Your house is your home, but how do you make guests and visitors feel just at home as you already do? Make guests love your home just as much as you do with these five easy steps.
1. Greet them properly
If you’re rushed off your feet in the kitchen or already entertaining guests who have arrived for a party, this can be difficult. But guests in your home deserved to be greeted properly. Meet them at the door and be enthusiastic and genuine. Introduce them to other guests. Also, be sure to offer to take their coats and bags. This is especially important if your guests are first timers in your home. It’s likely that they won’t know where to put things and where they can leave their shoes. Put their mind at ease by looking after these things for them.
2. Give them the lay of the land
It’s entirely your option whether you give them a tour of your home. This is probably necessary if they’re staying over, but if they’re just visiting? At least, tell them where the basics are. Point out the downstairs toilet, and the second toilet if the one downstairs is in use. Let them know where the kitchen is, check if your pets might bother their allergies, think ahead. This is will prevent them from needing to ask awkwardly later, and make them feel more relaxed as a result.
3. Play music
A home with music is a happy home! Thanks to technology, these days we have access to all the world’s music. If you know your guest has a particular favourite musician, play them! Otherwise, some neutral background music will do the job just fine, or pop the radio on. Be careful of the volume, though. Too loud and it will seem intrusive, too quiet and they might struggle to hear it.
4. Offer them a blanket
A real key element to making long-term guests feel welcome is to emulate their own home. Are they the type of person who would snuggle up in front of the TV with a blanket? Then give them the handset and tell them to watch whatever they want. Keep a couple of vellux blankets close at hand, and either give them one or let them know they can help themselves. Your house might be colder than you realise. This way you are giving a guest a way to warm up without having to ask you to adjust the heating, which can feel awkward if they don’t know you well.
5. Pre-empt their questions
This is in the same way that telling them where the bathroom and kitchen is so they don’t have to ask. Offer them a drink. Show them where things are and let them know they can make their own whenever you want. Same goes for food. If you suspect they’re saying no to be polite, just put out a few snacks. This way they can nibble without feeling intrusive. Eating yourself will help encourage them that doing so is okay.
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