How to Deal with Guests in Close Quarters

Small apartments are not conducive to guests, but the desire to be hospitable is strong in most people who travel extensively because they are often on the receiving end of kind gestures. It is nice to pay those forward when the chance presents itself. A visitor for a few days is usually no problem. Even if they are not the ideal house guest, at least you know the discomfort will soon be over. But even the best houseguest over too long a period of time in too tiny a space can put a strain on the best of relationships.

Understanding this ahead of time can prevent a lot of awkwardness. By employing a few straightforward strategies, bridge burning can be avoided. First, there should be an upper limit on the time someone can stay in your home. Maybe it is two weeks or a month, but every host has their limit. Before your guests arrive decide what this timeframe is and communicate. This will help down the line if you need to politely remind them it is soon time to go. Second, if they will be staying for more than a week or 10 days, at this point they cease to be guests and take on more of a roommate quality. They should act accordingly and begin to help out around the house. You can decide what this means, but asking them to make dinner occasionally, tidy up, do a grocery shop and make coffee in the morning is totally fair. Having them agree to do these kinds of things will ease tension significantly.

Lastly, if this is a close friend or family member, then remind yourself it is a rare thing to get to spend so much time with each other and you should enjoy it while you can. If that fails, invest in that guestroom for next time.