No More Entertaining Excuses! Answers to the Biggest Entertaining Roadblocks
Are you a pro at trotting out a long-winded list of excuses when others ask why you haven’t hosted in your home in awhile? Sorry, but that list is about to be annihilated. We found the best entertaining excuse-busters we’ve ever published, and we’ve put them all right here in one spot. Take a moment to close your eyes, look deep into your soul, and ask yourself which excuse is really keeping you from sharing your home with others more often. Then, skim this list of common entertaining excuses and finally leap over that entertaining hurdle this weekend!
Before we get to the excuse-busting awesomeness below, an important disclaimer: This post is for folks who actually really want to entertain more, they just don’t because of an excuse that always seems to get in the way. If you don’t entertain because you simply don’t want to — there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! You’re not lacking as a human if you don’t somehow gracefully throw parties every month better than Martha Stewart. Your home is yours to enjoy any way that you like. But — we do think sharing a home is a lovely thing that enriches life. So if you’ve been letting something get in the way of you opening your home up more often, find your excuse below and let it get busted!
Excuse: Worried people will judge you?
Spoiler alert: they’re not: Embracing an Open Door Policy: Your Guests Aren’t Judging You
Excuse: You’re allergic to awkward (situations)
Here’s how to know how to handle any situation that might arise gracefully: Dinner Party Dilemmas: Solutions To Eight Awkward Entertaining Situations
Excuse: You’ve got a bad habit of bashing your home as soon as guests cross over your threshold.
Here are three things to stop saying: Practice Positive: 3 Things to Stop Saying to Your Home’s Visitors
Excuse: Your parents never entertained so it’s not in your DNA
You’re going to want to comb through the comments in this post. Yes, you’ll find plenty of contemporary entertainers who learned everything they know from their incredible host parents. And you’ll find folks who admit defeat, having been raised by introverted folks. But there are also some people who tore through their entertaining heritage to overcome any nature versus nurture arguments.
Excuse: You don’t have a stylish place to store and display your booze
Simply buy or DIY a bar cart you can roll out to a delighted and thirsty crowd of guests next time you entertain.
Excuse: You’re tired of throwing the same kind of shindigs as everyone else
You could always try throwing slumber parties for grown-ups.
Excuse: All your friends have kids but you’re scared for them to visit your kids-free home full of sharp edges?
Don’t live in fear of pint-sized guests. Here are some ideas: How To Host Kids in a Child-Free Home.
Excuse: You feel like your place isn’t festive enough to entertain in
Here are two quick but explosively festive decorative DIYs you could do in no time to add a little color and cheer to your space before opening your door to guests:
Excuse: You don’t know what to do with guests once they get to your house
These two posts will have guests laughing and having fun in no time:
- 10 Always Entertaining Party Games
- Break the Ice: 5 Favorite Party Games
Excuse: Like, you don’t even know where to start
We’ve got it perfectly planned out for you: Party Architecture: How To Throw the Best Party… Like Ever
Excuse: You don’t have a budget for fancy flowers, a staple every good host should have in their home
You don’t have to spend a lot of money adding fresh flowers to your home: Bang For Your Buck: Styling Supermarket Flowers on any Budget
Excuse: You don’t have enough places for people to sit
We’ve got your solutions for finding extra seating and where to stow it when not in use:
- Pouf! Cube! Stool! For Small-Space Seating
- 10 Spots to Stow Extra Seating
- 7 Seating Options For Small Spaces
Excuse: You have no idea what drinks to serve
Now you do:
- How to Batch Cocktails to Serve a Crowd
- 15 Fabulous Pitcher Drinks for a Party
- What to Serve When You Don’t Drink But Your Guests Do
Excuse: You don’t know what food to serve:
For little bites, start here: Easy, Yummy Party Food: 25 Bites, Dips & Nibbles
For more of a dinner party vibe, go for these ideas: 15 Recipes for Big & Joyful Dinner Parties
What’s the excuse that’s been preventing you from entertaining as much as you’d like? If yours isn’t covered above, share it and how you’ve been trying to get over it!