Are you ready to host people in your home again? Me too!
Unfortunately we aren’t allowed to yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start getting ready to host again. This podcast episode we discuss getting your house ready to host again.
Plus, I’m giving you a simple checklist that’s going to help you focus on getting your house ready.
Listen to the Episode Here
You can click below to listen to the latest episode and hear all about how to get your home ready to host again.
Or you can also listen on Apple podcasts and Spotify.
What’s in the Episode
Who is ready to host again? If you’re like me and enjoy being surrounded by a community of friends, then you are probably willing to go anywhere buy your own house, right?!
Right now, we’re still in Lockdown 3.0 in England, only leaving our house for essentials like groceries and an hour of exercise outside each day.
To say it’s been a tough winter is an understatement of the year!
But things are looking up with dates outlined ahead for us to start opening things back up again. They can’t come soon enough!
Our kids will be going back to school in person after about 8 weeks of virtual learning, then we can start meeting with other families outdoors at the end of the month and indoors in a couple months with everything opening early this summer.
There is hope!
So in preparation of having people in our homes I thought now was a great time to get prepared! It’s been so long we may have forgotten how to set up the house to receive people.
Get your free checklist that’s going to help you get your home and party supplies organized and ready for your first party. Nothing crazy or too complicated in the checklist, just some simple steps you can take to ensure you’re ready to open your doors once you’re comfortable or allowed to.
I know I will be doing many of these checklist items in hopes of once again inviting people in and celebrating with them.
Here’s a brief run down of what’s included in the podcast episode and in the downloadable checklist.
- Clean and disinfect using @gocleango tide, hot water, and bleach cleaner.
- Set up a sanitation station at your homes entry point including sanitizing wipes or spray. Maybe include disposable masks too.
- Clean up and make your front door/ and party entry point welcoming. Update the area with a fresh wreath, door mat, or flowers.
- Clean the most used areas of your home and the touchpoints in those areas. This is usually the most used bathroom, kitchen, and area where you’ll be hanging out. Don’t forget to clean the touchpoints in those areas like the door knobs, light switches, chair backs, and handles.
- Inventory your party supplies. Make sure you have enough plates, cups, serving ware, and napkins.
- If you’re like us, you’ve moved furniture around in your home to make it work better for you while staying home so much. You may need to put it back to make sure you have enough seating for everyone.
- Make a simple meal, everyone is tired of cooking at home, so any meal they didn’t have to cook is amazing! Or order in, that’s even easier.
- Set a low centerpiece on your table to allow for conversation without any obstructions.
- Let’s help the kids enjoy spending time with their friends (and stay out of your hair). Set up an activity to keep them busy so you can focus your attention on the adults. Try setting up an outdoor activity or a hands off indoor craft or imaginative play space. Listen to the episode to see the fun activity idea I recommend for older kids that may be coming to your gathering.
- Make sure you have enough appetizers, dessert, coffee, tea to allow your guests to linger. After a year of isolation, I want my friends to stay for a good long while and go deep into our conversations!
- Don’t forget to be excited when your guests arrive and welcome them with a drink, a hug, and a smile. Make sure you offer to take their coats, shoes, bags, and show them where the bathroom is.
These ideas are just a jumping off point, use them to help get you set up for your next gathering.
What would you add to them? What’s the first party you’re going to be hosting?
It might seem silly to put this much thought into hosting but it comes down to the fact that when we hosting others in our home we form a deeper connection with them.
If you’re prepared for your guests to come, then you can fully focus on connecting with them and not worry about whether the bathroom has enough toilet paper.
Get Your Checklist Here
Drop your email in the box below and I’ll send you your own downloadable checklist to help you get ready for your next gathering.
What I’m Bingeing this Week
Each week on the podcast I share what I’ve been bingeing. I actually gave up TV shows for Lent, so the next few weeks will be all about things other than TV.
This week, I’m bingeing table runners.
Specifically gauzey, linen material table runners. I’m loving them because the material lets them be manipulated in so many ways.
Over the past few months I’ve seen an increase in the trend of using linens on tablescapes, but scrunching them and moving them all around.
Doing this gives the tablescape a more unstructured, less perfect look. It also creates a ton of movement and texture on the table.
Here’s a photo of how I used this technique on my Christmas table.
Here is a round up of some table runners that I’m loving right now.
Get Your Home Ready
Don’t forget to pop your email here and I’ll send you your own checklist to get your home ready to host. Just a few simple ways to prepare for guests after a long time of isolation and staying home.
Also, I would be so grateful for you to take just a minute to rate and review the podcast. It helps us build our podcast community of celebrators and community builders!
