7 Tips for Creating a Hospitable Home

7 tips for creating ahospitable homePhoto by Cheyenne Bell

There’s not much better activity in the spring than opening the doors and windows to fresh air and awakening your household from its winter slumber.

Spring is not only the best time for a good “spring

cleaning,” but it is also the best time to make your space more inviting to visitors and guests. With all the warm sunshine and beautiful Texas days ahead, spring lends itself to dinner parties, weekend visitors, and backyard barbeques more than any other time of the year.

As fun as parties and gatherings can be, for many

people, having guests in their home can be stressful. We live in an era of Pinterest perfection and most of us can never live up to that ridiculous standard!

I have good news, though.

Having a hospitable home has nothing to do with perfection and everything to do with making your guest feel welcome and honored. And, luckily, that’s not very hard to do!

CHEYENNE BELL

Spring is the best time tomake your space moreinviting to visitors and guests.

CHEYENNE BELL Cheyenne Bell is a writer and blogger with a slight obsession for old homes and good coffee. Her blog, Sense & Serendipity, focuses on inspiring others to create a home well-loved and a life well-lived. Cheyenne lives in Buda, Texas with her two young children. Find her atSenseandSerendipityblog.com.

Here are some easy tips for making your home more welcoming and inviting:

Deep clean.

Yes, I know, you saw this one coming, right? Giving your home a deep clean in the spring really is the best foundation for a hospitable home. Spend a weekend doing the dusting you’ve been avoiding all winter. Wash the linens. Vacuum the

curtains. Organize your pantry. Get your kids to wipe down the baseboards. I promise it’s worth it. You will feel more confident when people come to your home, and you don’t have dust bunnies crawling out from under your couch.

Provide an information sheet.

If you have guests staying the night in your home, they will inevitably want your WiFi password. Make connecting easier for them by providing an information sheet that includes not only your WiFi

password, but also other pertinent information they may need to know, such as your address and home phone (if you have one), how to work the coffee maker, and the guest code for your alarm

system. Leave your info sheet on the bedside table or the dresser of the room they’re staying in, or frame a cute printed sheet in the room.

Keep the bathroom stocked.

There’s nothing worse than being a guest in someone’s home and realizing you forgot your toothpaste or deodorant. Avoid some awkward hygiene moments by keeping your guest bath fully stocked with extra toothbrushes, travel

toothpaste, travel-sized shampoos and soaps, clean towels, and plenty of accessible toilet paper. If you’re having people over for dinner or a

gathering, light a subtly scented candle in the

bathroom, making sure hand towels are clean and there’s plenty of hand soap.

Offer a snack bar.

If you have overnight guests, fill a basket or tray with small snacks and water bottles, and place it in a convenient place in their room. Guests may get hungry late at night or early in the morning, and there’s nothing more awkward than rummaging through another person’s pantry looking for a snack in the middle of the night.

If you’re having people over for only a few hours, set out a few appetizers or light bites and plenty of beverages. Providing people with food and drink is always the best way to making them feel welcome and comfortable in your home!

Crisp, clean linens.

You know the feeling of slipping under crisp, clean sheets after a long day of work or travel and feeling like you’ve landed on a cloud? Treat your guests to this blissful experience by making sure you’ve got fresh sheets on the bed and clean towels in their bathroom. If you want to go the extra mile, spray some lavender linen spray on their pillowcases.

Custom menu.

These days you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone with a food allergy or

intolerance. Whether it’s dairy, gluten, food dyes,

eggs, or peanuts, it is not very wise to create a menu for a dinner party or stock your pantry full of food without checking to see if any of your guests have food issues.

Before your guests arrive, send a quick email or text to see if there are any allergies or intolerances that you need to be aware of so you can plan

accordingly. Your guests will very much appreciate the gesture and be grateful that you have provided a meal that they, too, can enjoy and not have to worry about having a reaction.

Ambiance.

I am a huge believer that a home's ambiance has a lot to do with how a guest feels while in the

home. Doing simple things like using lamp light, lighting some candles, and playing soft music in the background can make a visitor feel instantly at ease.

Ambiance is also important for setting the mood for your gathering. If you’re having a lively dinner

party, play jazz music and light an herbal or citrus-y candle. If you’re having a cookout, play some country or classic rock and play up the

natural, earthy scents. Hosting a book club gathering or women’s Bible study? Classical or contemporary Christian tunes paired with a floral or beach-y scent is the way to go.

With a little bit of effort, you can create the mood you want your guests to enjoy! This spring, let the newness of the season inspire you to gather family and friends more often.

Using these tips, your home will become the gathering place you’ve always wanted, and your guests will leave feeling welcomed and refreshed.