5 Things To Do Before Guests Arrive
Whether friends or family are coming over for a dinner, play date, to stay the night or even just to drop something off- here are the top 5 things I do in my home right before a guest arrives.
To help you remember, I like to cover all 5 senses- see, feel, smell, hear and taste!
1) quick clutter clean up- set the timer for 10 minutes and race to see how fast you can clean up clutter! (if it’s a quick stop by, I usually only focus on the living and kitchen area. If guests plan on staying an hour or more, go ahead and pick up the whole house) Counter tops, kid’s toys, clothes, dishes out of the sink etc. Just make sure things are in their correct places and organized. (SEE)
2) vacuum, mop and wipe surfaces- after the clutter is gone, I like to make what’s underneath shine! There’s nothing cozy about crumbs on a floor or counter.. and my NUMBER ONE goal when guest come over- make them feel COZY! One of my favorite investments in our home is our Neato vacuum cleaner. It’s a girl’s best sidekick! You push a button and your floors are magically vacuumed?? I typically prefer things old fashioned, but I’ll thank modern day technology for this one! (FEEL)
3) light all your candles- People remember the smell of your home. Make sure that’s a good memory, so they’ll come back! I like to stick to a similar family of candle scents so I don’t have totally different fragrances battling each other. (I’ll do another post about my favorite go-to candles for each season of the year!) (SMELL)
4) turn on some music- music totally sets the “vibe” of your home. I definitely choose my playlist based on which guests are coming! My dad, who loves Johnny Cash & Merle Haggard, wouldn’t necessarily enjoy the same playlist as some girlfriends I had over for brunch haha! (guide to the perfect playlist coming soon! I’ll share my favorite go-to’s) (HEAR)
5) Always, always have something to eat or drink to offer your guests.. always! My Nana never let a guest leave her home without a full belly, and if they refused, she would send them home with something! She is known for that. I love that about her. I have a few items that I always keep handy just in case I don’t have time for a grocery run. I love to have coffee or tea bags on hand. Almost all guests like coffee or tea. A trick my mom taught me- make cookie dough ahead of time, roll them into balls and keep them on a tray in the freezer so that you can pop them in the oven for 10 minutes if you’re pressed for time! Anything delicious on the counter will do. (TASTE)
