Stocking your Powder Room for Guests

I love powder rooms for the simple reason, they are compact and you can be a little more creative with them.  However, today’s post is not about design but about the key things I believe every powder room should contain when you host a dinner party, or simply have company over.  This is where my friends will roll their eyes at me.   You would be surprised how many of these things are actually missing from peoples bathrooms.  Here are some of Peggy & Fritz’s tips on how to make your guests feel comfortable in your bathroom, powder room, bano, toilet, etc. 

My ideal powder room.

1.  Use paper napkins vs. a hand towel for your guests.  Most people prefer to use a paper napkin to dry their hands vs. using the same hand towel that some one else has used to dry their hands.  Believe it or not, I have had people still wipe their hands on a decorative hand towel when guest towels were provided,  that bugs by the way (pet peeve).  I use long napkins and keep them on a white ceramic dish purchased at Cost Plus, it’s meant for serving, but I love it for holding napkins (it looks clean and elegant). You can use all kinds of items for holding napkins (I don’t like those store bought ones except below) such as a silver tray from the flea market, porcelain dishes, pottery, etc.    I change the napkins based on holidays, time of year, etc.  You can find them at Home Goods, Target, Amazon has a great selection, and Horchow has some that you can have monogrammed, etc.

2. Always leave a garbage can out.  Even if you keep your waste basket under your sink, please take it out when you have guests.  Also, for those that do not have one in their bathroom, if for no other reason then my next sentence, kindly purchase a waste basket.  There is nothing worse than it being that “time of the month” and needing to throw away your “goods” and you look and there is no basket.  I’m like, are you kidding me?  I know, likely not what you thought I would say, but I’m just stating the facts.  I’ve actually been places where there was no waste basket.  I had to stuff “the goods”   in my pocket and march directly to the kitchen to find a trash can so I could throw out “the unmentionables”.  Now, what if I was wearing a cocktail dress? Can you imagine the horror?  Please don’t subject your guests to this!   I know a little more visual than you needed.  How else can I get the point across?  If you usually put it under the sink, it is helpful during a party to pull it out and place it by the toilet or if you don’t keep one in there at all,  if for no other reason than the one above, you need to purchase one.

3. Keep an extra roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.  I keep a small wicker basket right next to the toilet  (with a lid that flips up).  It’s visible to guests should they run out of toilet paper. They won’t feel funny opening it up because it’s a logical choice for them to look and the best part is, they don’t have to get up. They simply reach to the left or the right.  

4.  Always have room spray.  Let’s face it, sometimes you have to poop.  Nothing is worse then looking around and seeing no room spray.  You don’t want to be the one that poops and leaves the bathroom.   Your then cringing in fear that someone will step into the bathroom right after you and your thinking, “Please don’t go in there!” Then without words your subjected to “the oh….., she just pooped look”.   Save us the embarrassment please.  I have a tiny electric socket right near my toilet with a ledge where I keep a small can visible.  If you have a basket next to the toilet, you can store it where the toilet paper is or leave it down on the floor behind the basket, but still visible. Sorry after Dr. Oz was on Oprah, poop conversations make me laugh and I don’t even have kids.

5. Provide liquid soap in a pump.  Only use a bar of soap for yourself or as a decorative item.  When you have multiple guests, it’s best to provide a pump of soap as it’s more sanitary.  No one wants to be using the same bar of soap as everyone else. Reserve that for your family and switch it out for guests.

 

6.  Adding little touches.  I usually have a nice scented candle or tea light burning in a votive holder and a fresh flower or mixed greens in a bud vase.  Just these little things add a nice touch and make guests feel special.

 

Now as a guest in someone’s home, I think it’s important to exercise the following:  1. It is considered polite after you wash your hands to wipe down the faucet and counter.  Some people wash their hands and you would think a bird had just been in their flickering around in a birdbath.  There’s water everywhere. It’s sprinkled on the mirror, on the counter and there are water spots all over the faucet (another pet peeve, water spots make me crazy).  When I say crazy, I mean crazy.  I’m not known as the Windex Queen for a reason.  Just so you know, you are not in a hotel, your in someone’s home.  Kindly use your napkin and wipe off the common area and faucet.   2.  Since it’s likely I don’t have any men reading my blog but if I do, please put down the toilet seat.  For all the moms out there, please teach your son’s this!  No one wants their company walking into a guest bathroom to the visual of a toilet seat up.  While this happens rarely with my guests, there is always someone from time to time a guest that will do this.  Ok, I’m done.  I’d love to hear your tips of anything I haven’t included. 

Do you have any tips that I haven’t listed.  If so, I would love to hear them.