Hosting Tips: A Practical Checklist For Any Kind Of Guest
Most hosting tips are about the meal. While that's important, it's usually not the main takeaway for your guests. That's because people tend to remember how well you thought through the setup, the presentation of the room, and the overall feel of the guest room if they're staying over. Here's some tips for both dinner only and those who will be staying over in the guest room.
The Host's Checklist
- Coordinate table linens (cloth, runner, napkins) as fastest way to set a tone.
- Lay the table early so it is ready before guests arrive and not a last minute rush.
- For overnight guests you have to have fresh sheets (and extra towels) anyway.
- Keep the menu simple, mostly prepped in advance.
- Make sure people are seated to talk with others they don't know.
- Some sort of small welcome gesture (fresh towels arranged nicely, etc.) goes a long way.
1. Let Table Linens Set the Tone
Coordinating a tablecloth or runner with cloth napkins is one of the fastest ways to make a table feel intentional, and it takes less effort than most other “set the scene” advice.
A table runner or tablecloth plus cloth napkins will give you more visual bang for your time than almost anything else on this list. Choose a color scheme that’s simple — maybe just two colors — and you’ll have a table that looks put together.
2. Lay the Table Early
Setting the table early not only takes one more task off your hands in advance, but also lets you fix any problems without guests' eyes on you.
Guests shouldn't see you sweating through laying out the table while they walk in. Doing it an hour or so in advance lets you take a breather and adjust anything that seems wrong to you, rather than rushing to put it out just before your guests get there.
3. Preparing for Overnight Guests
Fresh, clean sheets and some extra towels will set the tone for your overnight guests; even better, create a folded towel set and make sure there is a place for them to put their things.
This is the advice most people forget to give you when they tell you to prepare a bedroom for someone to stay over. In addition to making sure the bed you've prepared has fresh bedding, you should also have a couple of extra towels, preferably in a place where they can easily see them and make sure to clear a drawer or two so they don't have to live out of their suitcase.
4. Keep the Menu Simple
A menu that can be made up mostly of dishes prepared before and is not full of ambitious recipes makes more sense than trying something new on the day of the party.
Save experimenting for a night when the house is empty. A simple dish, which one is already accustomed to making well, paired with 1 or 2 easy side dishes, will always be better than an ambitious, complex recipe that seems to have a thousand steps.
5. Mix Up the Seating
Seating strangers to each other at a party, rather than leaving it open, will lead to more conversation and less the room splitting up into talking circles of people who already know each other.
A little mix and mingle goes a long way to preventing a gathering from becoming cliquish and insular, even if it's merely a couple of place cards or a reminder as people are taking their seats.
6. Add One Small, Thoughtful Touch
The direct answer to this question is that most people likely remember a nice touch, like a nicely folded towel or even a sweet little message or a treat left for them.
You don't have to do anything really special like give them a gift, just a few guest towels nicely folded or maybe a treat waiting for them in their room will be enough.
7. Have a Backup Plan for Weather and Space
In case of bad weather or insufficient space, it helps to have an easy backup plan ready in advance so that you're not scrambling to come up with something at the last minute.
Even just outlining a basic contingency plan--what room will be the overflow seating, where will food be moved if it can't stay outside--will save you a lot of headaches. You don't have to fully set up your contingency plan ahead of time, just know what it is.
8. Scent the Space Lightly
A very light scent of the candle, fresh flowers, or just an aired out room, will give the space a pleasant, well tended feel, that won't overwhelm guests who may be put off by heavy perfumes.
No need to layer your candles or use multiple heavy air fresheners, just a light scent from an opened window or a single candle can do wonders, and is often more effective than anything you might buy.
9. Set Out Clear Drink Options
Having drinks visible to the guests as they come into the room means they have something to occupy their hands with and removes the awkward can-i-get-you-anything dance at the front door.
A simple pitcher of water, a couple different wines, or a non-alcoholic option displayed on a side table means that guests can serve themselves right away.
10. Plan a Few Minutes of Downtime for Yourself
Leaving a small buffer between getting everything set up and your guests arriving (even ten minutes) will give you time to let them know you're glad to see them before having to dash back to finish what you were doing.
Hosts who look relaxed tend to make their guests feel more relaxed, too. Just a little downtime before those first knocks at the door can go a long way, even if it means starting earlier than planned.
Final Thoughts
A good host focuses on the few things that the guests want and are likely to notice and make them right. It could be an impressive table or a prepared bed, or something else, but one should think ahead about what can bring joy to their guests. Pay attention to some minor details like linens, and everything else will be perfect.
Getting ready to host? Shop our table linens, cloth napkins, bedding, and towels to have every detail covered before your guests arrive.
Related Readings
Oblong vs Rectangle Tablecloths: How to Pick the right fit
The Benefits of Using a Modern Table Runner for Your Dining Room
