11 of the Best Hosting Tips I’ve Ever Read (& Learned as Well)

I love hosting, I love cooking, and I love making people feel at home.

And it doesn’t matter if they’re staying for a few nights or just the evening, I’m excited.

And whenever I do have people over, I really want to make sure I do it right. Because have you ever stayed at someone’s home and felt uncomfortable?

Example: They just didn’t give you the space you needed, things that you needed for an overnight’s sleep (like towels) weren’t there, etc.

And that’s why having the right hosting advice and tips that are gonna make your life easier, and their time even more enjoyable, is so important.

Also, the holidays are coming up which makes these tips extra important for your hosting efforts. So definitely take notes so you can create a welcoming environment and take care of your guests’ comfort.

Throw it All in the Bedroom

I really appreciate this tip because it makes your home look effortlessly clean, and gives you more energy for your guests and entertaining.

If you’re having someone over for the evening and the dinner is running late, and your boss needed you to stay late, or the kids just aren’t settling down… then it’s ok to throw whatever clutter you have in the bedroom.

Some coats are hung over the couches and there are too many books lying around? Put it in the bedroom. 

There are a couple of dirty mugs and a plate in the living room after watching a movie late last night and the dishwasher is full? That’s fine, put it on your bedroom’s dresser.

I don’t care what it is, just put it in there. It’ll save you a headache and make your night run more smoothly with the guests.

Don’t Do Test Recipes!

I’ve made this mistake before and it’s not something I want to repeat.

If you’re gonna do a recipe that you’ve been wanting to try, then that’s fine. But you need to do it at least once before you have guests over. 

Don’t wait until the day of to make it; try it out a few nights before and make sure you have it down. This is so important since you’ll know what to expect and you can fully understand the difficulty level of this recipe. 

So for instance, you’ll know that you need to start that recipe around 3 hours before they come because the instructions say it’ll take 2 hours in total cook time, but your oven is just a bit different and it ends up taking a lot longer.

Stay in the Guest Bedroom for Two Nights (or More)

Because my husband and I have traveled full-time for the past few years, we understand this one very well.

We’ll arrive in an Airbnb, and realize, “Wow, this person has never slept in this bed. They literally just picked one out and never tried it.” Or, “Yep, they have a kitchen, but they don’t even have a spatula for cooking.”

And if you don’t stay in a guest bedroom before thy arrive, then your guests are gonna have the same experience as well. 

They’ll look for a bedside lamp to turn on so that they can wind down, but then find that all they have is a harsh bright ceiling light. Or, they’ll have that dreaded uncomfortable bed situation.

So basically, do unto others as you’d have them do unto you (as the saying goes). How would you want your experience to be if you were a guest?

Also, staying a couple of nights (even 3 nights) in the guest bedroom is optimal. That way you don’t miss any details and you have enough time to correct things instead of rushing around the day before.

This really is a place to be hyper intentional if you want to have people looking forward to visiting you again in the future.

Learn Some Cooking Hacks

If you’re concerned about a dish turning out just right when throwing a party or having an overnight guest over, then learning some basic cooking hacks is important.

Here are a few you can try:

• If you’re afraid of having dry chicken, then make sure to get chicken thighs (boneless if necessary). It’s dark meat which means it’s moist and tastes way better than chicken breasts (white meat).
• Feta cheese, kalamata olives, & sun-dried tomatoes are an instant food level up. Whether you’re combining them together or just going for one of these ingredients, they’re such a good burst of flavor and make your recipe just a bit extra.
• A slow cooker is also your friend; it saves you time & energy.
• Colors! One way to make your dishes look incredible is to combine colors. So if you have a pasta dish that’s mainly yellows and oranges, then cut up some sort of green herb and sprinkle it on top. Then throw on that white feta cheese and crack pepper on top. You’ll look like a plating expert.👌 
• When in doubt, go with a low ingredient recipe. We all have busy lives, and if you don’t have a ton of time, then look up 5-ingredient recipes online (as an example). There are a ton of dishes out there that are super good but don’t call for a lot of ingredients.
• Preparing in advance is your friend. If there’s anything you can prep the day before, or throw in the freezer the week before, then do it. There’s no reason you should be running around the day of and stressed before the guests arrive.

Make Lunches Simple

Hosting isn’t always about having Pinterest-worthy dishes on your table for every single meal.

Also, I feel like planning for lunches is kind of annoying. For some reason, I’m fine with breakfast and dinner, but then lunch is like that extra meal of the day that requires you to use even more of your brainpower. 

So keep it simple! Make this one thing that you don’t really have to think about. Get some ingredients for simple and tasty salads and really good sandwiches (maybe sourdough?) for lunch.

Don’t Be Afraid to Order a Pizza

Whether you’re having guests over for an evening, or they’re staying for a few days, don’t be ashamed of delivery.

People love pizza. It’s simple and if you’re stressed, then this is a safe go-to.

Gather the Necessities

One of the best things you can do is to make sure you have everything your guests will need whether they’re staying for just a dinner party or for the holidays.

Here are some ideas:

• Make sure to have extra toilet paper and a plunger in the guest bathroom.
• Have a water carafe in their guest bedroom in case they get thirsty (it’s a thoughtful touch).
• Make sure that the wifi password is also in the guest bedroom so they don’t even have to ask.
• Hairdryers are also great.
• Extra toothbrushes in case your guest left in a hurry and forgot.
• Towels in different sizes. That way if they want to take a shower or wash their face, you’re prepared.
• Spare phone chargers in case they lose one.
• Extra pillows for people who like to sleep on their side and put a pillow between their legs (or just like to sleep with more pillows than they need because coziness is key).
• Extra blankets for those who get easily cold.
• An extra jacket or sweater.

Meal Prep or Mise en Place

Going on Pinterest and getting a good meal prep plan going is always a great idea when planning for overnight or dinner guests.

But mise en place is also a great strategy.

Basically, it’s a French cooking style where you get everything prepped and ready to go for when you start cooking. So you’ll have the veggies cut and placed in a bowl, spices measured, meat cut up, etc. That way you’re not rushing about trying to find that one ingredient so you can get that dish in the oven and on the table just as your guests arrive.

This really is one of the best rules of being a great host.

Accept Help in the Kitchen

Do not be afraid to accept help in the kitchen. 

If you know these people very well (a good friend or a close relative), then it’s ok to accept help with taking the dishes from the table and putting them in the dishwasher. Or with wiping down the counters and gathering the glasses. 

This way, you both have more time to enjoy each other’s company and it’s one less thing on your plate (no pun intended).

Give Your Guests Space

Being a good host means you’re intentional with thinking ahead.

If you have guests that are staying for more than one night, then it’s important to let them know that they can easily ask you for space.

So if they’re a couple and want time to themselves, or your guest just wants some time to relax, then let them! Communicate that you respect their space and will gladly give it.

Also, another good way to give them space is to give them an extra key (if you’re comfortable with this). Allow them to come and go as they please so that you’re both not constantly in each other’s business.

Their First Needs

When learning how to be a good host, this tip really is essential.

If they’ve just arrived from a long distance, ask them if they need some time to collect themselves in their bedroom (take a shower, put on clean clothes, etc.), something to eat, or a hot drink.

This is a great way to make them feel considered and like they have a say in things. 

Often times it’s easy to just assume that they’re ready to socialize as soon as they arrive. I mean you wait all day for them, so you definitely are.

But it’s good to realize that you’re gonna have multiple days to spend with them, so it’s fine to let them choose what they need once they arrive.