Tips for Creating a Welcoming Home
Whether you are entertaining for the holidays or just having friends and family over for intimate dinner parties, making your guests feel welcome in your home is an important part of hosting. A big key of hospitality is not to have a perfect home, but to make everyone feel welcome and taken care of.
Use these tips to create an enjoyable experience for guests that will make them love coming to your home!
Create an Inviting Entrance
Creating a welcome experience starts at the entrance to your home. You can accomplish this with outdoor decor on your front door (seasonal, of course!), and an obvious place for guests to stow their belongings. Coat hooks and shoe racks help your guests feel like they “belong” and that there is room for them in your home.
Shoes on or off? Make it obvious to your guests with signage or a clear place to stow shoes. Other signage and decor like a personalized frame are a great way to welcome guests into your home.
Use Music and Aroma for Ambiance
Make sure to consider all five senses when you are planning for a gathering. Use background music and scents from candles or incense to greet your guests as they arrive. The music and scents you use should complement the gathering you are hosting. Make sure these are “background” accents, so they don’t overpower conversation and the other main aroma in the house - the food!
Set up easy Food and Drink Stations
One of the first things guests look for when they arrive is usually a drink, and a snack! Set up a user-friendly drink station so guests can help themselves as they arrive. If you are offering specialty drinks, make sure to have someone stationed to assist with drink making or have instructions for how to make the drinks.
Accessibility
Creating a welcoming home means that your home is welcoming for everyone, so it’s important to consider any special needs that your guests may have.
For instance, round dining tables like this round barnwood dining table are great options for individuals who are hearing impaired, because they allow you to see everyone who is talking in order to read lips. They also create a more intimate dining experience for all involved.
You can also consider creating large pathways through your home to support easy mobility, benches to aid in taking shoes and off, and food variations to accommodate dietary restrictions. Accessibility is all about supporting the guests who you are entertaining, so make sure to communicate in advance so that you know about any special needs your guests may have.
How do you create a welcoming home for your guests? Tell us in the comments!