II have to admit, having overnight guests can be stressful for me, which is one reason I like having my guest bathroom essentials ready before anyone arrives. Before anyone comes, I start thinking about everything that needs to be cleaned, what we’re going to eat, where everyone will sleep, and all the little things I might be forgetting. Once they’re actually here, though, I love having them here.
More than anything, I want the people who stay with us to feel cozy. I don’t want them to feel like they’re simply sleeping at someone else’s house. I want them to be able to settle in, relax, and feel like there’s a comfortable place for them in our home.
One thing that helps me do that is keeping a basket of guest bathroom essentials ready for overnight visitors. I fill it with things they might need, especially the things that could be a little awkward to ask for.
It’s such a simple thing, but I think it says, I knew you were coming. I thought about you. I’m glad you’re here.
My Guest Bathroom Essentials
When I’m putting together my basket, I try to think about what I would want if I were staying in someone else’s home. Some of my guest bathroom essentials are obvious necessities, while others are just little extras that make staying away from home more comfortable.
Here are the things I like to have available:
- Extra toilet paper. I make sure there’s plenty and that it’s somewhere guests can easily see it. Nobody wants to run out and then have to start opening cupboards looking for another roll.
- Fresh hand towels and washcloths. I put out clean towels before guests arrive and make sure there are extras available.
- New toothbrushes. A toothbrush is one of those little things that’s so easy to forget when you’re packing. I like keeping a few new, individually packaged toothbrushes in the basket.
- Toothpaste. Of course, if I’m keeping toothbrushes there, I also want toothpaste available. It saves someone from having to ask or make a late-night trip to the store.
- Feminine products. I keep feminine products where they’re easy for a guest to find. This is exactly the kind of thing someone may really need but would rather not have to ask me for.
- Basic toiletries. Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, lotion, and other small toiletries are helpful when someone forgets something at home. I don’t think you need every possible product. A few basics go a long way.
- A plunger. It may not be the prettiest of my guest bathroom essentials, but I think it’s one of the most important. Every guest bathroom should have a plunger somewhere obvious enough that a guest can find it without asking. Some situations simply don’t need an audience.
- Toilet Freshener. This is another small thing that can save someone from feeling embarrassed. I keep it somewhere easy to see and reach.
- Tissues. A box of tissues is always useful, especially for allergies, removing makeup, or those middle-of-the-night sniffles.
- Pain reliever, when appropriate. For adult guests, I may include basic over-the-counter pain reliever. If children are visiting, medications should always be stored safely where little hands can’t reach them.
- Bottled water. This isn’t technically a bathroom necessity, but I like having bottled water waiting for overnight guests. If someone wakes up thirsty, they don’t have to wander around an unfamiliar house in the dark looking for a glass and wondering if they’re going to wake everyone up.
- A little treat. This might be my favorite part. I like leaving a small treat for my guests. It isn’t something they need, which is exactly why I like doing it. It’s simply a little surprise that lets them know I was thinking about them.
I like putting the smaller items together in a basket where it’s easy to see. I think that’s important because I want my guests to know those things are there specifically for them. They don’t have to wonder whether they’re allowed to use something or start opening drawers and cupboards trying to find what they need.
Guest Bathroom Essentials Are About Making People Feel Cozy
I don’t think making guests feel welcome requires having a perfectly decorated guest bathroom, fluffy matching towels, or a basket filled with expensive products.
For me, guest bathroom essentials are really about anticipating those little moments that can make staying in someone else’s home uncomfortable.
Running out of toilet paper.
Realizing you forgot your toothbrush.
Needing a feminine product.
Getting a headache late at night.
Or, heaven forbid, needing a plunger.
Those aren’t exactly things most people want to walk into the living room and announce.
Having those things already available gives my guests a little more privacy and independence. They don’t have to ask permission to use something, search through our cupboards, or worry that they’re bothering us.
And I think that’s part of making a home feel cozy.
To me, cozy isn’t just blankets, pillows, candles, or a pretty room. It’s a feeling. It’s being able to relax and knowing that you’re welcome. It’s realizing that someone thought about you before you arrived and tried to make a little space where you would feel comfortable.
Preparing the guest bathroom essentials also helps me when we’re expecting company. When I start feeling stressed about everything I think I need to do before someone arrives, putting together the bathroom basket gives me something positive to focus on.
Instead of worrying quite so much about whether the house looks perfect, I can think about the people who are coming.
What might they need? What would make them comfortable? What could I put out now so they don’t have to ask later?
That’s a much better reminder of why I’m getting the house ready in the first place.
I’m probably still going to clean, straighten the pillows, change the sheets, and wonder if I’ve forgotten something. That’s just part of having company for me. But I also have to remind myself that the people coming to stay with us aren’t coming to inspect the house.
They’re coming to spend time with us.
I want the people who stay in our home to feel like there’s a place for them here. I want them to feel comfortable, cared about, and cozy. If a basket filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, bottled water, and a little treat helps do that, then it’s worth the few minutes it takes me to put it together.
Sometimes making someone feel at home really is as simple as thinking ahead about the little things they might need, including making sure they never have to ask where you keep the extra toilet paper.
Making every house feel a little more like home.
