Here’s how Brits like to host at home - and what their guests expect from them!
The joyful sound of glasses clinking blending into the warm laughter of loved ones – there’s nothing better than hosting guests at home. At least, we don’t think so!
But how do we Brits truly feel about our hosts - and how much time and effort goes into prepping for the perfect get-together? Well, we wanted to find out - so armed with a trusty survey, we set out to reveal the hosting habits of the nation!
Along the way, we discovered some lovely surprises and intriguing insights into your thoughts on at-home entertaining. From swanky soirees at the dining table, to sleepovers on the sofa - let’s dive into the results from our survey, as well as some expert hosting tips to create the perfect night in.
How do Brits feel about hosting at home?
Hosting at home is seeing a bit of a renaissance. While our survey respondents cited many different reasons - with 41% saying they’re trying to spend less money, 31% having a more suitable space to host, and 28% enjoying spending time at home more now than before - our survey uncovered that many Brits are hosting at home more these days. Almost half of our respondents host guests once a month or more, and a whopping 82% of us are the same or more likely to host than we were two years ago!
When it comes to entertaining at home, many Brits often prefer to be low-key, with 22% labelling themselves as laid-back hosts, and a further 21% preferring to simply enjoy the time with their guests, rather than focus on the details. In fact, smaller get-togethers seem to be the preference, since while 41% of us admit we enjoy hosting overall, a further 29% say they don’t mind hosting - as long as it’s a small group.
And what aspect of hosting do us Brits like the best? Well, it all comes down to how much we truly enjoy connecting with the people around us in an informal way - with 67% of people describing their ideal night in with guests as a laid back shared meal and light entertainment, like games or a movie.
How do us Brits prepare to host?
As a nation of tea-chuggers, biscuit-dippers, and soap opera-watchers, it makes sense that we prefer a laid-back approach to hosting. But, despite our relaxed attitude, we do still take the time to get our home ready for guests to arrive.
In fact, a whopping 66% of us spend time on a general clean and tidy of our home before guests arrive, with 60% topping off their tidying up with a good ol’ vacuum. House chores out the way, nearly two thirds of Brits then turn their attention to prepping a tasty meal to share with guests, while half of us pick up drinks to wash down all that lovely food.
And while it may be less common, there are still some of us who enjoy going the extra mile to make guests feel extra special. In fact, 14% curate a music playlist, 16% of us buy flowers for the house, and 17% even use hosting as motivation to crack on with the DIY jobs they’ve been avoiding!
Of course, even the most seasoned hosts among us have worries before our guests arrive. Almost a quarter of us find staying within budget on food and drink a worry, while 17% fret about having enough sleeping space for overnight guests. Making sure our homes are tidy and presentable stresses some of us out, too - a further 17% find having enough storage to tidy things away a big challenge!
And what’s the biggest worry for at-home hosts? A whopping 64% of us worry about having enough seating in the living or dining room for their guests - a particular problem if you’re having a large gathering! Want to ease those worries pre-hosting? Check out our Hosting Guide for helpful tips on preparing your home for guests, or discover our must-have furniture picks that make hosting easy.
What do guests typically expect from their host?
So, now we know how hosts go about prepping for their guests… let’s see how this aligns with what guests actually expect from their hosts!
Our survey found that hosts and guests are of a very similar mind, preferring the basics that allow them to relax and enjoy the company of their host. And of the top five expectations, the majority were focused on home comforts during overnight stays.
Up first, 37% of Brits expect clean bedding and a pillow when sleeping over - while 31% would prefer a proper guest bed to kip on with their lovely fresh bed linen.
But it seems some of us are missing the nostalgia of childhood sleepovers and campervan getaways… as almost a quarter of us would be happy with a sofa bed or air mattress when it’s time for some shut eye!
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And lastly, fresh towels and a slap-up breakfast - or dinner - are both high on the request list for guests, with 30% of Brits expecting both of these as essentials. So, nothing out of the ordinary there!
As for some more unusual expectations? Well, we did have a few. Some guests clearly prefer to travel light when staying over - with 12% expecting toothpaste to be provided, and 8% expecting shampoo - while 7% aren’t fans of living out of a suitcase, and expect some free drawers or storage for their clothing while they’re staying with you. And some of us clearly expect the luxury treatment - with 6% expecting to be provided some slippers, and 5% hoping for their very own dressing gown!
Don’t worry though - most guests don’t expect the five star hotel treatment. In fact, British guests seem to overall be very relaxed - with 32% describing themselves as easy-going and laid back guests, and 35% going the extra mile to class themselves as helpful houseguests who like to pitch in and help the host. Only 9% of us say we have particularly high standards as guests!
And what do hosts typically expect from their guests?
As for hosts’ expectations? Well - other than turning up - we don’t seem to expect a huge amount from our guests; probably because our top reason for hosting is to simply enjoy spending time with our loved ones.
The biggest expectation is for our guests to arrive on time - with 47% of our survey respondents agreeing with this. 41% also expect guests to bring drinks with them, and 33% expect shoes to be taken off at the door. Just 11% expect guests to dress up, though - so it sounds like comfy clothes all round!
What about guests helping out? Well, 22% of us would like our guests to at least offer to help clean up - and 12% would appreciate help with the cooking or making drinks. And for overnight guests - 7% expect guests to bring an air bed or sleeping bag, while 6% think guests should bring their own towel!
So - is the British idea of hosting expert-approved?
When it comes to hosting, it seems both British hosts and guests are in agreement about what’s important - so we’re all already on the right track to creating a relaxed and cosy environment for our guests.
However, if you feel like you’re struggling to create the right laid back vibe, then body language expert Adrianne Carter has some top tips for you:
“When a host plans every aspect of a visit, from the minute someone wakes up (including telling them what time to wake up), it starts to feel very constricted and regimented - which isn’t relaxing at all!
“Instead, allow time for spontaneous moments; the whole time doesn’t need to be filled with something to do.
“Let guests help you and ask for their suggestions on what to do together - their input could be just what you all need for a great time together.
“Also, don’t smother your guests by being overly attentive - let them relax. Show them where the key amenities are, which food and drink are available, and give them permission to help themselves and make the drinks for you too!”
From sofa bed sleepovers to coffee table catch ups, now you know just what us Brits think about hosting! So, if you’re thinking of picking up some lush new furniture to create that perfect laid-back style, you can explore our bedroom, dining room, and living room furniture for all the essentials!
