While we tend to focus on cleaning the living room when we are getting ready for visitors, the truth is that there is so much more to making a home more welcoming to guests and to create a good first impression.
The best place to start is with the area that will first be seen. This is usually the front porch, front door and all of its surroundings. Go outside your home and stand back to take a good look. Do the leaves need to be swept away? Are there any cobwebs in the door frame? Is the porch light dingy? Start with these areas and then add some holiday spirit in the form of lights or decorations to bright up the space.
Do you have a front hall closet? If so, that is great. Now, when guests come over is there plenty of space for them to hang their coats or do the coats wind up on a bed in one of the bedrooms somewhere, leaving guests to go on a hunt to find them at the end of the evening? Pack away off season coats and move any overspill (items that aren’t used daily) to another closet somewhere else in the house.
Take a look at your seating arrangements in your living space. Are all of the chairs and the couch facing the television? Rearrange seating so that there are plenty of opportunities for conversation instead. You can always move them back for a family movie night.
Create some atmosphere in your home with accessories. Pretend that your home is about to be featured in a magazine illustrating comfort. Place some soft throws on the couch and a pile of interesting books on the coffee table. Stock the kindling and firewood if you have a fireplace. Encourage relaxation. Real or battery powered candles (if you can’t monitor the candles) will add to the ambiance.