Whether you’re opening up your home to guests for a few hours or a few weeks, there are several things you can do to help those people feel at ease as soon as they arrive. Then, they’ll have strong impressions of you and think providing hospitality is one of your natural traits.
Pay Attention to Room Layouts
You probably already do a lot to make rooms feel inviting, such as put throws and pillows on the chairs, keep the lighting level low, and burn candles so there’s a nice scent in the environment. Those things are all beneficial but it’s also smart to turn a sharp eye to the way the room is laid out.
For example, when designing your living room layout, keep things like symmetry in mind and don’t be afraid to mix and match pieces of various sizes. As you go through the process, use an artist’s approach and pretend that you’re painting on a canvas and trying to achieve the best results. You can also group furniture together and give people excuses to mingle together while they occupy your home.
Be mindful of the amount of space between furnishings too and make sure people have enough room to move around comfortably. That’s especially necessary if they are carrying beverages or plates of food and you don’t want them to feel like they might run into a piece of furniture and stumble.
Keep Essential Items Within View
Another huge aspect of getting your home ready for guests involves demonstrating that you’ve thought ahead about what people might need when they come to visit. Besides stocking up on crucial items, keep them in view so guests don’t have to hunt around to find them or wonder if they’re even available.
You can keep a few drink coasters stacked on the corner of an end table or place a box of tissues on a prominent bookshelf. These are just a couple of ways to let guests know you’ve thought of what they might need and have thoughtfully provided those things.
Spend a little extra time preparing the bathroom for guests too. Keep extra rolls of toilet paper stacked on a shelf or the back of the toilet, put a few extra towels on the racks, and fill a basket with some personal care essentials like Band-Aids, painkillers, body lotion, and feminine products. The more obvious you are about your placement of those items, the less likely it is people will have to ask for help.
Have the HVAC and Plumbing Systems Serviced Regularly
The heating, air conditioning, and plumbing systems are collectively some of the creature comforts you use every day but probably don’t think about unless they malfunction. In some cases, you might notice something seems strange because the air conditioner is taking longer than normal to cool down a room, the heater makes a clanking noise when it starts up, or the toilet runs for a while after you flush it.
It’s a good idea to get these aspects of your home serviced regularly by professional specialists. Can you imagine how stressed you’d feel if you had to call a plumber only hours before guests were set to arrive for a major gathering? Many companies offer plumbing assistance 24 hours a day, so technicians can come to fix urgent issues soon after they arise. However, it’s still a good practice to schedule preventative servicing for your home’s main systems.
These tips will help you welcome guests to your home more confidently. As a result, you’ll be able to get more enjoyment than ever from their company and feel like you are well prepared to meet all the needs they might have during their visits.