Effortless hosting sometimes sounds like an oxymoron to me. Seriously. I have the best ideas and intentions when plans are being made, but seeing those ideas and plans come to fruition often feels like a pipe dream when guests are due to arrive within the hour and I haven’t started dinner, the dog puke on the rug, and my kids suddenly decide to challenge the record for the world’s longest domino track.
Why do I even do this?!
Oh yeah, I love people. And hosting. Right.
No matter how much you enjoy (or dread) hosting, it’s important to have some tricks up your sleeve in the event that you don’t have all month/week/day long to prep for guests. I really think these tips can make hosting a breeze and take some of the pressure off you.
Your Hostess With the Mostess award will be in the mail before your guests even arrive!
1. Prep Now, Not Later
Preparing for guests actually starts as soon as guests leave. What?!
I know what I said.
Don’t wait until guests are about to arrive to start getting the guest digs ready. Clean the guest room, wash the linens and remake the bed as soon as possible after guests leave so it’s already done for the next time you host. Whenever that is.
Remember, this is effortless hosting, not effortless prep for hosting.
2. Don’t Skimp on the Mattress or Linens
There are a lot of budget friendly ways to set your guest space up so that it’s comfortable for guests. For instance, this mattress is extremely affordable and surprisingly comfortable. We have one in our guest room, as well as ALL of our short term rentals (airbnbs). I’m a big fan of this mattress. We regularly get rave reviews about it.
Additionally, I have been really happy with these sheets. Also affordable AND organic AND incredible soft. I actually just bought a set for my bed!
Lastly, while you can get a comforter anywhere, I really like this duvet cover. I use them at most of my short term rentals and have been really happy with how they hold up to regular use.
3. Take Note of Your Guests’ Dietary Needs
When it comes to effortless hosting, planning ahead is the name of the game. If at all possible, make sure to take note of any dietary restrictions so you can accommodate your guests. I know it can be a daunting task to cook something you are unfamiliar with, but it will bless your guests more than you know! Who knows, it might be as easy as grabbing dairy free coffee creamer or picking up gluten free bagels.
4. Put Yourself in Your Guests’ Shoes
This one is probably the easiest to implement. Just think about how your guest space functions. Think about what you need as a guest. Make adjustments to ensure your guests are comfortable and that they don’t have to hunt for everything during their stay. Here are a few items to jumpstart your checklist:
- Do I have a variety of pillows to offer? (I’m not saying you need 10 different pillows, but do I have more than one pillow to offer?) A plush pillow? Firm pillow?
- Do I have extra blankets available in case guests need them?
- Do I have an extra fan to offer?
- Does the guest room window need blackout shades or drapes?
- Do I have a mirror in the guest room?
- Do I have a nightstand? Does the nightstand have a lamp?
5. Don’t Crowd Your Guest Room
I don’t know about you, but our guest room is often a multi-purpose space when we do not have guests in the house. I regularly use the bed to finish drying short term rental laundry, and store extra toilet paper in the closet. Gifts have been known to pile up on the dresser. You get the picture. Obviously, I put those things away when we have overnight guests, but I don’t just shove the all under the bed. I remove them from the guest room altogether so our guests don’t feel like they are being crowded. STR laundry often ends up in the back of my car, and other items tend to end up in my bedroom.
Don’t be afraid to use extra spaces or even the garage to store orphan items while your guests are visiting.
6. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
I have a friend who once told me that she always leaves a basket of laundry out when she has guests over as a reminder to herself not to take hosting too seriously. I love this idea, because I can get so wrapped up in making everything “perfect” that I forget to focus on the people I’m spending time with. So there. If you ever come to my house, there will likely be a load of laundry somewhere right out in the open. Partially to keep myself grounded, and partially because I’m honestly not ever able to keep up with the laundry.
7. Don’t Try New Recipes When Guests Are Coming
This might seem like a no-brainer, but I can’t tell you how many times I have moronically tried a new recipe the night we have guests over. It took a ridiculously long time to learn my lesson. I used to get so excited about trying a fresh recipe until about 20 minutes before guests were due to arrive and I realized I could totally blow dinner.
Talk about pressure. Why did I do this to myself?!
So take it from me. This is not the time to test that cool dish you pinned months ago. This is time to pull out the tried and true recipe that your family always loves, and make things easy on yourself. You have nothing to prove. Which leads me to my next tip…
8. Make Cooking Easy On Yourself
Instapot. Slow cooker. Door Dash. In case you didn’t know, these are the names of your best friends. This is definitely time to lean into your crockpot recipe stash or toss a pork loin in the instapot. Whatever is easiest for you, and appropriate for your guests, do that.
Additionally, when we host for several nights I like to plan at least one meal to eat out. It gives me a break from the kitchen and everyone gets a change of scenery. Win win.
9. Find Ways to Make Hosting Fun For Yourself
Being a systems girl, I like organizing tasks so I know exactly what steps to take to get a particular result. I have a routine for preparing for guests so I can check all the boxes and rest easy. If that works for you, write out a quick to-do list you can follow each time you are expecting guests.
If time isn’t something you have any extra of, don’t be afraid to ask you kiddos to help out. Things might not be perfect, but it will mean so much for them to help prep. My kids love to help prepare for guests so I always have a couple of jobs for them to do to help me get the house ready. I like to think it also gives me gold stars with my future son and daughter in law. 🙂
So, what are your go-to prep hacks for effortless hosting?
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