The holidays can be a magical time of cozy togetherness, whether it’s sharing delicious food around a table, standing side by side in the kitchen rolling out sugar cookies, or playing lively party games with friends and family.

But the real heroes of these gatherings are the hosts who open up their homes to welcome guests. There is an art to this duty, from prepping comfortable spaces to keeping everyone well-fed to striking the right balance between planned activities and free time.

Naturally, juggling it all isn’t easy, but this guide will break down the essentials to help you prepare for your guests’ arrival. So whether they are staying one night or many, put on your host hat and get ready to wow them!

A clean slate

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to immediately spot dusty baseboards in someone else’s house while having blinders on about dirt in your own home? Don’t let that happen to you as a host. Take extra care to make the spaces where your guests will sleep, eat, and shower as clean as you can.

Convenience

Make sure there is ample space in your guest rooms for visitors to put their own personal items, including suitcases, phones, glasses, and toiletry bags. Though you may be attached to your knickknacks for sentimental reasons, your guests may not feel the same and would prefer open surfaces. If there aren’t at least two open outlets near the bed, plug in a power strip for easy and plentiful access.

Linens

Launder sheets and towels close to the time overnighters arrive so the linens feel and smell clean. If your guests don’t have allergies or sensitivities, you can even use scent beads and dryer sheets to up the fresh-scent and softness quotients. Set up each guest with a bath towel, hand towel, and washcloth, and let them know where they can find more if they need them. To be extra thoughtful, provide some essentials like deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, cotton swabs, hair elastics, and skin-care products like lotion. Finally, make sure you have a hair dryer for anyone who didn’t travel with their own.

A comfortable bed

Do a quick pillow check to ensure each one smells clean and has plenty of fluff to it. Pillows should be washed every six months and swapped out at least every two years, so if the ones you’re laying out for guests are that old, consider replacing them. And be generous—each person should have the option of two! If your house gets chilly at night, add a blanket to the foot of the bed for extra warmth.

Coffee and tea station

There is a reason hotels often provide an in-room coffee maker or coffee carafes in the lobby: it’s a simple way to add a touch of luxury. After all, who doesn’t love a hot drink on demand? Set up a coffee-and-tea station in your kitchen where guests can help themselves to a steamy mug of their choosing whenever they want. Stock the fridge with various milk and milk alternatives as well, and if kids are staying over, add some hot cocoa packets and mini marshmallows to the selections.

Food inventory

To give your guests some autonomy over their meals, fill your fridge and pantry with easy-to-grab items like granola and yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and string cheese. If you aren’t planning to cook lunch every day, a variety of sandwich fixings and rolls can offer a customizable meal option for everyone. Give guests a quick tour of where the tableware and utensils are so they can easily grab what they need from the kitchen cabinets and drawers.

If you don’t mind guests eating in bedrooms, leave some small bites in there for them to munch on. They may want to wind down away from others before going to bed, and it’s not fun going to sleep hungry. Provide some bottles of water as well for their convenience.

Handbook

For a helpful touch, create a handbook or house guide à la Airbnb that your guests can reference so they don’t have to rely on you for everything. Include items such as the Wi-Fi password, instructions for using televisions or streaming services, the trick for getting that fussy toilet flusher to work, and the location of spare garbage bags and menstrual products.

Kid zone

While adults can often entertain themselves, kids will benefit from having access to games, playing cards, paper and art supplies, books, and toys. Fill up a room or a corner of one with these items to give them a dedicated place to have fun, adding some floor pillows and a blanket or two for extra coziness.

Activities

Whether you are planning to do things as a group or making the visit a free-for-all, it’s a good idea to have a list of activities and local happenings. Are your guests into wine tastings? Live music? Outdoor sports? Chances are high that they won’t know as much about your town as you do, so let them know where to find adventure. These activities can get everyone out of the house and make the stay much more memorable.

The more you can prepare ahead of your hosting duties, the more time you’ll have to spend with your guests. And with a little bit of attention and care, you can ensure they feel right at home while away from theirs.