The holidays are upon us and many of us are excitedly expecting to host friends and family that we don’t get to see as often as we’d like. A house full of the people that we love, the sound of happy chatter, and the smell of roast dinners are pretty much exactly what we need at the end of a taxing year.
That aside, there are the logistics to deal with such as food preferences, airport collections, and sleeping arrangements. Do you have what you need to comfortably host your friends and family?
Smart Solutions to Sleeping Arrangements
We’ve gone in search of the best ideas to help you to keep everyone cosy and comfy over the upcoming holidays.
Custom sofa beds
We’ve chatted recently about the numerous benefits of sofa beds, and how these versatile furniture items are certainly worth investing in.
A sofa bed is truly the super-hero of living room furniture, hiding its real identity until it’s needed to swoop in and perform double-duty as a warm and comfortable bed. They can act as additional storage space when not in use, and today’s options are far more inviting than the hard, utilitarian choices of yesteryear.
Here’s the exciting thing though: did you know that you can have a custom sofa bed made to match your existing furniture?
Many people are put off buying a sofa bed for their living room because it sits there as a glaringly obvious deviation from the rest of their décor choices. Thankfully, that’s no longer a thing as we can customise – well – pretty much everything to craft a top-quality sofa bed to match your space.
Outside of having available a dedicated guest room replete with spare beds, a custom sofa bed is the next best thing for your guests.
Modular furniture
Once you accept the fact that your friends, your children’s friends, and other faraway family will want to come and stay at some point, it will probably affect your choice of furniture.
Investing in modular furniture is an incredibly smart move. As far as useful and adaptable furniture items go, modular furniture – also in the form of corner sofas – is a clear winner. No matter the shape of your living room, modular sofas can be arranged in a space-saving and family-friendly way.
They can also be quickly shifted around into a full-length double bed or a couple of singles with surprisingly little effort.
Glamping
Whilst this may not be the best option in colder weather, some hosts have come up with an ingenious way to host guests which has been dubbed “glamping”.
All you need is a sturdy tent, a mattress, and some cosy bedding to create a small and private outdoor space for visitors. Some have chosen to run an electric cable into the tent to facilitate a small night light and a telly, and perhaps the option to charge phones.
Granted, this may not suit older guests, but we’re almost certain that children or young couples will love this unusual sleeping arrangement and enjoy the adventure!
If it’s just too cold outside, then the same idea can be used indoors to create little sleeping pods which are ideal for children. A small foam mattress inside a pint-sized tepee along with fluffy blankets and a selection of soft toys makes the perfect space for visiting kiddies.
Inflatable mattresses
When you are really pressed for options, an inflatable mattress can do the job. They can be packed away when not in use, taking up very little room and with an electric pump can be ready for use in no time at all.
Are they comfortable? Not really when compared to a sofa bed, but certainly better than sleeping on the floor.
There are, however, a few ways to make air sofas just a little easier on the back for your treasured guests.
- Inflate the mattress as firm as you reasonably can. Most air beds will deflate a little during the night which may leave your guests closer to the floor than is comfortable.
- Air beds can be cold as the air within will quickly lose heat in colder climates. Be sure to layer up the blankets on top of the mattress as well as on top of your guests.
- These sleeping options can prove to be too firm for some, but a thin foam mattress or a mattress topper over the top of the air bed will help to soften it up.
Hosting with style
If you’re still in prep mode in anticipation of your guests, why not consider a few ways to make them feel special?
Here are the best-curated tips we’ve found from hosts who go the extra mile for their holiday visitors.
- Use fresh sheets. The smell and feel of freshly laundered linen are unmatched and an absolute must for visiting family or friends.
- Whether you’re using a custom sofa bed or an air mattress, make up the bed with care. Soft cushions, fluffy blankets, and hospital corners will certainly make them feel special.
- If you are hosting people in your living area, try and find a folding screen which will provide a level of privacy for them, and can still be used elsewhere in the home when they have gone.
- Universal Class offers a few ideas to make your guests feel right at home. They say, “If you will have guests sleeping on the sofa or a fold-out couch, be sure you have plenty of extra pillows for them, as well as sheets and blankets. Before you turn in at night, make sure that they have everything they need to be comfortable in your living room, including a way to keep the sun from coming in early in the morning and waking them, a clear path to the bathroom, and a bottle of water near the sofa. Guests should also have a light within reach. A lamp on an end table is a good choice, but if you do not have one, find a temporary remedy.”
- To keep your home tidy despite all the extra bodies, it’s a great idea to provide some cupboard space for your friends’ clothing and luggage.
- Ensure that fresh towels and other necessary toiletries are provided and set out where they can be quickly accessed.
- Make Space talks food, saying “Buy tasty snacks, fill the fruit bowl, and load the fridge with a variety of drink options. Leave a pitcher of water and glasses out and readily accessible to all. And, unless you’re the type who loves to whip up individual omelettes or veggie quiches, opt for pre-made or quick breakfasts. Think cinnamon rolls, bagels and cream cheese, pancakes, or yoghurt and granola.”
In Conclusion
We’re just as excited as you are for the upcoming holidays, and we would love to assist you in finding the best sleeping arrangements for your visitors.
If you have been thinking about buying a custom sofa bed or a corner sofa to accommodate your loved ones, give us a call on 03300 564 111. Our team will help you to choose the best fabric and style to match the exact image that you have in your head. Try us out!
