Three Ways To Welcome Guests Home

October 17, 2026

Having guests to stay does not need a spare room. With a few thoughtful touches in the living room, any home can feel properly welcoming, whether you are hosting family for the weekend or friends dropping by for the evening.

Get everyone involved in the welcome

A guest arriving is a good excuse to bring the whole household into the preparations. Children especially enjoy being given a job, whether that is drawing a little portrait for the guest room or putting together a small goodie bag. Small personal touches like these on a desk or side table set a friendly tone before anyone has even sat down, and they make a guest feel thought of rather than simply accommodated.

DRÖNA box, white, 33x38x33 cm

DRÖNA box, dark grey, 33x38x33 cm

SKÅDIS pegboard, black, 76x56 cm

UPPDATERA box, white, 24x17 cm

DRÖNA box, blue, 33x38x33 cm

DRÖNA box, black, 33x38x33 cm

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A living room dressed for giving

When a living room is already decked out for the season, with trees, garlands and a storage table doing double duty as a surface for treats, it naturally becomes the spot where gifts are handed over. IKEA's VINTER gift bags and tags make this easy to put together without much fuss, tied onto the back of a chair or tucked over a stocking so they are the first thing a guest notices on arrival.

VINTER 2021 paper napkin, stripe pattern red/white, 33x33 cm, 30 pack

VINTER 2021 unscented block candle, star pattern white/red, 20 cm

VINTER 2018 gift bag for bottle, silver-colour/white, 42 cm, 2 pack

VINTER 2020 stickers, white/red, 50 pack, 50 pack

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Little gestures that feel personal

A tiered serving stand brought out just for the occasion, laden with festive treats, turns a simple welcome into something a little more memorable. Pair it with individually wrapped gifts in storage boxes with lids, styled as presents rather than tucked away, and the living room starts to feel like part of the celebration rather than just a waiting area before bed. These are small gestures, but they are the ones guests tend to remember.

PÄRKLA storage case, 55x49x19 cm

SAMLA box with lid, transparent, 57x39x28 cm/45 l

KNAGGLIG box, pine, 46x31x25 cm

SAMLA box, transparent, 56x39x28 cm/45 l

SAMLA box, transparent, 78x56x43 cm/130 l

KNAGGLIG box, pine, 23x31x15 cm

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Set up the sofa bed without overdoing it

Turning a living room into a guest bedroom for the night works best when it does not feel too finished too early. Lay out the essentials, a folded quilt cover and pillowcase, a pair of slippers, so the sofa can still earn its keep as seating through the evening. Letting your guest make the final bed themselves keeps things relaxed rather than overly staged, and means the room can slip back into its daytime role the moment morning comes.

NATTJASMIN fitted sheet, white, 160x200 cm

DVALA fitted sheet, beige, 160x200 cm

DVALA fitted sheet, light grey, 160x200 cm

DVALA sheet, white, 150x260 cm

NATTJASMIN pillowcase, white, 50x80 cm

DVALA pillowcase, white, 50x80 cm, 2 pack

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Finish with soft towels and a warm gesture

A fresh set of towels says more about hospitality than almost anything else. IKEA's VÅGSJÖN guest towels, gathered into a fabric basket and presented much like a gift, give a stay in the living room a touch of hotel comfort while still feeling like home. It is an easy way to round off the welcome, and one that works just as well for a weekend visit as for the festive season.