Seven Simple Ways to Make Your Home Inviting to Guests

While being a good host requires thoughtful consideration of your guests, it is relatively simple to create a welcoming environment for guests in your home. Whether you are inviting guests over for the evening or an entire weekend, here are seven relatively easy things you can do to create a comfortable space for others in your home.

A clean space is an inviting space. I recommend anywhere you plan to have guests should be clean. Your house does not have to be spotless, but the space should be picked up and sanitary. A good rule of thumb for this is to ask yourself, if your guest were in a hotel or restaurant, would they be comfortable with the cleanliness of that space? At a minimum, I usually pick up, throw away trash, dust and wipe surfaces, and mop and vacuum the floors. If you are worried about the state of your home or can't fit cleaning into your schedule, consider enlisting some help from a professional cleaner. Once your home is clean, it is much easier to maintain even with a busy schedule.

Be considerate about pets. Not everyone is comfortable around pets. Be cognizant of this when you are inviting others into your home. Some people may have allergies. It is important to keep this in mind when cleaning and consider where you will put you pets while you are hosted. Others may be afraid of certain animals. Growing up I had a family friend that was afraid of dogs after being attacked by a dog as a small child. Even though our dog was well trained and well tempered, my parents always put him outside when that particular friend came over. It is always a good idea to let your guests know you have pets before they come over. A good rule of thumb is to keep your pets outside or in a designated space until you know what your guests are comfortable with.

Pay special attention to the bathroom. Always make sure any bathrooms which you expect guests to use are clean. I like to keep a cleaning wipes and toilet cleaner under my sink to make this easy. Additionally, make sure all the essentials are stocked: soap, towels, and toilet paper. Always keep extra essentials easily accessible to guests. Consider adding a candle with matches, a room spray, or poo-poori to tame any unwelcome scents. Other items you might consider adding to the bathroom include hand lotion, tampons, a first aid kit, mouthwash, deodorant, extra toiletry items, etc.

Keep some extra snacks on hand. Generally, unless you are inviting a guests over for a meal or alcoholic beverages, your guests will probably not expect you to provide snacks. That being said, a good host will keep something on hand that they can offer up to guests in a pinch. This can be something as simple as a bag of pretzels or Chex Mix.

Water should be easily accessible. Set out a water pitcher or let your guests know where they can get water. If you have a water dispenser on the outside of your fridge, this makes it easy for guests to get a drink once they know where you keep the glassware. Another easy option is to keep a pitcher or bottled water on hand in your fridge. The point is, water should be readily available to guests.

Set up a space to gather. Wherever drinks or food is served is usually where people end up. Keep this in mind when you are hosting. If there is a particular room in which you would like your guests to gravitate towards consider placing snacks or a bowl of candy in the center of the table or set up a drink cart or bar area. Moreover, engaging other senses can add an inviting touch. Consider including music, art, candles, fragrances, or flowers in spaces where you intend for people to gather.

After welcoming your guest, offer them a beverage. Almost immediately after someone comes into my home I will offer them a glass of water or some form of beverage. This will not only satiate their thirst but also put them at ease. There is something inherently calming about having a drink to hold in social situations. It gives them a chance to relax and listen while they adjust to the environment.

For those just beginning the art of hosting, I hope these tips help get you started. Have your own hosting tips? Share them in the comments below.

As always,

Alli