In most homes, the living room is the center of activity. It is a place where family members gather to watch television and play games. Home entertaining revolves around this room, where guests gather for welcome cocktails or to reminisce after dinner.
In addition to visually making it a welcoming and warm environment, there are some essential items you should keep in the room for guests’ comfort. Keeping reading to learn what items you should always have in your living room when guests arrive will ensure you’re always prepared.
Bar Cart
According to organizing experts at FantasticServices.com, a well-stocked bar cart can serve as a gathering spot and a helpful tool for entertaining.
In the living room, a bar cart allows the host and guests to mix cocktails without leaving the conversation or the room and instead creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
It is recommended to strategically place coasters on coffee tables and end tables so guests feel comfortable mingling with their beverages.
Coffee Table
A functional coffee table is another essential if you frequently have visitors in your living room.
The area is perfect for setting down snacks and drinks during conversations or gatherings. Select a piece that is sturdy yet stylish and fits your room’s size.
It is an excellent addition as your guests can place their drinks and snacks on a coffee table in the living room. Pick a table with storage options that fit your space and are the right size for a clutter-free living room.
Comfortable Seating
When guests come over, providing comfortable seating in the living room is essential.
The furniture could be a sofa, an armchair, or a bean bag. Your seating should be comfortable enough for your guests to sit on.
Guests should also have flexibility in seating options so they can move freely. It’s essential to consider the number of guests and the activities you plan. When creating a large conversation area, create several areas. When creating a smaller conversation area, arrange it so everyone feels included.”
Blankets
It’s always considerate to have extra warm, cozy blankets around when you’re enjoying a movie night or hot cocoa on a cold evening.
If you have close friends who come over and binge-watch a show with you, or if they’re always cold, throw blankets can come in handy.
Winter gatherings are a great time to gather with blankets in your living room. When your guests feel chilly, they can easily access these blankets draped over the back of a sofa or chair.
House Slippers
If you plan to ask guests to remove their shoes, having a basket of house slippers near the living room entrance is considerate.
As a result, your guests will have a more pleasant walking experience, especially on cold or hard floors.
Slippers that look like those at a hotel are usually cheaper when purchased in bulk, so you can enhance the appearance of your home while saving money.
Phone Chargers
It’s frustrating to realize your phone is dead when you need to book a ride home with Uber. Because of this, Toombs recommends having an extra charger or cable for guests to charge their phones or iPads.
A Snack
You might not be able to serve your guests at mealtimes that are convenient for them. A small basket on the coffee table could hold some non-messy snacks such as granola bars, almonds, or fruit that can be eaten without much mess.
Throw Pillows
You can easily enhance your living room by adding throw pillows to your seating area. Throw pillows are an easy way to add color, texture, and patterns to your living room. Additionally, they can make your seating area more comfortable and inviting.
Good Lighting
Having a well-lit living room is one of the most important aspects of setting the right mood in your living room. It would be a great idea to use floor lamps, table lamps, or string lights to add some ambiance and visual interest to the room.
Entertainment Options
Be sure to provide some entertainment options for your guests if you have guests coming over. It doesn’t matter what kind of game or puzzle you are talking about, whether a board game, a bookshelf, a library, or a TV with streaming capabilities.
As a result, you will be able to keep your guests entertained and engaged throughout their stay in your living room, allowing you to make it an enjoyable place to spend time together.
What Does Your Guest Always Notice when Visiting?
We know that our guests do not teleport themselves into our living rooms. If we had endless spare time, we would always prepare our homes to perfection when expecting them. Real life does not work like that.
If your guests see your kitchen bench covered in clutter and your bathroom filled with empty toilet rolls, they will probably save for themselves and refrain from revisiting you next time.
The Entryway
Having an excellent entrance to your home is the first impression a visitor will get of your home.
- Place your shoes in the closet.
- Give your doormat a good shake.
- Clean the front entryway.
- Make a spot where visitors can take off their shoes and put their bags
- Decorate your home with fresh flowers and indoor plants
- Lighten up the hallway by adding a mirror
How Does Your Home Smell
Your house may not smell like much, but it is the first thing visitors will notice – good or bad. Burning a scented candle or essential oils will create a fragrant atmosphere appealing to everyone’s nose. It is also possible to use reed diffusers without touching them.
- Get some fresh air by opening the windows and doors
- Put a candle on the table
- Make the room smell wonderful with fresh flowers
- Make use of a diffuser or home spray
- Put some citrus peel in a pot of boiling water.
Decluttering Is Key
There will inevitably be clutter in life. If you don’t want to go full Marie Kondo and completely clean your house, at least do a general tidy-up.
You can hide things in the linen closet or laundry if you don’t have the time to put everything back where it belongs.
- Organize kids’ toys with simple, stylish baskets
- Bills, letters, and other documents should be stored in a drawer or tray
- You should put away that pile of washing you are waiting to fold, or even better, hide it in the laundry room
- Make sure that social spaces like the kitchen bench and dining table are clean
- Use uniform storage containers to create a tidy and functional pantry
Is Your Bathroom Dirty
The bathroom is the best room to clean if you only have time for one room in your home. In addition to being unhygienic, a dirty bathroom is just downright gross.
- Use eco-friendly alternatives to cleaning products to wipe down the sink and vanity whenever possible.
- Keep unwanted smells at bay by adding perfume drops to No.2’s post-flush perfume.
- Clean the toilets
- Maintain a clean mirror
- Toilet paper should constantly be restocked, and if you tend to forget, maybe a handy toilet paper subscription can help.
- Candles and soap are always welcome.
Conclusion
Having guests at home is always exciting and somehow tiring. We all strive to show our best side, and we want the same for our home. Sometimes, however, we are too busy, either with work or just tired, and miss a thing or two.
A good trick that will help you maintain the perfect home and living room for these occasions is to hire professional cleaners or invite only the closest ones in the group. That way, you will either have a spotless home or know your guest does not care if your mirror is streak-free. Both methods are stress-free.