Getting the Guest Room Ready for Diwali Visitors: A Checklist That Covers the Small Things

A guest room is ready when three things are sorted: the bed is layered so guests can adjust for warm days and cooler nights, there is at least one clear surface and a place to unpack, and the small comforts are already in the room, such as water, tissues, a mirror and a soft light for the night. Do it a week before visitors arrive, then sleep in the room yourself for one night to find what is missing.

1. Layer the bed for changing weather

Diwali often falls as the weather turns, with warm afternoons and cooler nights in much of north India. A single heavy quilt is either too much or not enough. Layer instead:

• A fitted bottom sheet and a light top sheet or dohar.
• A throw blanket folded at the foot of the bed, easy to pull up at 3 AM without searching cupboards. Our Reversible Plush Sherpa Throw is double-bed size at 90 x 100 inches and machine washable on a cold cycle, so it can be washed between visitors.
• Two pillows per guest, one firmer and one softer, because people sleep differently.

A bedspread over the top makes the bed look finished during the day. Our guide to choosing a bedspread for Indian climate covers fabrics by season.

2. Refresh the cushions

New cushion covers are the quickest way to make a spare room feel prepared rather than used for storage. Two or three cushions in coordinating covers are enough on a guest bed; more just end up on the floor. Browse our cushion covers, and see how many cushions a sofa actually needs if you are refreshing the living room too.

3. Clear one surface completely

Guests need somewhere to put a phone, glasses, jewellery and a watch at night. Clear the bedside table entirely and leave it clear, apart from:

• A lamp or night light they can switch on from the bed.
• A carafe or bottle of water and a glass.
• A small tray or lined box for jewellery and watches, so nothing is lost on the floor. Festive visits mean more jewellery than usual.
• A tissue box. A covered one, like our Faux Leather Tissue Box in beige, looks better on a bedside table than a printed carton.

4. Make space to unpack

Most spare rooms double as storage. Empty at least two drawers or one section of the wardrobe and leave a few hangers. If that is not possible, a luggage rack, a bench or even a cleared chair gives guests a place for their suitcase that is not the floor. Festive clothes crease easily, so hangers matter more than usual at Diwali.

5. The bathroom basics

• Fresh towels, one large and one small per guest, folded on the bed or a chair so they know which are theirs.
• A clear counter with soap, a tumbler and space for their own toiletries.
• Spare toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb and sanitary products in a small basket, for anyone who forgot theirs.

6. The small comforts guests notice

• The Wi-Fi password on a card by the bed.
• A mirror in the room for getting ready, especially before festive evenings.
• A phone charger and an extension cord within reach of the bed.
• Curtains that close fully, or an eye mask, for guests who sleep late after a long Diwali night.
• A few hooks or an over-door hanger for dupattas and jackets.

7. Sleep in it yourself

The best test is to spend one night in the guest room a week before visitors arrive. You will notice the squeaky fan, the light that cannot be reached from the bed, the curtain that lets in the streetlight and the missing hook. These are small fixes once you know about them. For other ways to prepare the house, browse our bedding and cushions.

If you do not have a separate guest room

Many homes put guests in a study, a child's room or the living room. The same checklist applies, just smaller. Clear one surface, give guests a drawer or a basket for their things, layer bedding on the sofa bed or mattress, and add a lamp they can reach. A folding screen or a curtain gives some privacy in a shared space. Tell guests where things are on the first evening, so they do not need to ask.

Frequently asked questions

How do I prepare a guest room for Diwali visitors? Layer the bed for warm days and cool nights, clear the bedside table, make space to unpack, set out towels and bathroom basics, and add small comforts like water, a charger and the Wi-Fi password.

What bedding is best for guests in October and November? Layers rather than one heavy quilt: a sheet or dohar, a throw blanket at the foot of the bed, and a choice of firm and soft pillows.

How many cushions should a guest bed have? Two or three is enough. More tend to end up on the floor and give guests one more thing to move before sleeping.

What should go on a guest bedside table? A reachable light, water and a glass, a tissue box, and a small tray or box for jewellery and watches. Keep everything else off.

How far ahead should I prepare the guest room? About a week. That leaves time to sleep in it yourself for a night and fix anything you notice.