How To Be A Good Host For House Guests

Being a good host may be easy for some but can be challenging for many. Stop and think of a time you entered into someone’s house and was made to feel right at home!

That would have felt great! You probably had a seat to sit on, knew where the toilets where, was offered a drink, maybe a few nibblies and a good chat. You left feeling emotionally full.

Now, has there been a time you entered into someone’s home and were made to feel like a burden? That wouldn’t have felt good and there’s a good chance you wouldn’t go back.

Being a good host is a skill either passed down from parent’s or learned. Most people are more self-centred, and it can take time to really think about the other person and their needs.

Here are some tips to help you be a good host no matter the occasion. Let’s keep it simple and as stress free as possible! I’ll try and list things in the general steps you’d take.

1. Invite People Over!

I know this is obvious, but the first step to be a good host is having guest over. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, just invite them over or you will keep postponing forever!

Having guests over really is a blessing and lovely for both parties. Just take a breath, ask the person or people if they’d like to come over and set a date.

It’s that simple and the rest can happen from there.

2. Tidy Your Home (Not Spotless Just Tidy)

So, let’s be very clear the aim is not to have a sparkling shiny home, that everyone is afraid to enter in fear of dirtying it!

The aim is to have clear enough floors for walking on, places to sit that are not covered in toys or laundry and preferably a clean toilet.

I will admit having a clean toilet is nice. It’s not the nicest going into a bathroom that smells like pee, laundry all over the floor or worse yet out of toilet paper!

People are coming to see you and talk to you, so don’t overly stress about having a sparkling house. If you do want some tips on How To Successfully Declutter Your Home Quickly, I have a post here for you!

3. Plan Activities

If you have a small house, or its someone you don’t know very well, having a planned activity could be nice. Definitely with kids.

Ideas for kids: If you have a pool, trampoline or playground you are already ahead of the game! Some other ideas could be hide and seek, tag, scavenger hunt or simple craft activities.

Ideas for adults:

1. Cook a meal or prep food together. I never mind helping out and getting to know another person.
2. Play a board or card game to keep things fun.
3. Make a craft together, whether it’s crocheting, painting, dot art, soap making, really anything!
4. Do a fun puzzle together!
5. Have a karaoke party.
6. Who doesn’t love a spa day, and you can do this with all homemade products, if you want to keep it cheap!

4. Greet Them At The Door With A Smile

A smile is such a powerful tool. It says I’m happy to see you and glad you are here.

So, no matter what’s going on, when you guest arrives stop what you are doing and greet them with a smile.

It shows that they matter to you if you invite them in at the door instead of yelling out for them to come in.

5. Tell Them Where to Place Their Things

Another way to be a good host is to show your guest where they can place their things. Most people have bags, maybe water bottles, ect.

Let them know where they can put them down, so they don’t feel like they have to hold onto these items.

6. Give Your Guest A Tour of Your Home

It’s always nice to have a tour of someone’s home if it’s your first time over. I personally love knowing where things are at and makes me feel more at home.

Make sure to point out the important spots like bathroom, kitchen and the area you will be sitting in. They will feel more at home knowing where things are if they need to go there.

7. Offer Your Guest A Beverage

Most people can feel a bit shy to ask for a drink, like it’s a burden. Ask your guest right away if they would like a drink.

Sometimes it’s good to let them know what’s on offer as well, water, coffee, tea, maybe even Water kefir soda! Some people can feel shy and don’t want to feel like they are bothering.

So let them know you will be having a drink as well and more often than not they will join you.

Make sure to ask several times throughout their stay. If they say no the first time, it doesn’t mean they won’t be thirsty later on.

8. Have A Few Simple Snacks Pre-Prepared

Another great way to be a good host is to have a few simple snacks on offer. It doesn’t have to be a full-blown meal, unless you want it to.

Let’s face it food makes everything better and everyone happier! If you can try to have some nibblies on hand.

Here are some very easy snack ideas for adults and or kids.

1. Fruit: Grapes, chopped watermelon, berries, ect.
2. Cheese, crackers and or kabana with it.
3. An assortment of deli meat on a platter.
4. Crackers and dip (homemade or storebought)
5. Sourdough Focaccia or Sourdough Shortbread cookies are great snacks for when guest arrive.
   • You can make ahead the shortbread cookies, freeze them and just bake on the day!
6. Chips and dip
7. Simple pizza

9. Have A Clean Space to Sit

Have a clean and comfortable space for your guest to sit. Don’t have your guest have to move your belongings just so they can take a seat.

Preplan where you plan to sit and make sure that area is clear from excess things. Being able to sit and chat is relaxing, definitely if it’s a comfortable spot with a cushion!

10. Give Them Your Full Attention

Sometimes this can be hard when kids are around. But try not to get to distracted or be on your devices when you have guest.

If you want to be a good host this is probably the most important thing to do! Listen to your guest, let them speak, ask them questions and get to know them.

Most people like to talk about their lives and things happening. Give them eye contact, ask them questions and listen to what they have to say.

When someone feels heard and listened to, it really makes them feel good about themselves. Your guest will leave feeling recharged and happy if you do this one thing alone!

11. Be Prepared for The Unexpected!

It’s always good to be prepared. You can even have a guest emergency pack on hand if you want to.

Some great things to always have on hand include:

1. Baby wipes: Baby wipes are very useful in many ways but great to have on hand for a mum with little ones. She could have forgotten them or just used them up. Having some on hand is never a bad idea.
2. First aid kit: Accidents can happen, to guest, yourself or kids. Having band aids, gauges, tweezers for splinters are all very useful to have on hand!
3. Menstrual products: It happens, women can get caught out. It’s never a bad idea to have some tampons and pads on hand. Will make the whole situation so much better!
4. Hygiene products: Having a spare toothbrush and deodorant is always handy. There have been several times I wish I had more deodorant on. Even if no one else can smell, guests who feel like they smell are uncomfortable.

Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful on how to be a good host for house guest! It doesn’t have to be hard but sometimes we need simple reminders.

This can take some time to learn and get good at. For instance, I took notice of what things made me comfortable at certain people’s houses compared to others.

And then started to try and apply that myself when I invited people over. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person if you forgot to ask if they’d like a drink.

It can just take time to learn how to serve others. Let me know in the comments if there are any other good tips I might have missed!