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11 ITEMS TO KEEP IN STOCK FOR OVERNIGHT GUESTS

Last year we shared a post on how to be the kind of houseguest they’ll want back. Now it’s time to repay the hospitality in kind.

Whether the kids are visiting, the gang is gathering ahead of a road trip or last night’s party got a little too wild, chances are you’ll be hosting overnight guests at some point. To help you out, we’ve assembled the things you’ll want to have on hand to win the title of “Host with the Most.”

How impressed will they be? Let’s just say they won’t even realize you ate all the pillow mints.

1. Toothbrushes

Nothing says last night was ill-planned quite like slimy teeth. But fresh breath and leaves you feeling in control and cared for. Pick up a couple of extra toothbrushes next time you see them on sale or visit the dollar store, and store them in your medicine cabinet with some travel-size toothpaste until it’s show time.

2. Bathroom Towels

Feeling fresh helps, too. Keep a wash cloth, hand towel and full-size towel bundled for such an occasion. Tied up in decorative ribbon? We’ll leave that up to you.

3. Clean Sheets

Fresh sheet day may not be as celebrated as payday, but it doesn’t come too far behind in excitement. So clean sheets and pillowcases are a must for hosting overnight guests. As with towels, leave these spare sheets handy in your linen closet until duty calls.

4. Throw Blankets

Your guests may not always have the luxury of a spare room. But a snuggly blanket can keep a night on the couch from feeling second-rate. Best of all, a knit throwacts as accent decor for your sofa or bed when not on active duty.

5. Wi-Fi Password

No matter whether your visitors are night owls or early birds, chances are they wouldn’t mind checking their emails. Anticipate this room service request by writing out the Wi-Fi password on an index card and keeping it on the nightstand.

6. Reading Material

Of course, a good magazine doesn’t hurt, either. A monthly digest, paperback or photo album gives insomniacs something to peruse before they snooze.

7. Food and Drink

No need to get fancy here. A glass of water and some packaged snacks are more than enough to tide over hungry guests who aren’t yet ready to venture out towards the kitchen.

But if you do want to get fancy, here’s an idea: Put some ice in the wine bucket you never seem to have an occasion to use and chill some juice boxes or water bottles. Or make a batch of cookies if you have enough notice.

8. Closet Space

An empty dresser drawer or a few spare hangers in the closet go a long way. Doubly so if last night involved glamming it up in a new dress or pressed suit.

9. Non-Prescription Medication

Will tonight’s late night lead to tomorrow morning’s headache? Take the proactive approach and pick up a few packets of aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen from your local pharmacy. Then place a couple on your guest’s nightstand.

10. Coffee (or Tea)

It could be a scoop of instant, a single-use pod or a box of orange pekoe – caffeine is caffeine! Just be sure to leave the necessary equipment and brewing instructions out in case you don’t want to be dragged out of bed. (Or better yet, get your coffee right from your fridge dispenser.)

11. Pens and Paper

Finally, offer an easy way for your overnight guests to share their thanks. A box of notecards lets you collect your memories and display them for posterity. Don’t forget to record the date!

*Bonus Item* Convertible Sleep Space

6 TIPS FOR A CLUTTER-FREE DESK

It happens to the best of us. A folder here, an envelope there. Before you know it, your desk is drowning in a sea of papers. Keeping a clean desk is very possibly one of the most difficult achievements to complete – perhaps even more so than folding a fitted sheet. But with this list of helpful tips, you’ll be that much closer.

1. Keep a Single To-Do List

For the list-makers out there, we know how list after list of to-do’s can eventually crowd your workspace. There’s no need to paper your desk with a collage of sticky notes though. Keep a single notepad and your favourite pen on one side of your desk to record reminders and to-do’s.

2. Confine Computer Cables

Corral the tangle of cords connected to your lamp, laptop, phone charger and dozen or so other devices with a desk featuring a built-in power strip. Your cables won’t need to stretch far, saving you a chaotic mess of cords.

If you’re not in the market for a new desk, use hooks or Velcro strips to rig a power strip to your desk. Then use elastics or Velcro strips to keep your cords neatly grouped, and use bread clips or washi tape to label each cable.

3. Cut the Paper Clutter

One of the biggest culprits of a messy desk is paper. If you need to keep important documents around, hanging wall files are a great way to keep papers organized and off your desktop. We love this tutorial for creating your own hanging baskets, and you can easily get the supplies from your local dollar store.

By far, the simplest way to cut the paper clutter, though, is to go digital. Scan all of your documents into your computer and organize them electronically. It will take some dedication, but the result is worth it in the end. And don’t forget to recycle (or shred) all those papers once you’re done with them!

4. Give Everything a Home

The easiest way to keep your desk tidy is to make sure everything has a place to live. There’s no better way to clutter your workspace than to constantly stack paper upon paper across the desktop – the higher the pile, the more overwhelmed you feel and the easier it is to simply put off clearing it. Instead, the trick is to put everything in its proper place as soon as you’re done using it so there’s no opportunity to let it stack up.

5. Try Minimalism

A simple way to keep the clutter at bay is to not even give yourself the option of holding onto anything unnecessary. Choosing a desk with minimal shelving means less space for excess books or stationery, and you’ll be less likely to mindlessly toss items into extra drawers. With less storage space, you’ll be forced to consciously consider whether you really need that beautiful set of stationery or another package of coloured pens. You could even save money in the long run.

Pick a desk that offers enough space to keep you organized, but doesn’t give you so much storage that you’ll feel the urge to fill it up with items you don’t need.

6. Find the Right Furniture

Sometimes the best solution is simply to set up your home office so it works for you. Do you have a large collection of books? Do you need to keep plenty of files on hand? Get a bookcase or file cabinet so you can organize your belongings and keep them from piling up on your desk.