With the holiday season almost upon us, there’s a high chance your bathroom will soon be visited by more than the immediate family.
So now’s the time to make sure it’s presentable for guests – whether they’re staying overnight, or just for the afternoon.
After all, it doesn’t take much to make guests feel loved and well looked-after, but an embarrassing bathroom mishap could ruin their visit.
From extra toilet paper to a dedicated Bluetooth speaker, here are nine easy ways to make sure your bathroom’s ready for guests.
A chic diffuser and some soy candles like those in the Inoko range can help out guests in their hour of need.
1. Extra toilet paper
There’s no overstating the need to place as much toilet paper as possible in the bathroom when guests are due.
No one is ever going to complain there was too much. But the embarrassment of not having enough is something some guests won’t forgive.
There’s no such thing as too much toilet paper when you welcome guests. Picture: Getty
Try stacking the rolls in an attractive basket or in vertical storage so that they’re easy to find for anyone that’s looking.
2. Scent diffuser
They might be a bit mainstream, but these things are worth their weight in gold when there’s a lot of people using one bathroom.
Try to avoid any scents with lots of vanilla or floral notes, as these can cause discomfort for guests with allergies, and can easily overwhelm if your place is on the smaller side.
Circa Home Jasmine and Magnolia scented candle, $29.95.
Aim for a light scent, but make sure you present enough so that it’s effective. Fresh lemon, bergamot or jasmine should do the trick.
3. Music to your ears
If your bathroom is positioned in a place where sound tends to carry, then spare a thought for guests.
Installing a Bluetooth speaker or radio can be a great way to muffle any unwanted noise from the bathroom – sparing the blushes of visitors and other guests nearby.
But don’t draw attention to your guest by making them turn on the speaker when they need it. Instead, set it up as background noise before guests arrive so that there’s no sudden blast of music when someone visits the bathroom.
See more: Quick ways to de-steam your foggy bathroom
4. A bathroom kit
Some hosts love to go above and beyond for their guests, and their efforts are always appreciated.
Placing a little kit in the bathroom that’s labelled for guests will make them feel comfortable and in control during their bathroom visits.
Keep a range of handy items specifically for guests. Picture: Getty
Things to put in a guest bathroom kit
- Spray deodorant in a gender-neutral scent
- Female products
- Tissues
- A spare toothbrush and tube of toothpaste
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Mini soaps or body wash
- Razor
- Moisturiser
- Eye-glasses wipes
- Hair-styling products
- Band-aids
- Bandages
- Disposable nail files
Place the kit in an obvious place in the room, so that guests know they’re free to use whatever they need.
5. Spare hand towels
If you’re expecting a large bunch of visitors, it pays to have more than one hand towel, as guests won’t appreciate wiping their hands on a towel that’s already wet.
If you don’t think you’ll remember to change them throughout the day, then consider leaving out a small stack.
Anticipate your guests’ needs and you’ll be their favourite host. Picture: Getty
Or even pop some thicker paper towels that can go straight into the compost bin after they’ve been used.
Great for your guests and the garden.
6. Fresh flowers
A nice bunch of flowers in the bathroom shows guests you’re thinking of their needs.
Not only do they look beautiful, they give off a natural aroma that helps keep the room feeling fresh.
If you’re a green thumb, then think about placing plants in the bathroom permanently.
See more: DIY dried flowers: How to dry and arrange them
7. A fluffy robe
If your guests are staying overnight, then having access to a luxurious robe will make them feel right at home.
They’ll also feel much more comfortable visiting the bathroom in the middle of the night.
There’s nothing more annoying than having to get completely dressed when you’re half asleep just to visit the toilet… or, more awkwardly, when you run into someone at 3am when you decided not to!
8. Medicine
There’s nothing worse than knowing your guests are feeling uncomfortable or in pain, so having some medicine on hand can be a great idea to help make them feel better.
A first aid kit is a great thing to have on hand at any time. Picture: Getty
Medical items to have on hand for guests
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Hayfever relief
- Tweezers
- Insect bite relief
- Antiseptic
However, it’s really important to make sure these items are beyond the reach of kids. Make sure to place any pain relief on a higher shelf in a kid-proof box, so that curious children can’t get their hands on anything that could cause them harm.
9. Keep it clean
It might sound obvious, but there’s nothing worse than having to clean the bathroom in a mad rush, moments before your guests turn up out of the blue.
Originally published as The 9 things every extra bathroom needs by Erinna Giblin. Author at realestate.com.au
