Last week we talked about a few tricks to making your home appear cleaner than it really is when those unexpected guests call to say they are in the neighborhood. But what about planned company? Here are a few tips to making yourself and your home the best in those last few minutes. After all, a first impression is always lasting right?
1. Assess Your Beverage Serving Needs: Although you probably know what you have on hand to serve to your guests, you might not know where your kettle is for tea, or possibly where those cute metal straws you recently purchased are. Find them now so you aren't rummaging through cabinets later.
2. Blow Out That Candle: When company is set to arrive, many of us light a candle or put a simmering pot on the stove to make the place smell good for our guests. That's all well and good, but there's a difference between your home smelling like fresh baked apple pie and that horrible cinnamon broom aisle at the craft store. Little good, lot bad.
3. Check Yourself: After buzzing around and tidying things, make sure you take a moment to tidy yourself. Did you splash water on yourself from the sink? Change your shirt. Was your mascara not quite as smudge proof as the label stated? Grab a cotton swab. 5 minutes all for you, that's a rarity in itself!
4. Double Check the One Thing That Bothers You Most: This will be something different for every person. Some can't stand dust, other's can't stand dishes in the sink. Whatever your biggest pet peeve is, the one thing you know you'll end up apologizing for if your guests see — just take care of it. Even if they never care, your own peace of mind is a good thing.
5. Be Calm for Pets: Some of you might not have pets, but for those of us who do, the last several minutes before company arrives can be stressful. I'm not sure it's a good thing or a bad thing that my animals know that when I tidy the sofa cushions that people are coming over, but these learned behaviors can rile them up and create more chaos than is needed. Spend those 5 minutes with your pets if you can to help keep them calm so a smooth entrance is had when folks arrive.
What do you do in the last 5 minutes before company arrives? Let us know below!
Image: Flickr member Riverratt3 licensed for use by Creative Commons
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Comments (32)
assess*
Please assess your beverage situation unless you are carrying out this procedure by feeling your cooler's interior with your own posterior.
I like the suggestion about the pets. The house can be perfect, but if the fur-babies are unhappy they will definately let EVERYONE know it.
HA! Too funny. But all good points. Some of those candles can be pretty awful.
Spelling mistake aside, 5 minutes seems way too last minute to assess my beverage selection. I'd rather do it an hour before, in case I fogot something and need to run out to the store at the last minute.
I'm a total pitter patter around, scrambler. I am trying harder to be calm. That said, I really appreciate the intended value of spending that time with pets. Perhaps spending time with my cats will be better for calming me down than them.
I turn on all my CFC bulbs so they reach their maximum luminance when quests arrive. I hate it when the lights are on but the light isn't enough. Especially if you use the cheap IKEA lamps LOL
netslaveone - really good tip that I probably wouldn't have thought of - an un-warmed CFL is irritating.
I usually find myself sweeping in the minutes before guests arrive. For some reason, no matter how recently I cleaned the floors there's always debris in the kitchen and entryway. That and straightening out the chairs. My kids are constantly moving them around.
making sure my bathroom is clean is my number one priority when I have company coming over in such short notice.
Your spelling is fine but you forgot the exlamation point and colon after Asses!:Your Beverage Selection. ;-D
FengShuiByFishgirl, Sarah Rae Trover, and other posters, than you for lightening up my Monday.
You missed the obvious one...have a drink!!!!!
Mother told me if you only have five minutes, clean the guest bath, and make sure the LR is spotless.
Straighten pillows, fold throws, check the bathroom for stray undies, and close doors to rooms I don't want guests to see.
Flush the toilet!
Open every window to replace all the interior air. Better than one of those candles. You'll chill the house in certain seasons, but nobody will notice in the bustle to get coats off and kisses kissed. By the time first drinks are poured, the heat should have caught up again.
My personal alternative for #5 is to put pets in a quiet room all to themselves. When we have people over the last thing I want them to do is trip over one of the cats, or get freaked out because they don't like cats. Mine generally run to this room anyway, I just shut the door for them. This goes double for dogs: I do not like it when I go to someones house and the first thing that greets me at the door is their 100lb dog jumping on me.
Second the "have a drink!" suggestion.
If I'm having a dinner party (rare event!) everything is good to go at least an hour earlier than this. In the last five minutes, I might check on the progress of the roast or something, but I'm ready.
If it's a pal coming over to watch a movie or something like that, they are like family -- and no special prep is going to happen. Certainly not in the last five minutes! (I don't expect them to fix up for me, either -- and they don't!!)
Think of things to assign to the people who want to help.
I third the drink idea!
Why are you people panicking about company coming over?? Stop trying to make everything look perfect en just enjoy your friends/family! Holy crapoly, you guys are obsessed with what other people might think.
"hmmm, you have dirty dishes in the sink and I smell a candle... clearly you are not worthy of my company. Good day, sir. I SAID GOOD DAY!"
Having some really OCD clean parents, I do this kinda stuff even if they're just coming over to go out for lunch. Except the have a drink part. :)
I have a few "levels" of cleaning.... The first sweep is mainly relocating items. Dirty dishes IN the sink. Clothes, books, half finished craft projects, into my bedroom. Second sweep is cat hair. Then if I have time I'll actually wash the dishes. I'm less ashamed of a sink of dirty dishes than I would be if a guest was to get covered in cat hair from just sitting in the wrong chair. :)
Put in a fresh roll of toilet paper in any bathroom that your guests will be using. Unless you encourage bathroom searches.
Agree with Bennemans. When I'm invited somewhere, I'm happy if the company is good, the food is delicious, and the drink is free-flowing. If there's washing up to be done, or the table needs setting, I'll offer to do it, and I'm not offended if guests do the same for me.
Heartily agreed Bennemans.
Bennemans for the win!
lol @ Bennemans! :)
Apparently my apartment is in much more troublesome shape than most of yours, if people are worried about designer straws and excessive candle smell. I have a weekend guest coming. My strategy -- shove everything in closets, dust, vacuum and rearrange dining room so I have room to inflate the guest bed.
Scented candles OK, but keep them out of the areas where food will be consumed. P-U.
-Alana
http://www.kitschykitten.com
Oh my! These tips are nowhere near what I do and not very helpful in my opinion, except maybe the tip about furry friends, which makes a lot of sense.
One of the things I do is make room for their bags and coats so there is no rushing around when they arrive trying to find room for their stuff and so they feel we have room not only for them but their stuff as well.
I pay special attention to the bathroom, so I check there is enough toilet paper on the roll, that the seat is squeaky clean and that there are fresh hand towels. I also wash the mirror.
I vacuum so their socks stay white, refill the sugar pot, change the tablecloth and put a sweet and a salty snack on the table with a pitcher of lemonade or something nice to drink besides alcohol.
I find this makes both me and my guests feel good about the place as well as makes them feel welcome. It seems a bit selfish to worry more about the impression you will make than about simply having your guests feel welcome.
I vacuum cat hair from area rugs after i pour some baking soda on them , and fluff pillow , d clutter living room , then clean bathroom , cat litter , febreeze and open windows :)
if I really only have five minutes, I put away any major clutter, pick up any cat fur tumbleweeds, fluff the pillows, flush the toilet and wipe the surfaces, light a candle and turn on lamps to make the light pleasant, and pour a drink and relax so I'm not sweating when they arrive, ha. Welcoming is better than perfect, right? Though I admit we got a roomba so there is less to do w/ short notice.
Dear person who posted this: not all of us are alcoholics who buy cheap candles and have judgy wudgy friends.
Alcoholics? The original post just says "beverages". Just saying!