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When you’ve invited people over for an evening in your home, the countdown starts ticking right away. Whether it’s a casual dinner or a sleepover with your closest friends, you need to jump into action to make your home as guest-ready as possible. The goal is to make them feel welcome in a clean, functional, comfortable space so that your space is one they’ll remember.
The best way to prepare your home for guests is to add thoughtful touches that increase their comfort level, whether that means adding homey details or getting minor repairs done on things like plumbing. If you’re not sure where to start, here are five ways to make your home shine before the doorbell rings.
In This Post:
Tidy Up the Entryway
Your home’s entryway is the first thing guests will see when they visit. Don’t let them see all those shoes and unopened packages lying around!
Make an effort to tidy up the area to make it spotless and spacious. Outside, shake out your welcome doormat and decorate the front porch a bit with some potted plants or a lantern. Inside, put away the shoes and clear off any catch-all surfaces. A clean entryway will immediately make guests feel welcome and at ease.
Declutter High-Traffic Areas
Don’t leave your home looking like an unkempt mess with clutter all over the place when the guests come. Tidy the messiest areas in your home, especially rooms you know your guests will hang out in.
Stash away loose items in the foyer and living room, and straighten those rugs. Organize the kitchen by clearing countertops and making sure the sink is empty. The cleaner and tidier your place, the more your guests will feel welcome and at ease while they’re visiting.
Check the Guest Essentials
If the guests are staying over for the night, make sure to put out all the things they need in the guest room. Lay out clean, comfortable bedding sets with extra blankets if they need them. Nothing’s more awkward than a guest having to knock on your bedroom door late at night to ask for a towel, so make sure they have a couple of those, too. You could even go out of your way to prepare a basket of small items they might need, like a toothbrush, phone charger, a bottle of water, and your home’s Wi-Fi password.
Freshen Up the Guest Bathroom
Bathrooms are easy to overlook, especially when the party is out in the living room, but a fresh, functional bathroom is a must to make guests feel comfortable and respected. Small issues like a clogged drain or a dripping faucet can be surprisingly noticeable to guests.
Make sure to freshen up your guest bathroom with some hand towels, toilet paper, soap, or anything else they might need. If you’ve been having issues with the sink or toilet, it’s the best time to call a residential plumbing repair service to sort everything out before the guests arrive.
Endnote
Hospitality isn’t about having delicious food to serve or redoing your entire living room. It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable, taken care of, and, well, at home. It’s the simplest gestures that really make guests feel welcome, whether it’s comfortable bedding in the bedroom or a clean bathroom. Before the guests arrive, prep what you can and fix what needs fixing. Then, for the rest of the night, enjoy the company of the people you love most.
