We all want to be great hosts for our guests and make them feel comfortable in our home, as well as impressed with our interior style. However, you don’t have to get the whole house ready for them, just the living area, bathroom, dining room, and other spots intended for entertainment. Sometimes the smallest details can make a lot of difference between an inviting home and one that isn’t hospitable for company.
Depending on how much you want to make your house more welcoming to your guests, you can either splurge or add just a few details. Having that in mind, here are ideas that will satisfy anyone’s taste and budget.
1. Find a comfortable solution for shoes
You want to do more than dazzle your guests with the look of your entrance and hallway — they want you to solve the shoe dilemma. Although it may sound silly, people think about whether to take off or leave on their shoes when going to another person’s home. The best option is to be the one who will decide this for them in the most comfortable way possible.
For example, if it’s a “shoes off” party, prepare disposable sleepers for them to wear at the entrance with a funny sign, like “shoe parking spot”. This is also a great solution for bad weather to avoid muddy floors and carpets. In case of a formal party, when shoes should stay on, place a mat outside and inside the door and a rug in the hallway. The latter will collect the dirt before the guests enter the living room and you can wash it in the machine afterward.
2. Welcome your guests with food
Place a few plates of amuse-bouche on a table near the entrance as a welcome station. This is a perfect way for people to mingle and talk to each other. Those entering will stop by the food table, while those already at the party will come back for more goodies. Sometimes people feel uncomfortable eating at parties, so write a special message on a banner that will invite them to fill their plates and be creative with food display.
3. Create coziness with colors
Light colors are always the safe choice since they make the space airy, but you can also go for a bolder palette. It will bring a dramatic change to the space and add warmth, allowing your guests to relax.
Go for a shade that will go well with the current color scheme, or you can introduce patterns with wallpapers. Also, you can update the colors with new artwork, bowls, lamps, and improved lighting, as well as cozy up the space with interesting pillows and blankets.
4. Decorate with nature
Plants can revive a space, make it homier, and give it a positive vibe. For example, fragrant and colorful flower bouquets on the dining room table, window sill, and at the entrance. Tall and leafy plants by the balcony doors and in the corners, and orchids in the bathroom are some of the ideas to decorate with nature. You can try an unconventional approach by hanging potted plants from the ceiling or creating a bottle garden as a coffee table centerpiece.
5. Make space seem bigger
Whether you have a small living area or you want to make a big one even bigger, you can try these three basic décor tricks:
- Place a mirror across the window to reflect the natural light
- Use a light color scheme on furniture and walls
- Hang sheer fabric curtains for a stylish and softer look
Simplistic, minimalist, or multipurpose furniture can also convert your small place into a larger one, but it can also make a bigger dent in your budget. If your living area is also your bedroom, opt for a Murphy bed that will both free up the space and make it more guest-welcoming.
6. Create a great smelling home
A home smelling of apple pies in the winter and fragrant flowers in the summer can be crucial to making your house more welcoming to your guests. You can light scented candles a few minutes before the guests arrive or incense sticks. If you baked cookies, leave the smell inside since it will make everyone feel at home.
On the other note, the way your house smells can depend on your cleaning habits and HVAC maintenance. Vacuum and dust at least once a week, wash the blankets, table cloths, and curtains at least once a month, and always collect water spills in the bathroom. Make sure to service your air conditioner, fireplace, and chimney before and after their operating period.
7. Keep the seating arrangement intimate
The seating area should be intimately placed so your guests don’t shout over each other to talk in case the furniture is far apart. Keep this spot free of obstacles so your guests can freely stand up and sit down, as well as move from one spot to another. A lamp or light fixture with a dimmer will help you create an inviting environment, perfect for movie nights, small parties, or chatting with friends.
8. Banish the clutter
Clutter is not a good thing even when you are not expecting guests! To clear the room of pointless things, start with magazines and books you keep on your coffee table. Keep the keys by the front door in a bowl or on the hook so you will always know where they are. Try not to go overboard with decorations and approach the décor with the rule “less is more.”
Remove your cosmetic products from the vanity and stack hand towels so each guest can use a new one after washing their hands. Decluttering doesn’t just mean throwing things away, but also placing them in their rightful place and keeping the house clean.
All in all
Having guests over should serve as an encouragement and inspiration to do those remodels you have been planning for ages. Making your house more welcoming for guests is the best way to improve your living arrangements and make it more welcoming for you as well. After a couple of years of pandemic-induced isolation, we all could use having guests over and relax.
