At Home: Guess who's coming to dinner — and staying!

• A well-dressed bed. All-cotton, high-thread count white sheets, please. Layers are luscious, and down is dreamy.

• Privacy. The room should have window coverings that not only add a decorative touch, but also provide privacy and light control, says Morse.

• Layered lighting. In addition to overhead light, have a lamp on the bedside table, one the guest can reach from the bed. A night light will help guests find their way in the dark.

• Dual purpose. If your guest room doubles as a home office, gym or den, move out or hiding the non-bedroom items. Put the stationary bike in the garage, and the files in a covered basket. Try to make the conversion to a bedroom as convincing as you can.

• Mirrors. Most guests appreciate a good mirror, ideally full-length, in their room or in an adjacent bathroom, Morse said.

• Seasonal flowers. Fresh or even dried flowers, like hydrangeas, which last much longer, and add an elegant, vintage touch, say welcome. A bowl of holiday potpourri or pinecones with sprigs of pine and berries feels festive.

• Welcome basket. Put one in the room filled with granola bars, nuts, water bottles, fresh crisp apples and a few magazines.

• Added security. If your guest happens to be romantically interested in someone in the house, install motion lights, and laser-beamed security sensors that summon police and trip traps that cage the midnight wanderer and douse him in cold water.

Syndicated columnist and speaker Marni Jameson is the author of “House of Havoc” and “The House Always Wins” (Da Capo Press). Contact her through www.marnijameson.com.