I love hosting people over at my place. Whether it’s a party or just a get together with a couple of friends, there are always certain things that I love to do to make my guests feel a little bit more comfortable and to create a great atmosphere. Normally, I know ahead of time when people are coming over, but sometimes things happen more last-minute and I have to put together things very quickly. Regardless if I have a week to plan or an hour, here are Five Things To Do When Hosting.
Fresh Flowers
Unless it’s a party, I tend not to go too crazy on decorations. However, something that I always love to have when people come over, or in general, is fresh flowers. Fresh flowers are a really inexpensive way to add some texture to a table setting, add some life to space, or just feel very calming. I love having fresh flowers and live plants all throughout my house. It just livens up space and makes it more inviting and homey.
Candles
Before my guests arrive I like to go through the house and light all my candles. I have candles in my living room, dining room, kitchen, entryway, and bathroom. I think that candles give such a nice ambiance to the space and can also, of course, make your home smell great! Around the holidays it’s great to have candles that smell festive, but normally I stick to scents that are more clean and light, especially since I light so many candles. The key is to make your home smell good, not overwhelming with tons of different scents. Lighting candles sets the mood and once again, gives that homey feeling.
Snacks
No matter how long my guest is staying I like to have some snacks available as soon as they come in the front door. Nothing’s worse than going to someone’s place and being hungry. If it’s something last-minute, I like to have something like chips and salsa available, but if I have a little bit more time to prepare, a cheese platter is always my go-to. Honestly, any excuse for a cheese platter I am all on it! Cheese platters are super easy and extremely customizable to what you already have in your fridge and pantry already. Just setting out items that you already have in a visually appealing way can make something that may be boring like mixed nuts or deli meats, into something that looks delicious!
I’ve done tons of cheese platters in the past. If you want to know how to quickly assemble cheese platters, check out my Instagram Story where I go step-by-step and give you a shopping list you can screenshot right on your phone! I also have a super easy and incredibly 3-Ingredient Baked Brie recipe on my blog. If you really want to impress your guest with something that’s so easy, definitely check out that recipe.
Drinks
Always having a few drink options is great to have whenever you have guests come over. I always have cold water readily available in the fridge, but if we plan on having a drink, setting out a wine bottle and a few wine glasses give the guests the freedom to help themselves and not have to ask for something to drink. Having everything set out and looking nice is something that is a priority to me when getting ready for guests, as I want my guests to feel comfortable in my home and be able to help themselves.
Decluttering
Although I love to do a thorough clean before having people over, sometimes that’s not possible. Simply decluttering your space, wiping down surfaces and a quick vacuum or sweep will get the job done. Decluttering and staging the space with throw blankets on your couch, or small items like the fresh flowers can really make your space look amazing, even when you don’t have that much time to prepare. You can relax and not stress about a messy space and your guests can feel comfortable when being over.
If you have a messy room that’s too late to tackle before guests arrive, just shut the door to messy rooms and no one will ever know what’s behind the door.
If you haven’t really hosted in your space often, I definitely recommend it. I know, hosting events or get-togethers can seem a little intimidating or a lot of work, but it’s actually so simple to create a great space and a fantastic time for you and your guests.
What are your go-to’s when hosting? Let me know in the comments down below!
