lock or the garbage.
• Your phone number, in case you are out when they arrive.
• A short note that says they are welcome to help themselves.

Keep it plain, and put it on the nightstand or the dresser in a frame or a clear sleeve.

If the guest sleeps in the living room

A sofa bed or an air mattress in a shared space needs a few extras, because the guest has no door to close.

• Agree on a bedtime and a wake-up routine in advance, so no one is surprised by a 6 a.m. kettle.
• Clear a corner for their bag and a basket for their bedding, so the room can return to normal by day.
• Provide a screen, a curtain or a folding divider if you can, for a little privacy when they change.
• Give them a lamp and a place for a phone, even if that is only a small stool.
• Keep the thermostat and the noise in mind. A household that stays up late can make a living room guest’s night short.

If children are coming too

Children change the checklist in small ways.

• Check the room for hazards at their height: loose cords, sharp furniture edges and any medication within reach. For children under four, remove small objects, coins, button batteries and whole nuts or hard snacks, which are choking hazards.
• Bring in a travel crib or a small mattress if the family needs one, and ask the parents how they like it set up. Follow the product’s instructions for assembly.
• Add a night light and keep a clear path to the bathroom.
• Clear a low shelf with a few books or toys, so there is something to do.

Step six: the bathroom

If guests share your bathroom, a quick reset makes a difference.

• Clean towels on a hook or a shelf, one bath towel and one hand towel per guest.
• A shelf or drawer that is clear for their toiletries.
• Spare supplies: toilet paper, soap and a fresh toothbrush if you keep them.
• A bin with a liner and a plunger in view, because nobody wants to ask.

Our guide to a guest bathroom amenity kit, Less vs More lists what to include and what to skip.

Safety and health checks

A guest room is a room people sleep in, so confirm the basics.

• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms near the room, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for where they go.
• Check the window opens and closes, and that the path to it is clear.
• Keep the route to the bathroom well lit and free of cords and rugs that curl.
• Ask about allergies before the visit. Pets, feather pillows and scented products can cause trouble for some people.
• Do not use candles in the guest room unless you will be there. Flameless ones are fine.
• Think about stairs. A guest with a mobility problem may do better on the main floor.

A few touches, if you want them

None of these is necessary, and each is nice.

• A small plant or a few stems in a jar.
• A book or two and a magazine.
• A snack such as fruit or a few crackers in a jar.
• A scented sachet or linen spray, used lightly.
• A throw at the foot of the bed.
• A small tray for a morning drink.

Less or More: the guest room plan

	Less	More
Bed	Fresh sheets and two pillows	Layered bedding and a mattress topper
Storage	A rack, hangers and a drawer	A wardrobe section and a dresser
Comfort	A lamp, a charger and water	Add a reading chair and a small desk
Extras	An info card	A basket of toiletries and snacks
Time	An afternoon	A weekend

Reset after the visit

When the guests leave, strip the bed, wash the sheets and open a window. Put the pillows back, restock the basket and note anything that was missing. The room is then ready for the next visit.

What to check before they arrive

Walk through once more. The bed is made, the room is clear, the light works, the card is on the table and the towels are out. That is enough. For more on keeping a home simple through the season, visit the Minimalism hub. If you are planning the dinner those guests will come for, see our guide to Thanksgiving menu planning, a simple dinner or a full spread, and our Thanksgiving hosting checklist.