Long-awaited and planned-for arrivals. Missed last trains and nights where you just have so much fun they decide to sleep over – overnight guests are a big part of Christmas celebrations. Here’s how to make the space they stay in welcoming.

There’s a lot of talk about making your guest room feel like a hotel, and while we’d all love to pretend we’re staying at the Four Seasons, it’s important to remember that these are loved ones you have welcomed into your home, so a few touches from the hosts are always appreciated, too. Keep to the same colours and tones as the rest of the home – neutrals are great for ensuring calming surroundings for sleep. Then, add some personal items, framed mementos, souvenirs picked up from your travels, prints by a favourite artist. It also makes for great “where did you get that from?” conversation over the breakfast table.

In our new hybrid-working lives, a lot of traditional guest rooms have become multifunctional spaces, transforming from offices to bedrooms and back again. But, whether you have a made-up bed at the ready or it’s a case of making up the pull-out – or even the sofa – the way to please any guest is with extra-comfy pillows and duvets. Make sure you have a selection of super-plump pillows (at least 2 per guest then they can decide on their own sleeping height) and a cosy duvet with a soft-to-the-touch pure-cotton cover. For winter guests, try and also provide them with some additional blankets or a bedspread – everyone’s sleeping temperature is different, so they’ll be able to find a combination that works for them.

Another casualty of our multipurpose rooms is it’s likely you’re already using any wardrobes or drawers in there to store your own overflow of out-of-season clothes. Fear not, we’re not suggesting you clear away everything, but try to leave at least a couple of hangers free and a drawer empty so your guest can unpack should they wish to. For short-term guests, it’s probably more useful to have some easy-to-access storage available so they can keep a few things to hand rather than unpack fully. A couple of hooks on the back of the door for coats, a small bench or ottoman to rest their bag on for easy access and a small tray or dish to keep jewellery on will be really welcome.

We all know it’s a lovely touch to leave a folded towel at the end of the bed, but there’s a couple of additional things you can do to help make their stay wonderful (and better than any five-star hotel). Style their bedside table with a bud vase filled with a seasonal stem, a carafe of water and glass as well as a lamp to allow for some pre-bedtime reading (you could also leave them a copy of a favourite book). A diffuser placed on a side table will subtly scent the room – just don’t go for anything too overpowering. Try using our seasonal scents to strike the right balance. And finally, don’t forget their tech. A universal charger and card with Wi-Fi details will mean they won’t have to awkwardly ask and make their stay seamless.