Month: November 2019

The guest bedroom: It’s a space you probably don’t think much about—until visitors book a stay. While your friends and family will likely be perfectly content with a comfortable bed and your good company, there are a few thoughtful touches that can help elevate their stay.
Here is how you can go the extra mile when visitors come from miles away to see you…

Offer options to stay cozy or cool:

When it comes to preferred sleeping temperature, everyone seems to have different opinions. By stocking the guest bedroom with plenty of blankets for layering as well as a fan to cool it off, your houseguests can keep comfortable no matter the thermostat setting.

Answer some FAQs:

To avoid spelling out your strange WiFi password for every visitor, consider including that on a printed FAQs sheet. You can also offer helpful info like where extra towels are stored, what they can do with linens at the end of the stay and more. You have better things to discuss with them than housekeeping, after all!

Back up commonly forgotten essentials:

For anyone who has ever forgotten their own toothbrush when traveling can attest, it’s sure nice when you don’t have to run out to the store at 9 p.m. to get a new one. Stock up on some new toiletries you can pass along, such as disposable razors, make-up removing wipes and chapstick.

Include some light reading material:

As much as you might like to show off your collection of novels, guests probably won’t have time to make it through War and Peace. Instead, keep some magazines that are easy enough to flip through on the bedside table. For bonus points, grab some local editions that can give them some ideas of things to do during the visit.

Set up a convenient charging station:

Rather than make guests get down on hands and knees to plug a charger into wall outlet beneath the bed, set up a more accessible charging station with an extra power outlet and USB-adapter.

Make some space:

Especially if you have extended-stay guests, make sure there is room available in a dresser or closet so they can stay organized while unpacking. If they also have to share a bathroom with you or the kids, do a double take to ensure there is a spare towel hook and space on the counter for their toiletries.

Think about extra touches you like:

Are you the type who needs white noise to sleep? Do your kindred spirits a solid by having a spare white noise machine in the guest bedroom. Or if you can never find a water bottle when you need one, stock up a few on the bedside table. The bottom line is that if it’s a space you would appreciate, your guests surely will, too.

It’s ironic, isn’t it? During fall, leaves look amazing when they are on trees—but become eyesores when they drop to the ground. For homeowners, this can feel like a losing battle as trees shed a seemingly endless supply of leaves for the raking. But you can still be triumphant in the quest for good curb appeal during autumn with a little bit of strategy.
For starters, come up with a game plan for growing piles of leaves. And, no, waiting until the wind blows them into your neighbor’s yard doesn’t work. There will just be more leaves blowing your way! Instead, stock up on sturdy landscaping garbage bags and a good rake. Not only does this save you some of the back-breaking effort, but it’s also best to reduce the amount of time leaves spend on top of grass if you’re hoping to avoid brown spots next spring.
Even as the leaves fall, new things can grow during autumn: Leading up to the average first frost date in Lincoln during the middle of October, hardy blooms like mums, goldenrod and heather add vibrant touches to your garden. Before the ground freezes too hard, you can also take this opportunity to add some shrubs that can establish their roots before temperatures dip too low.
Wanting a more permanent source of color? Take another look at your front door. Simply painting it another hue can have a dramatic effect on your home’s overall look. The most ambitious among us can even consider repainting shutters.
After all of that hard work, make sure it can be appreciated during shorter days by adding some new lights to your walkway or entrance area. This is both practical and an opportunity to inject some style into your curb appeal—just in time for holiday visitors to “ooh” and “ahh.”