My dear Aunt Peggy is one of the most important people in my life, and I’m always so thrilled when she’s able to come to Savannah and visit me. I go to extra lengths to make sure that everything in my home is just right for her visits. I guess it’s a way that I can express my love for her, by giving her a warm welcome and a comfortable stay. One of the ways that I can do this is by giving Aunt Peggy her very own place to stay at my house. I’ve got a sweet little cottage on my property that’s so darling and precious, and I just know that Aunt Peggy feels right at home.

Do you have out-of-town guests staying with you over the holidays? I’m sure that y’all want to give them the absolute best stay that you can! Here are some ways that I prepare for when Aunt Peggy comes to stay.

Fresh Flowers
Putting some fresh flowers on a beside table is an instant way to warm up a space, and make your guests feel right at home. Aunt Peggy loves hydrangeas. Brandon, my creative director and all-around style guru, always picks the prettiest hydrangeas he can from my garden and sets them out. When Aunt Peggy leaves, she’ll take them home with her so she can dry them out and decorate her house with them.

Clean Linens
Nothing says home like a bed with clean linens. I always take extra care to make sure that her bed is freshly made with crisp and clean sheets and blankets. Your guests, too, will appreciate having a soft, comfortable bed to sleep in.

Accents
Aunt Peggy loves the ocean, so I decorated her guest cottage with accents from the sea. Seashells, starfish, and light blues and greens create a soft and calming space where she can relax in after we’ve spent a long day cuttin’ up and cooking together. What do your guests like? Try incorporating some of their favorite details into your guest’s rooms and they’ll appreciate all that you’ve done for them.

Pictures and Memories
Y’all, one time Aunt Peggy came to visit me, and after she finished looking around the house, she said, “Paula Ann! There are no pictures of me!” I was so embarrassed! I still don’t know how I could have forgotten to a picture of me and sweet Aunt Peggy. Needless to say, after that visit, I took extra care to have some of my favorite memories with her framed. I placed one of the best ones right on her bedside table, so now she can look over and smile before she falls asleep for the night.

Remember, when you’ve got guests coming to stay with you, you don’t have to break the bank to make them feel at home. The best hosts and hostesses are the ones that make special details really shine! Most importantly, enjoy the moments you get to spend with your loved one, and they’ll love that you opened up your heart and your home to them.