NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Spending time with your friends and family is essential to the holiday season. You're sharing your thoughts, your memories and laughter.

But what happens if you're also sharing your home?

If the thought of holiday houseguests is turning you into a grinch, take a look at today's top 5 Tips on how to fix houseguest woes.

When Aunt Gilda and Uncle Fred land on your front doorstep, the first thing they'll want is a space to call their own.

Let's start with the bed. If you don't have a spare room think about investing in an air mattress. Prices range from $40 to over $300, and they come in the same sizes as standard beds, like twin, double or queen.

You'll want to choose a mattress that uses a manual or electric air pump so you don't have to huff and puff. Here are some good websites where you can comparison shop: www.coolinflatables.com or www.overstock.com. You may also want to check out camping websites like www.cabelas.com and www.campingstation.com.

To create the impression of privacy, buy a five or six foot fold-out screen. "Privacy is important for the guest and the host," says Julia Bourland, the author of the Go-Girl guides.

These room dividers can get expensive, but you can find some for around $30 at www.pearlriver.com. Another good website to check is www.iroomdivders.com.

If your closets are full, how can you make sure your guests will have a place to put their clothes?

Think about buying a suitcase stand so they won't have to keep their luggage on the floor. You can pick one up for about $30 at www.discountluggage.com or www.stacksandstacks.com.

Valet stands are also a good investment if you're short on space. And of course, clear our some drawer space if you can and stash your own stuff under the bed.

Just because you are providing shelter for your guests, doesn't necessarily mean you have to provide non-stop entertainment either.

To get your guests out from underfoot and to make their trip more enjoyable, give them tools to navigate the neighborhood.

Your library should have a local guide for your town that will have maps, list attractions and rate restaurants. If your guests are Internet-savvy, send them to www.citysearch.com or www.craigslist.org to get local events.

If you have older friends or relatives that may need that extra push to get out the door, it may be a good idea to mail them articles of the local attractions or a community calendar before they even arrive, so they can be prepared to do some outside activities.

There's nothing more unsettling than hearing unusual noises in a strange setting.

Keep a list of all the sounds or occurrences that you think would be unusual to your guests. If your dog howls at night, if the wind causes the house to moan or your coffee pot makes odd burping sounds, a list will help keep the creepy-crawlies at bay.

You should also arm your guests with emergency information, like the number to the fire department, your locksmith and a cab company.

Remember all those hotel freebies you stuffed in your bag on your vacations, like the mini shower cap and the hand soap? Now is the time to put those goodies to use.

Stock up your bathroom so that guests have toiletries of their own. Of course if you can't find your supplies, or they're too old, you can always stock up at the travel section in your local drugstore.

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