Hosting guests at your place
, whether it’s for a laid-back gathering or an elegant dinner event, can cause anxiety — particularly if you tend to be nervous or strive for flawlessness.
Maybe you’re the type of person who gets caught up in making sure every aspect of your home is immaculate. Perhaps you struggle to fully enjoy having people over because you’re too concerned about their opinion of your living space. However, fretting unnecessarily over things that won’t significantly matter—or might not even register—to your visitors doesn’t make much sense. It’s better to focus on enjoying the company rather than stressing over minor details.
That’s why we reached out to home and hosting specialists to share their insights on what makes for great guest experiences.
actually
notice immediately about your home — and what they’re likely completely overlooking. Here’s what we discovered:
1. The Scent
The smell of your home greets guests right as they walk in, said cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk, the woman behind
Clean Mama.
And you hope that initial sensory experience will leave a positive impact.
We might not always notice the odor in our houses, so it’s crucial to open a window, use a diffuser, or light a candle to mask any unwanted smells,” she explained to HuffPost. “In case your home carries a pet scent, make sure to clean out the litter box, launder the pet bedding, and quickly go over the floors with a vacuum.
2. The Lighting
Proper illumination aids in establishing a warm atmosphere in your residence—and your visitors will certainly observe this, according to Megan Hersch, an interior designer from Los Angeles and the founder of her design firm.
Studio MG Interiors
.
“This could be as simple as incorporating additional table lamps throughout your areas or boosting the wattage in certain light bulbs,” says Hersch, who is also the founder of the e-design company.
roomLift
, shared with HuffPost. “However, a house that is poorly illuminated can be
turn-off
. We all desire to be with one another and move about freely within the areas of your house, so make sure it’s well-lit.”
Proper illumination can transform a mundane area into a enchanting environment.
Las Vegas
event planner
Brooke Primm
, the creator behind
The Uncommon Hostess
, told HuffPost.
Rather than depending only on ceiling fixtures, consider adding various lighting options if your event takes place at night,” she advised. “Should you be entertaining during daylight hours, ensure that all window shades are opened to create a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere.
3. The Clutter
When hosting guests, they will immediately see whether your living area is neat or messy. Organizing shared spaces and ensuring items such as those found on your coffee table and kitchen countertops are not overcrowded can contribute to a more calming environment.
We all understand this, and honestly, I struggle with adhering to this principle myself,” Hersch stated. “But having an uncluttered space leads to a clearer mind, which your visitors will sense as well.” He added, “Ensure you have enough room to store everything necessary and definitely hold onto items that bring you happiness!
4. Should the kitchen and bathroom be clean?
There’s no need to get overly worked up about meticulous cleaning of every corner of your house before hosting guests. However, ensuring that the kitchen and bathroom are generally tidy will leave a positive impression.
If you’re aware that your visitors will spend time in the kitchen, spare a few moments to clean the countertops and tidy up the fronts of appliances,” Rapinchuk advised. “For the bathroom, make sure to sanitize the countertop, provide new towels, and ensure the toilet is spotless.
5. Houseplants
Adding some greenery to your interior design brings a lively splash of color and texture that visitors will enjoy. Additionally, having indoor plants has numerous benefits.
mood-boosting properties
, which should help generate some positive vibes for your event.
Every space in my house is filled with lots of plants, and visitors always mention them!
Donovan Ho
, who founded the West Coast home and lifestyle blog
Hothouse Jungle
, shared with HuffPost. “Be it praise for the aesthetics of the plants or admitting their inability to keep them alive—these planters always spark conversations.”
6. The Entryway
If your house features a conventional entrance area, Brooke Spreckman, who owns an interior design firm in Los Angeles, could be helpful.
Design Hutch
,recommended “putting extra effort into most of the finishes and fixtures in this area,” she mentioned. Since it’s the initial space visitors see when they enter, it provides a chance to create something striking.
“The flooring can serve as an accent, your lighting options can become more innovative, and the wall materials can make a statement. Artwork can be large-scale—or simply distinctive,” explained Spreckman.
7. Interesting Furniture
Ho mentioned that he frequently gets praises from visitors for various items in his house, “be it an eccentric chair or a stylish velvet couch.”
“He also pointed out that visitors often observe the blend of both classic and contemporary design elements scattered around the home.”
8. Empty Walls
Hersch suggests that plain walls might make a room feel somewhat dreary. Incorporating artwork and framed photographs can significantly enhance the ambiance of a place.
She mentioned that entering a house that seems unfinished gives an unwelcoming vibe,” he stated. “Investing effort and funds in wall decor can make all the difference. You’ll find excellent selections of ready-to-hang galleries at places such as Etsy and Pottery Barn. And remember, don’t hesitate to choose bigger pieces!
9. The Music
The music establishes the atmosphere for your event, so pick tunes that help set the mood you’re aiming for.
“You can put together a playlist that complements the theme of your party or select songs that are calming and peaceful,” Primm mentioned. “Personally, I really enjoy playing the ‘
Bridgerton
soundtracks because they feature recognizable tunes without being overly disruptive.
10. The Temperature
One aspect that some hosts overlook is temperature, yet it plays a crucial role in their guests’ overall experience.
“Ensuring that the temperature inside your house is cozy is essential,” Primm stated.
And Here’s What Guests Likely aren’t Noticing
On the contrary, there are aspects that might obsess hosts, yet they’re not particularly significant for guests. Below are some points deemed unimportant by our experts.
Small Decor Details
A number of our specialists concur that small ornamental details often go unnoticed by visitors.
“Nobody will care if a vase isn’t precisely positioned or if a cushion isn’t perfectly plumped,” Primm stated. “Those small details we might fuss over at home could be overlooked entirely by your visitors.”
It’s advisable to reduce the quantity of small decorative items on tables and countertops when you’re hosting, as these areas will probably be utilized by your guests, according to Spreckman.
To prevent them from looking overcrowded, there’s no need to overload the space with lots of decorations,” she went on. “Even if you typically arrange your surfaces elaborately, in situations where hosting is key, simplicity often works best.
How Thoroughly You Cleaned
When preparing for guests, do as much cleaning as possible without getting too stressed out.
too
much.
Although I consistently keep things organized—ranging from thorough cleaning sessions to simple tidying up—I rarely receive comments about the cleanliness of my home,” Ho stated. “I’ve come to realize that there’s no need to obsess over ensuring everything is spotless and well-presented.
If your bookshelves have gathered some dust, it’s likely that visitors won’t even pick up on it.
“Don’t have time for dusting? Turn down the lights and nobody will notice,” Rapinchuk stated.
Bedrooms
Your visitors probably won’t spend much time in the bedrooms, so don’t worry too much about having messy clothing piles or a slightly wrinkled bedspread.
“Shut the doors if they aren’t ready for guests,” Rapinchuk suggested.
Fancy Silverware And Dishes
Hersch mentioned that it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of money on fancy dishes or utensils for your dinner guests. Why use up your budget on items they probably won’t even notice?
There are numerous delightful table arrangements. Having an enjoyable and vibrant dinner party doesn’t require Tiffany flatware,” Hersch noted. “Given the proper ambiance at home, Target offers everything needed for an incredible event!
Dining Chairs
Unless they’re extremely uncomfortable,” Spreckman noted, guests likely won’t pay attention to your dining chairs.
“She went on to say, ‘People generally sit in dining chairs instead of examining them closely.’ So, if redecorating your home has left you short on funds after purchasing everything else, consider buying modest, inexpensive, and understated dining chairs for now. This way, they will be less noticeable during gatherings.'”
Lastly, Primm mentioned that it’s common to believe everything needs to be flawless when entertaining guests; however, this isn’t necessarily true.
She stated, “We often allow the fear of failing to meet a specific benchmark prevent us from coming together.” However, she explained that at heart, most individuals simply desire to make lasting memories, experience connections, and come together in a significant manner. She emphasized ensuring you bond with those within your household because everything else will fall into place subsequently.
The piece initially surfaced on
HuffPost.
