To our great delight, we are finally able to invite guests over to our homes again. That means dinner, drinks and good conversation can resume from the comfort of our living room.

However, as our friends and family have been absent from our homes for the past 18 months, your abode may be in need of a slight spruce-up, ready to invite guests once more.

Helping us reinvent our living spaces without breaking the bank, we spoke to interior experts for their top tips on creating an inviting home space.

A picture containing sofa, indoor, living, seat

Description automatically generatedFocusing on flowers, Bronte Henwood, copywriter at Amarante London, said: “When guests are looming, even tidy homes can use a little something extra to get people talking.

“Whether it’s a stunning single rose in your hallway or a beautiful bouquet taking centre stage in your living room, flowers provide the perfect embellishment to keep every room fresh and bright for years, not days.

“For those rooms that are missing an elegant touch, inject some colour into any space and create a striking centre piece to dazzle anyone who enters.

“With each arrangement inspired by all the latest trends, you can be confident in knowing your flowers are current, classy and can be cherished by all for years to come. Stun your guests with the same bouquet time after time, eliminating any need to replace your flowers after only a few days.

“Plus, if a 24-hour clean is what you need to get your home people-ready, you can rest assured that both infinity roses and dried flower bouquets are available to be delivered within 24 hours of being purchased. It has never been easier to keep your home shining with gorgeous flowers you can relish for years.”

Hosting doesn’t have to be difficult, suggests Joyce French, cleaning expert from HomeHow, who said: “Your guests will spend most of their time downstairs. Therefore, you should focus on areas such as the kitchen, living room, dining room and any other rooms on the ground floor of your home. These spaces will require decluttering and a thorough clean to ensure they look aesthetically pleasing.

“If you do not have sufficient seating for the number of guests you are hosting, you will need to use chairs or couches from other rooms without making the space too crowded. You should also make your seating as presentable as possible, so you may want to add matching throws on each chair.”

One critical component of a clean home is a clean bathroom; for a quick bathroom clean, Joyce suggests using a bathroom cleaner or a mixture of vinegar and water on all surfaces, including the toilet and bathroom mirror.

“Always remember to replace the hand towel, so it is clean for your guests, and empty any bathroom bins. If you have a large kitchen, more than likely you and your guests will spend a lot of time in this room,” she said.

“It’s important that everything looks cleans and also hygienic, including your kitchen appliances. To do this, all you need Is some washing-up liquid and hot water, which should be applied to a cloth and wiped over any appliances.”

With a lack of guests in our home over the past year, we could all do with a few reminders on how to host with the most – focus on the food and drink!

Joyce continued: “Before making any food, it is important that you ask your guests if they have any allergies, dietary requirements or issues with any ingredients that you are planning to use. If so, you may need to make a separate meal to accommodate their needs.

“Have drinks ready on arrival and make sure glasses are never empty. You could also make it fun by inviting your guests to help you whip up some cocktails with their favourite drinks.”

A box of chocolates

Description automatically generated with low confidenceTreat your guests with something sweet; nothing gets guests going like brownies! Speaking from Seriously Good Brownies, Jacqui Matthews, said: “When having guests, we entertain in the garden when the weather allows or if it’s too cold or wet we make sure we clean and sanitise everywhere.

“Pay particular attention to touch points, door handles, table tops and chair backs. We wear a mask while welcoming everyone but when we are seated we take them off.

“We leave windows open to get a good fresh air flow and make sure we sit a good distance from each other. Although restrictions are easing, there is still risk involved with hosting.

“We managed to try a few new recipes out during lockdown, so we make sure we have lots of choice for guests and of course we whip up a batch of our seriously-good brownies for everyone to enjoy!”