Because true hospitality begins with a great night's sleep.
One thing I've learned after years of entertaining at our lake house is that everyone wants to stay “just one more night.”
Spring break, Fourth of July, family reunions, girls' weekends—somehow the guest list always seems to grow. And around the lake, where hotels are scarce and vacation rentals can book months in advance, our house often becomes the place where everyone lands.
I love that.
But it also taught me something important about hospitality: you don't need an enormous house or a bedroom for every guest. You need to make sure that wherever someone sleeps, they feel as though you planned for them to be there.
What we've learned about sleeping a houseful
Over the years, we've learned to look at almost every room differently. An office can become a bedroom. A game room can sleep teenagers. A quiet corner can accommodate a portable crib. And sometimes, when everyone decides to stay one more night, you simply get creative.
A few things have become non-negotiable for us:
Here are a few essentials that make all the difference:
A quality mattress in every permanent bedroom. Guests remember a great night's sleep long after the weekend is over.
Premium bedding made with soft, breathable sheets, cozy duvets, and lightweight blankets that work year-round.
Supportive pillows in a variety of firmness levels so guests can choose what feels most comfortable.
Murphy beds or sleeper sofas that transform offices, game rooms, or bonus spaces into inviting guest rooms without sacrificing everyday functionality.
Pack-and-plays or portable cribs for visiting families with infants and toddlers, along with fitted sheets designed specifically for safe sleep.
Comfortable floor sleeping options for kids and teens, such as high-quality folding mattresses or memory foam floor sleepers that are far more inviting than an air mattress.
Air mattresses with built-in pumps for those occasions when you simply need a few extra beds for the night. Choose elevated models with quality mattress toppers to make them feel more like a traditional bed.
Extra blankets and throws to accommodate changing temperatures and personal preferences.
A dedicated linen storage system with clearly labeled shelves or bins for sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, and seasonal bedding, making it easy to prepare rooms for arriving guests.
The goal is simple: every guest should feel like you planned for their arrival.
When someone lays their head on a comfortable pillow, wrapped in crisp linens after a day spent on the water, you've created more than a place to sleep. You've created the kind of hospitality that turns a weekend at the lake into a memory they'll talk about for years.
At Luxe After 60, I believe luxury is found in the details. And sometimes one of the greatest luxuries we can offer the people we love is simply the gift of a really good night's sleep.
See you on the deck,