7 Ways To Make Guests More Comfortable When Entertaining

Many people enjoy opening their homes to friends and family. Entertaining can include everything from backyard barbecues to hosting formal dinner parties to providing overnight accommodations. While each of those things is different, hosts always want to ensure their guests are as comfortable as possible, regardless of which style of gathering they’re hosting.

Hosts can use these seven strategies to help guests feel at home.

1. Consider the details. Does your guest like chocolate covered almonds? Does he or she prefer a certain genre of music? Take note of the specific details that make the guest tick, and then incorporate them into your entertaining plans.

2. Ready the space. Not everyone has a full-fledged guest room, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a welcoming and private retreat for guests. Turn a home office into an overnight area with a pull-out couch or even a dressed-up air mattress with high-quality linens.

3. Anticipate guests’ needs. Think like a concierge when hosting at home. Have extra toothbrushes, antiperspirant, mouthwash, and a phone charger at the ready. Is your guest a reader? Keep a few selections nearby or a book of puzzles so they can stay busy during their downtime.

4. Keep dietary needs in mind. Guests have different palates and preferences, but some may have serious food allergies as well. Ask in advance if any guests have food allergies so you can ensure that any meals served are not just delicious, but also safe and healthy.

5. Keep pets at bay. Guests may not be as enamored with pets as their hosts. If you know a guest has an allergy or an aversion to pets, keep the animals away as much as possible.

6. Freshen the home. Take inventory of your home in its current state and make some minor improvements. Add some interior lighting, clean the bathrooms, create some extra seating, and freshen up with some flowers to make for a welcoming environment.

7. Prepare a special meal. Give guests a sensational meal they’re not likely to forget. This can mean indulging a little with sourced ingredients, home cooking and a good bottle of wine.

Comfort should always be a priority when readying a home for guests.

Items to Improve Outdoor Living Spaces

The popularity of outdoor living spaces has been growing for years. A 2019 study from the home remodeling and design platform Houzz found that 56 percent of homeowners were making updates to improve their yards for entertaining. Similarly, nearly 60 percent of architectural practices surveyed by the American Institute of Architects in 2019 said outdoor living spaces were popular features in the homes they built.

Outdoor living spaces may also be sound investments for homeowners looking to improve the resale value of their properties. According to Remodeling magazine’s 2019 “Cost vs. Value” report, outdoor living spaces returned between 55 and 71 percent of homeowners’ initial investments at resale.

When planning an outdoor living space, homeowners with ample backyards have much to work with. However, to make the most of the space while simultaneously hoping to get as strong a return on their investments as possible, homeowners should look to create spaces that offer broad appeal and are not too personalized. The following are some popular outdoor living space features homeowners may want to consider.

Outdoor kitchens

Outdoor kitchens allow homeowners to prepare more than just traditional backyard barbecue fare. A standalone charcoal grill in the backyard might get the job done, but a built-in gas grill complete with burners and surrounding granite countertop makes for a more functional outdoor entertaining space.

Bars

Indoor entertaining areas often include bars, so it makes sense that homeowners want to include a place to prepare and serve beverages to their guests. Homeowners with room in their budgets may want to install wet bars where they can rinse mixers, glasses and other items needed to prepare drinks for their guests.

Warming features

Features that can keep homeowners and their guests warm after the sun sets include outdoor fireplaces and firepits. A 2019 survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects found that fireplaces and firepits were the most popular outdoor design element in 2019. Such features can provide a focal point in the backyard while also extending the outdoor living season into autumn and even early winter.

Porch space

Outdoor living spaces are often found in the backyard, but homeowners with bigger front yards than backyards may want to expand or open their porch spaces to create more space outside. Porch swings and rocking chairs provide a great place to relax, and porch spaces are covered, meaning homeowners can continue to enjoy time outside even when it begins to rain.

Outdoor living spaces are growing in popularity. Homeowners who want to capitalize on this trend can do so in various ways.