It’s the time of year when family and friends up north start to flee the cold and think about visiting relatives in warmer climes. And with Chanukkah and Christmas coming up, many South Floridians can expect to be playing host fairly soon.

“You want to make your family and friends feel comfortable and welcome,” says interior designer Eloise Kubli of Collective Construction and Design in Plantation. “You also want the atmosphere to be relaxing, so you need to think about it ahead of time.”

Spend some time preparing the guest room. “Just about everybody stores overflow items there, so clear them out,” Kubli says. “If you have clothes in the closet, push them to one side so your guest will have somewhere to hang things, and be sure there’s at least one empty drawer.”

“Check to see that all the light bulbs in the room work,” Kubli says. “And be sure there’s a nightlight.”

A luggage rack in the guest bedroom can be a nice touch, Kubli says. “Your guest may not want to put a dirty suitcase on the bed, and if the suitcase is on the floor, it means bending over. The luggage rack will come also come in handy when it’s your turn to pack.”

Remember that most people want some time to themselves. “It’s nice to have a TV in the guest room, and also a place to sit and read,” Kubli says.

Make the bathroom inviting. “Towels should be clean,” Kubli says. “Add some new lotions, sunscreen and soaps. Nobody likes a used bar of soap. And many people today travel with just a small carryon bag, so it’s nice to have a bathrobe hanging in the bathroom for your guest. And there’s nothing like a fluffy rug under your feet on the bathroom floor.”

Is the guest elderly? “You may want to put a folding seat into the shower, or even install a grab bar,” Kubli says.

Ask ahead of time what snacks to have on hand. “Then put them all in one area of the refrigerator so the guest can get to them easily,” Kubli says. “Keep fresh fruit on hand, because that’s part of why people come to Florida.”

If possible, cook meals ahead of time and pop them into the freezer. “Then you can pull them out instead of spending a lot of time in the kitchen or going out all the time,” Kubli says.

Are there flowers in the garden? “Cut some and bring them inside,” Kubli says. “Put a vase in the guest room. When someone comes to see me, I always put a welcome card there, too. It makes the person feel special.” ■