Being a good host is something of a lost art. Assessing the roles of tour guide, innkeeper, cook and friend (while still managing to have fun yourself) could be challenging, to say the very least.

Make seeing family and friends feel at home, and ease the load on your own, this summer with a little extra preparation. Read on for a dozen methods to welcome guests, and also make weekend visits more fun.

Dreamy Whites

Supply a grab-and-go breakfast channel. Maintain fresh fruit, breakfast cereals and other essentials together on the counter for early risers. Give guests a fast kitchen tour the night before so they can get their morning coffee or tea without waiting for you.

If you would like to set an extra-special table or surprise that a birthday guest, then including a monogrammed mug along with a small arrangement of flowers is lovely and doesn’t require much extra effort.

Tim Cuppett Architects

Establish a casual tone. I’m not saying you should not clean up a bit before guests arrive, but keeping things near the typical state of things around the house will help guests at ease. Newspapers on the coffee table, flip flops piled from the door and music in the background set the stage for comfort.

Jennifer Grey Interiors Design & Color Specialist

Ask ahead about favorites and patterns. Check beforehand to see exactly what your weekend guests typically eat for breakfast, lunch, or if they have any particular food or drink requests or allergies. Picking up a couple of things especially for your guests is a nice touch and isn’t any problem — it just requires thinking ahead a bit.

Katerina Tana Design

Prep your front porch. It is the very first thing guests see, after all, so make sure it is well lit, freshly swept and equipped with fresh cushions and green plants.

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

Stock bedrooms with essentials. Clean sheets and extra pillows are a no-brainer, but try adding a few of those extras to carry it to another level:
iPod dock with speakers
Small alarm clockVintage house or fashion magazinesAn electric tea kettleSmall basket with sample-size toiletriesLocal travel guide

Make young guests feel at home. Make the stay in a new location easier on small ones by creating their mattress fresh and inviting and stocking their room with some of your favourite childhood toys.

Be sure to request parents of young children beforehand if there is anything you can have ready for them borrowing a top chair from a friend, for example, signifies the grownups can pack lighter.

Witt Construction

Allow for downtime. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of overplanning actions for weekend guests. Possessing a few tentative outings or projects on the schedule can be helpful, but avoid the desire to fill every last minute. Most guests will really enjoy some blocks of unstructured time to unwind, talk, read, rest or perhaps venture out on their own.

Kate

Give guests a project in the kitchen. When dinnertime rolls around, don’t hesitate to have guests toss in with a few simple tasks in the kitchen. Ask them to pour the wine, then choose the songs, prep greens for a salad or set the table, and soon your visitors will be feeling right at home.

A Beach Cottage

Eat alfresco. Eating outside makes meals tastier, conversation livelier and individuals more relaxed. Even in the event that you don’t have an outdoor table, think about carrying your kitchen table out for the day. It will make for a memorable night.

Ellen Kennon Design

Offer old-school entertainment. Together with the oversaturation of high-tech gadgets in our lives these days, it can feel very refreshing (and even indulgent) to unplug for a day. Play board games or cards, perform on a significant mystery, read, speak, go for a stroll, ride bicycles or swim.

Greige

Leather Handled Market Tote – $39

Fill baskets with outing essentials. I love the idea of keeping baskets from the door, ready to go for excursions that are ordinary. You could have a beach basket with sunscreen, towels and spare sunglasses, or even a picnic basket with blankets, cutlery and unbreakable dishes. Just grab the proper tote and head out!

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Reconnect in the end of the day. Even if you and your customers part ways through the day, it can be nice to regroup and reunite together in the end of the day. Make a ritual of snacks and drinks to the backyard or on the porch and sharing stories from your day.

Inform us: How do you prepare for weekend guests? Have any fun activity ideas? Share them in the comments section!

More:
Impress Your Guests: 8 Tips for Gracious Guest Rooms
Creating the Perfect Guest Room
Your Guest Bath: Creating Your Friends Feel Pampered

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