Before you know it, your home will be filled with out-of-town guests -- friends and family coming to help you celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year. You may think you have plenty of time to prepare, but don't wait till the last minute to start cleaning the house and decorating. Otherwise, you're sure to be overwhelmed by all the tasks you'll need to do.

Of all the rooms in the house, perhaps the best place to start is in the room just about everyone will visit at one time or another. If you want your guests to really feel welcome and special, transform the bathroom they'll be using into a home spa of sorts -- a place they will really feel pampered.

Start by setting the scene. To create a feel of luxury in what would otherwise be a sterile setting, you can place decorative bowls or baskets filled with seasonal objects like potpourri, candy canes and pinecones on the vanity, set candles on the back of the commode, place a small radio set to a classical music station in the corner of the room, and leave a small basket filled with luxurious Egyptian cotton hand and bath towels for your guests to use.

"Nothing will tell your guests how much you appreciate their arrival like the soft, luxurious feeling of enveloping themselves in fine Egyptian cotton," says Leslie Connell of Abyss & Habidecor, a manufacturer of fine European towels and rugs. "There's just nothing like it on earth."

The towels, which are manufactured in Abyss & Habidecor's Portugal factory and available in fine linens stores across the United States, are all woven from 100 percent Egyptian cotton, known for its exceptionally long fibres, softness, absorbency and durability. Available in 55 different colors and more than a dozen designs, you can create just about any look and feel you desire with them.

"The most popular colors this time of year are the reds and greens, blues, yellows and silvers," says Connell who adds that a nice touch is to put down a matching bath rug, also made of Egyptian cotton. "That way your guests' feet will feel just as good as their backs when they step out of the shower."

In addition to offering your guests the finest linens available, another nice touch from a great host is to make sure they have everything they need when they arrive. Since it's almost a given that your guests will forget some of their toiletries, have a basket containing a cozy bath robe, toothbrush and toothpaste, antiperspirant and lotion at the foot of the bed waiting for them. You may also want to move a small refrigerator into the room and fill it with bottled water, cheese and fruits in case your guests get hungry or thirsty in the middle of the night.

Your guest room may not be the Ritz, but if you take the time to cater to some of your guests' needs before they even know they have them, it can sure come close.

Source : ARA