Have you ever gone to an event at a hotel or a private home and marveled at how wonderfully the whole event flowed throughout the evening? Well, you witnessed effective preparation of public space. The way that you prepare your home speaks volumes about your commitment to ensuring that your guests have a fantastic time. Follow these guidelines to prep your home for your next gathering.
Make the entrance of your home inviting:
- Clean the porch and walkway
- Weather permitting, place a container of flowers in a visible location
- Make sure that all exterior lightbulbs are working
- Put out a clean or new "Welcome" mat
- If you have a storm door on your front door entrance, leave the front door open to encourage guests to come in
- Place a rug inside of the front door, so that guests can wipe their feet
Once the guests walk over the threshold, make sure that their next actions are functionally planned:
- Place a sturdy coat rack with lots of coat hangers near the front entrance. (If you plan to have frequent events at your home, this is a valuable investment. Check IKEA or any of the chain home improvement stores for sales on durable units.)
- If you wish for guests to remove their shoes, create an obvious "shoe area" near the front entrance. You can create a sign thanking guests for removing their shoes, and even start the area with a couple of pairs of your own shoes.
- Keep the pathway to the main party space clear of obstructions. This is NOT the location for the shoes or coats.
- Make the location of the main party space obvious. Use all the senses to direct your guests - platters of food in visible areas, music that is coordinated if your party is themed (i.e. mariachi music if you're having a Cinco de Mayo fiesta) but not too loud or it will discourage conversation, aromatic candles and/or potpourri, an attractive tablescape that coordinates with the style of your gathering.
Click here for Part 2 of this series.
© Text by Janice Benoit, [April, 2006]. Reproduction without permission prohibited.
Janice Benoit - I'm Janice Benoit and I live in suburban Chicago. I have worked in most facets of the hospitality industry -- from hotel front desk to ...
