So we downsized (temporarily) from a 3500 sq ft house in the suburbs with 2 guest rooms to a 1200 sq ft city apartment. And we are LOVING every minute of this lifestyle but it comes with a few catches- one of the main one being that hosting out of town friends and family is much more challenging. But over time we have figured out some truly helpful ways to host guests in our smaller apartment!
I know with full confidence we aren’t the only ones that struggle with this too so I want to share the tips that have helped us along the way and hopefully will help you too.
So let’s get into these tips for hosting overnight guests in a small space so you can get to prepping!
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Tips For Hosting Overnight Guests In A Small Apartment
How to host guests without a ton of space:
Tip 1: Mock up the sleeping arrangement before they arrive
First things first- the sleeping arrangement. Of course this will differ drastically depending on the layout of your apartment. But don’t wait until the morning they arrive to start thinking about where your guests are going to sleep.
Chances are if you are reading this you don’t have a guest bedroom which means you gotta get a little creative when it comes to where they will sleep. Air mattresses are a great option and if you can afford it I recommend investing in a taller one because it feels way more like a “real” bed since you don’t feel as much like you’re lying on the ground.
This is the one we got for guests and slept on it the first few days before our bed arrived and it was awesome! If you don’t have room for a queen air mattress you can think about getting a twin sized one if you are usually only hosting one guest at a time.
Or of course couches always make for an easy sleep setup BUT make sure no matter where you are having them sleep that you have already made sure you have clean sheets and enough pillows to make it comfortable. And do it in advance to ensure if you need to purchase anything for it that you have time to do so!
Tip 2: Don’t be afraid to move furniture around
Let’s get creative with the furniture that you already have!
End tables can double as night stands so your guest has somewhere to put their water cup and phone at night. You can push chairs together to form extended seating or even a makeshift couch. Getting creative with the space and furniture that you have is going to make hosting people in a small space so much easier.
Tip 3: Prep the bathroom
You have limited space to offer them but that doesn’t mean you can’t be an awesome host- so prep the bathrooms!
Layout clean towels for them, have a little basket with extra toiletries they may have forgotten, make sure toilet paper is stocked up and easily accessible.
Also… clean the crap (pun intended) out of the bathroom. The smaller the space the more obvious dirtiness and messiness is unfortunately. So go above and beyond your normal bathroom cleaning schedule and really give it a deep clean. It’ll set a positive vibe for your whole apartment and make everything feel cleaner.
Tip 4: Have an amenity cheatsheet ready
This will vary greatly depending on your apartment and your guests needs. But it is so helpful for guests! I also recommend making one that you can just save a copy of (digital or physical… your choice of course) so you can re-use it in the future for guests.
Here are some examples from my amenity sheet-
Parking: explain where to park, how to access, any gate codes they will need etc.
Apartment features: does your complex have a gym? A Pool? Do they need a code to access them? A key? Give them the details so they can also have some flexibility to leave your apartment to give you and them a little space if needed.
Wifi: have your wifi username and password on the sheet so no one has to request the password at 2 am lol!
Nearby attractions: is your favorite coffee shop down the street? Let them know complete with address and hours. Same with bars, a gym nearby with day passes, cute shops they might wanna browse etc. This is especially great when you are hosting someone but they are going to spend time without you in the area!
Tip 5: Plan meals in advance
Chances are you have a smaller fridge and/or pantry situation in your apartment- which means that space is valuable. And when you have an extra person or two or three even staying with you that food storage space gets filled quick.
So don’t waste space on things you won’t use and eat while hosting but also making a meal plan. Decide what meals you are eating in the apartment and which ones you are going out for. Then decide the ingredients to help you from buying unnecessary things that will fill the food storage too quickly.
I also think it’s so sweet to ask your guest before they arrive what their preferred beverages are- especially if they drink caffeine in the morning. There is nothing nicer than waking up at someone else’s home and they have your favorite cold brew already in the fridge!
Tip 6: Communicate!
Final tip is the most basic but also the most essential: communicate.
This is a two way street. Both you and your guest need to communicate when existing in a small space that probably has more people in it while you have guests than the space was ever intended for.
Communicate times you need the bathroom before work, communicate if you need them to clean up their clothes spewing out of the suitcase because you have a zoom call etc.
But you also have to be open to them communicating any questions and reasonable requests as a guest! So make sure to remind them that if they need anything you are there to happily host them and enjoy their company.
And that is all my friends! I truly hope this was helpful and gives you some ideas and helpful advice for hosting overnight guests in your small apartment 🙂
Korra-Shay
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