How to Make Your Home More Welcoming
If you’re preparing to have guests over the next few weeks, you’re probably thinking that you want to do everything within your power to make your friends feel welcomed and at home. That doesn’t just extend to tidying up, changing the beds and making sure that you’ve got enough food and drink in the fridge. There are lots of other things which you can do to make your home feel more welcoming to guests, so follow some of our top tips and make your home a comforting haven.
Making an Entrance
The entrance your home is the first thing your guests are going to experience when they walk over the threshold. There’s no need to roll out the red carpet, but there are things which can be done to decorate and brighten an entrance or hallway. Choose a striking mirror or piece of unusual art work to hang on the wall, or choose a bold lighting feature to create impact as soon as the door is opened. If nothing else, invest in a bright and colourful welcome mat to put right by the front door.
Textures and Textiles
Another great tip for making your home feel more welcoming is to add soft furnishings using a lot of different textures. This makes everything feel a lot softer and cosy. Use fluffy carpets or rugs to add some luxury under your feet, contrasting with smooth wooden furniture or knitted throws. These types of surfaces are also very tactile and soothing. It’s very easy to add some texture into your home with cheap additions such as throws, cushions and rugs, all of which make a home feel more “lived-in” and less formal.
Layering Up Bedding
If your guests plan to stay over, then take steps to make the guest room welcoming too. An extra blanket folded on the end of the bed, or a couple of extra pillows allows your visitors to add extra layers of bedding as desired, and shows that you’ve thought about their comfort when preparing the room. In the living space, follow the same principles with lots of cushions in a range of shapes and sizes, as well as mixing up the colours and textures.
Easy Seating
Think about how you arrange your seating to make your guests feel comfortable and relaxed. People will feel relaxed and at home when seated relatively close to each other, rather than on separate sofas at opposite ends of the room. Try to keep the objects between sofas to a minimum as placing large tables or decorative objects creates a physical barrier and can make your guests feel cut off from each other.
Power Of Smell
We’re always told to have bread baking or coffee brewing when you are trying to sell your house, and the same theory applies to welcoming guests. Scented candles are a better choice than lots of air fresheners, which can smell artificial. Alternatively, choose some highly scented flowers which will give the same effect if you don’t want to roll up your sleeves and get baking.
Colour Schemes
There has been a huge amount written about the psychology of colour, and which shades are perceived as warm or welcoming. Warm colours are generally thought of as yellow, orange or reds, with cooler shades being blue, green or purple. There’s no rule about not using cooler shades in your home, and these can be just as welcoming when used carefully and with great lighting and soft furnishing options.
An Inviting Bathroom
Don’t forget the smallest room in the house when planning a comfortable stay for your guests. Make sure the bathroom is well stocked with paper and soap, and leave clean hand and bath towels for your guests to use. It should go without saying, but make the effort to give your bathroom a good clean before your guests arrive too.
Naturals
Plants and other greenery can add life into your living space, and make it s lot more welcoming too. A good tip is to try and mix up the types of plants you have rather than just selecting several plants which are all the same. Mix tall, leafy plants and ferns with smaller flowers or cactuses. Placing plants in the room might also make it look bigger too.
Tidy and De-Clutter
We’ve all got piles of magazines, bills and other paperwork lying around in our homes. We get used to having them around but to a guest, they just make the place look untidy and cluttered. Go through your paperwork and file away what you really need before recycling or shredding the rest.
Embrace Your Own Design and Taste
Creating a welcoming home isn’t a matter of just following a checklist. If you’re not entirely comfortable with the changes, your guests won’t be comfortable either. Don’t feel forced into making recommended changes which go against your personal style. The rooms on display in glossy magazines might look great, but remember that nobody is actually living in them. Take inspiration rather than slavishly trying to copy their style.
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