My Real-Life Hosting Non-Negotiables
If you’re coming to my house, here’s the truth: the toys might still be out, the laundry is probably mid-cycle, and I absolutely did not deep clean the baseboards.
And honestly? No one cares.
If your people are anything like my people, they didn’t come over to inspect your house — they came to sit, snack, talk, and feel comfortable. Hosting doesn’t have to mean doing everything. It just means doing a few things well.
Here’s what I always do when people are coming over — whether it’s planned or last-minute.
1. Fix the Lighting
This is always my first move. Overhead lights off, candles lit, table lamps on. Lighting changes everything and takes about 30 seconds. It instantly makes the space feel calmer and more intentional.
2. Do a Quick Guest Bathroom Reset
I’m not scrubbing grout. I’m swapping the hand towel, topping off soap, making sure there’s toilet paper, and emptying the trash. Three minutes. Done.
3. Turn Music On Early
Silence is awkward. Music makes people relax. I put something on before the first guest arrives so the house already feels alive.
4. Put Something Edible Out
It doesn’t have to be fancy. Chips and dip. Bread and olive oil. Snack mix in a bowl. When food is already out, people settle in faster.
5. Have One Drink Ready to Pour
A pitcher, a batch cocktail, a mocktail, or just wine already opened. No one wants to watch you scramble the second they walk in.
6. Then I Stop
This part matters most. I stop fixing things. I stop apologizing. I stop pointing out what didn’t get done.
Because the truth is — people don’t remember spotless counters. They remember how it felt to be there.
If you want to make hosting easier without overthinking it, you can grab my hosting favorites below (lighting, serveware, go-to essentials) linked below. These are the things I actually use in my own home — nothing complicated, nothing precious.
Hosting doesn’t have to look perfect.
It just has to feel good.
