5 Tips for Entertaining House Guests

I grew up in a household with a revolving door. At any given weekend, we had a house full of uncles, aunts, grandparents, and cousins. Family was always around enjoying time, filling the beds, eating together. We always were, always have been, and always will be a close, loving family. To this day, we have a revolving door in our home. We always keep the beds, coffee mugs, towels, and other necessities at the ready just in case family and friends decide to spend the night. For last minute guests, how can you make them feel at home?

5 Tips for Entertaining House Guests

1.) Make Sure Guests Have a Space

What’s the first thing that happens when a house guest enters the home? They ask, “Where should I put my stuff?” Having a space ready for them will make the welcome into your home warm and welcoming. Lead them to a spot that they can call their own during the stay. Then, treat it as their own. Don’t tidy up their space when they aren’t in there. It’s their space.

2.) Stock Up on Food and Beverages

Do your guests like white or red wine? Coffee or tea? Coffee creamer or sugar? I always like to make sure that we have a variety of food and beverages stocked in the pantry and refrigerator to help keep house guests happy, content, and feeling at home. In my house, I always encourage people to make themselves at home. By having some of their favorites on hand, house guests feel more at ease to actually help themselves.

3.) Set Out Linens

Either stock a linen closet full of towels, washcloths, and blankets or place them in a basket somewhere in their space. Make sure you tell them about the extra linens so that they aren’t searching for them.

4.) Create a “Continental Breakfast”

What do some people love most about hotel stays? The continental breakfast. I like to fill a glass canister with bagels, make cream cheese clearly available in the refrigerator, set out breakfast bread (e.g., banana bread, cinnamon bread, etc.), place fruit in a basket on the counter, and make the coffee easy to enjoy. People wake up at all different times. You can either set out the items before you go to bed or, if you’re an early riser, set them out when you first get into the kitchen. Waking up to a “continental breakfast” is a great way to start the day.

5.) Place Fresh Flowers Throughout Your Home

Who doesn’t love fresh flowers? They add a sense of freshness and vibrancy to a home’s surfaces. So, the next time you’re at the store, treat yourself to an inexpensive bouquet of fresh flowers and place them throughout your home. Or, if you have flowers in your yard, cut a few of them and place them in vases. Flowers will bring a smile to the faces of your house guests and will help brighten your home.