Important Home Details Your Guests Will Notice
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- Опубліковано 4 чер 2024
- In this video, I go over some small details that your guests will absolutely notice! They might not say anything (to your face!) but they will either unconsciously or consciously remember these little details. I also go over some of the things that people will not notice that you can save money on too!
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⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 - Important Details Your Guests Will Notice
01:00 - Door Knobs
02:15 - Serving ware
03:22 - Closet Organizer
04:36 - Hangers
05:23 - Bathroom Accessories
06:22 - Bathroom Hand Towel
07:19 - Coasters
08:11 - Soap
09:50 - Scent
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So who is ready to have me over for a glass of wine? 😂🥂
Come judge my shabby chic Nick💗
😳 🍷😬😅
Let me work on the bathroom first 😂
Anytime!
I would love to have you over but I need a serious home makeover first lol. Thank you for pointing out the things that I never really think about. 💜
This was a great video topic, Nick. I literally lol’d at the comment about ‘I won’t say anything to your face, I’ll just go home and tell it to 200,000 people on UA-cam, because I’m a gentleman.’ 🤣
I died of laughter when he said that! LMAO
Exactly! We talk behind your back because... manners. 🤣
😂😂😂
@@carolboniuk1639 That's sooo true. That's exactly what he is! 🤣
Me too! That comment made me laugh out loud!😂
Thank you Nick, for always helping me tell my husband that he’s wrong in the nicest way possible.
You're welcome.
Not me sending all of Nicks videos to my boyfriend to prove a point👀
Worddddddd
Hahahahaha!!!!
I'm logging into my other account to like this twice, LMAO
I was at a house party with around 40 guests. the powder room had a large stack of small wash cloths for the guests to dry their hands on. The host provided a large wicker basket for the used clothes to be deposited in. I loved the idea of a clean cloth for each guest, each time they washed. it felt so elegant and SANITARY!
I do this too! I got the idea from travelling in Japan where you bring a facecloth with when you are out and about since public bathrooms won’t always have paper towels to dry with.
I restaurant in my town does that for their public bathroom. Nothing else about the bathroom is really special, but they had some extra space to make room for that one little touch and it made all the difference, to the point where I randomly mention it to people looking for restaurant recommendations.
I have a small hand towel rack stocked with a bunch of vintage hand towels I picked up for next to nothing at estate sales. Many are beautifully embroidered.
Love Mrs. Meyers hand soap.
Great idea....worst fear of mine handtowels in ....love the indevidual wash cloths. And please clea the bathroom! I chNge my handtowels out all the time and clean the bathroom daily.
RE: bathroom, empty the trash before guests arrive.
OMG, YES!
Especially if you have ladies in the house putting their hygiene items in there!!
LOL
Always! Especially cuz mine doesnt have a lid. And the hand towel will absolutely be a clean one and used hung bath towels will be removed. I ALWAYS wipe down the bathroom and make sure everything to use is fresh
And have towels! And soap! And toilet paper! Preferably leave an extra roll in the bathroom as well! If you are receiving a lot of guests for an extended period (aka party!) those are even more important! I've been to many houses with beautiful and thoughtful furniture and decor and the hosts completely forgot about the bathroom 😢
Adding onto doorknobs: I would make sure to provide adequate privacy to my guests, ie make sure the lock on the bathroom door. Maybe you never lock the door when it's just you in the house but when a guest comes over they will notice if the bathroom door lock doesnt work or the door doesnt close all the way and they will feel anxious the whole time!
Omg yes!! Lol! Esp if the door doesnt lock and they have young kids running around. - My partners parents have a giant cat door (no flap) cut into the bathroom door, and it really stresses me out. Also, my cousin's bathroom has no window coverings, and ive been to a lot of places where they only have sheer curtains on the window next to the toilet. 😳
I know your comment is 2 years old, but now that I've moved, your comment is the reason why hubby and I are TRYING TO REPLACE THE TOILET DOOR!!! It's currently old, rickety, has no lock and has a big gap between door and wall.
All of this goes back to an old adage my mother taught me, the closer something is to your skin, the higher quality it should be. Nearly all the things you mentioned were things that were going to be touched.
The thing that impressed me the most at someone else’s house:
In the guest bedroom, there was a nicely-laminated channel listing and instructions for how to switch to the Blu-Ray. They have this in hotels all the time, and I’ve only seen it in one person’s home. They have a lot of out of town guests and want to make sure that people were comfortable and not running to them with questions about how to find a channel. The guest bathroom also was stocked with toiletries in case someone forgot something. They even had an unopened box of tampons, just in case. Some people get weird about women’s sanitary products, and the fact that they thought about a woman’s needs and had those ready...I was so impressed by that.
I put my wireless password in my guest bedroom. You know they’re gonna need it.
Agree that's how I set up my guest accommodations. I would hate to think anyone has to go out and purchase some forgotten or unexpected item. For one thing they always leave the excess I have no use for including toiletries. 😆
My goal is self-contained with TV, convenient USB receptacles at likely locations, adjustable (full to off) night lights identifying where the light switch is and night time foray's to the bathroom in the dark, an assortment of hooks - where I would be hanging things up for convenience, bath salts (the guest bath has the only tub),
hings like proper light bulbs, Kleenex, another roll of TP, individually wrapped feminine hygiene, sewing and glasses repair kits, Tylenol, antacid, Sudafed, the type of sunscreen to use in our restricted tropical waters, drying rack and two luggage racks, lint roller, another set of bed linens, alternate pillows and sleeping covers, reusable shopping bags.
Also, as a destination resort with unique places to explore and environment (and accessible only by air) include things like beach bags, a backpack for hiking trails, area and creature and plant ID guides, maps, reading material on a variety of subjects someone might be interested in especially when they didn't know they would be. 😊
@@theredrover3217 May i come visit?!?😊
My dad helped me renovate my home when I first bought it. Everything was old and outdated, so almost everything had to be replaced. When it came time for the doorknobs, he recommended beautiful brushed nickel handles, and the price tag was WAY more than I anticipated for "just doorknobs". I still went with his suggestion and I totally get it now! It really makes a difference to have quality hardware! Thanks Dad lol
Do they need to match all the hardware in the house?
@@miasenna4107 you don't need to, but I chose to do brushed nickel throughout my house. I think it looks really nice!
Can you tell us which brand be recommended? There are so many wanna-be quality options disguised behind a heavy price tag.. but like you i would rather not regret my decision after a couple of years :)
@@rachismify I got them at Lowes so they weren't designer or anything like that. I honestly don't remember the brand since it was many years ago, though. I can try and find out!
Father Knows Best
I like to scent my house with actual food. Open every door and window for an hour to air out the house. Then prepare a strong-smelled appetizer or drink. Time the cooking so that it finishes right when guests arrive and you can offer them a snack. In the cool time of year, there's always something good-smelling to boil or bake. Herbed bread, mulled wine, applesauce, blueberry pie, carrot cake, cookies, tomato sauce, roasted vegetables, or hot cocoa. In summer, wash all your surfaces with lemon juice and serve lemonade.
That’s the way to go, everyone loves the scent of fresh baked bread. I worked in the men’s fragrance department of a big high end department store for years and they would send us to fragrance school every year. And the scent that men love the most is fresh baked bread.
Hi, I wanna come over, when's dinner? Can I bring something? 🤣
Put a halved lemon in a pot of water on your stove and simmer. Your whole house will smell fantastic.
But only if you are sharing that actual food with your guests! It would be awful to have the house smell like something delicious that you can't have.
Natural baked goods smell is fine. But candles that smell like baked goods is like torture for me. Especially if you don't have any to offer.
I really appreciate when people have unscented soap as an option. I'm allergic to perfumes so it's nice to not have to get a migraine while visiting somewhere.
YES. this is a golden advice. Im also scent sensitive and i cant bare having to wash my hands with heavily scented soap
Something I really appreciated in Japan when I went there to visit was that it was considered bad manners to wear perfume in public spaces (especially in the subway), and that everyday products, like soap or laundry detergent, were usually unscented. Not only out of consideration for people with allergies but also because people feel it's unfair to impose scents on others who can't escape from it. I wish this would be normalised around here in the West too. Nothing makes me feel as uncomfortable as visiting a home with strong scents that linger in my clothes and hair even after I've left. Or as annoyed as having to share a communal washing machine right after a neighbour who uses heavily scented washing liquid: the smell lingers in the machine, gets on my clothes and triggers my eczema. I've had to throw out so many clothes and handwash so much because of this, before I was able to get my own washing machine, sigh.
Same with those diffusers.. like just put a pot of water with some vanilla in the oven and you'll get the same effect without all the harsh synthetic fragrances or overwhelming someone's senses. I especially hate it when they have those diffusers/plug ins next to the seating area and/or all over the house. Some people are my job smell like they bathed in those plug ins. I can't imagine that's healthy to breathe in. Even thosr people's dogs smell like plug in rather than a dog..
ALL of this! I really notice scent in peoples' homes since I, too, immediately get a headache. Clean does not have a scent - if you need to perfume everything, it makes me wonder what dirty smell you're trying to hide.
@@xxgoodnevil17xx Plugins are absolutely the worst! They smell nasty, make me sneeze, and also give me a headache. Urgh!
When I renovated my guest bathroom I fell for a faucet that looks like a nautilus. It's a beauty and I still love it--but guests usually wander out to ask me how to turn the water on. So in addition to beauty, I'd recommend ease of use. ;-)
you need a cute sign to explain.
This suggestion is most important in a shower where people will not have their glasses on and there is potential for scalding if the tap gets turned on the wrong way.
I totally agree that taking note of the scent of your home is an important little thing you can do. But just a friendly remind for people considering a diffuser, that if you have pets, lots of essential oils are toxic to pets and should not be diffused in a shared space with them!
And consider people may have allergies as well. Maybe there should be a list of allergy friendly and pet friendly scent alternatives
Do not put s--t in the air for your guests to be forced to breathe..you wouldn’t allow cigarette smoking…don’t put other noxious chemicals in the air…some of us have very real respiratory diagnoses. I won’t stay in a place that has scented candles, diffusers, potpourri and so forth.
Just be for guests? Hell no. Those things I do for me. 😁 And my guests get to share in that.
I mean, yes of course you are so worth all of these!
I do it for me then lock the door!
I'm with you on the nicely scented natural bathroom soap. I keep it out all the time... for me to use. Not sure my husband likes the scent as much as I do so the "soft soap" is available too. :-)
I knew I was living right when my 12-year-old grand-nephew entered my home, looked around, and said, "It smells really good in here!" I use soy-based candles with mild, natural scents, and a particularly nice incense imported from India. I don't scent the house every day, just once in a while, but of course the fragrance lingers in the soft furnishings. The worst thing to do, in my opinion, is over-do chemical perfumes. It can make things unbearable for scent-sensitive guests (there are several of those in my family.)
You are so right! I am that kind of scent sensitive person and it immediately gives me headaches when people have several chemical scented candles or stuff like that around. It’s so hard for me to stay in these kind of homes 🙈
Me too! Big headache! Uggg!
do you have any recommendations for candles?
@@gravities I try to use unscented candles. Beeswax are the best. For fragrance, I diffuse all natural essential oils. No headaches.
Yes agreed! That is why I added my little note because I know some people are sensitive! I always take a less is more approach with scent.
One doesn't remember the source, but one of the suggestions was that you spend a couple of nights in your guestroom to give it the tweaks it might need. Things like do you have to twist all different ways to turn off the bedside light? Is there room for a book or a small carafe of water. Is that duvet really as comfortable as you thought it would be? Does that cute little rug by the bed like to slip when you get out of bed? Just move around the room naturally and see what annoys you.
The other suggestion was to sit on the guest commode and look everywhere so that you will see what your guests will see. That can be very enlightening!
And thank you, Nick Lewis, for the reminder that some people have problems with scents or have food allergies. It is embarrassing to have to leave the gathering because you can't see and your sinuses have decided to join the fun or leaving in an ambulance because the host forgot that there were peanuts in a dish.
Love your videos, Nick Lewis!
This is so true. So many times I've been to the toilet in someone's house and the back of the door is dirty. The rest of the room is spotless but they don't look behind the door.
There's no "guest commode" at my house. I clean the only bathroom I have to offer before anyone arrives at my house. I wish I had two bathrooms.
Mirror placement...I don't know if this matters, but as a really short person one thing I really appreciate as a guest is if the mirror behind the washbasin is big/ set low enough that I can actually see my face.
"That's on you. It's fine... it's not, but." - Was thinking the EXACT same thing. Wash your towels people! Haha!
These things do make a difference. We bought a house 2 hours away without seeing it in person, just a video walk through. (Long story) As soon as we walked in we noticed the vintage brass doorknobs, nice, thick curtain rods, beautiful faucets, unique high quality towel rods, even the toilet paper holder is really nice! Made me realize what a shit hole I lived in before!
It does! The people who owned my home before I did were very good decorators and a lot of the things Nick says to do or not do they already had covered. My home isn't big, but it feels really nice because of all the little touches.
@@aina3387 I feel the same way. It's not a huge house but feels luxurious to me.
Garrett LeChic calls doorknobs and fixtures “jewelry for the home”, which is a nice way to merge form and function.
I love ceramics knobs for drawers and cabinets on etsy
He's funny! He is using his professional designer's rules also to dress up! 👌🏼
As someone who used to work for a custom home hardware company, most of our clients considered hardware “jewelry for the home” and would spend upwards of $100,000 on hardware from us. Insane.
Things that I care about when I visit someone:
- overall tidiness
- overall cleanliness
- clean dishes and cutlery
- clean bathroom, fresh handtowel
- comfortable place to sit
- good temperature
- smell
Things that I don't care about: all the rest
I can add just some good homecooked food.
Funny to say, people who critiques other people home , more likely don’t keep up with there own home.😀
I H - Thanks for your list. I find it hard to objectively assess my living or garden space because it’s something that has evolved over time. It takes a quick list like yours and the UA-camr to help me see where I can improve.
Same.
YES!
It's useful to think about it as a guest as well. If I go to someone's house what would I like to see?
Clean bathroom is number 1
A place to sit number 2 (I don't want to be moving around your stuff to be able to sit)
A smile and a plate of pasta and you are the best host ever 😀
I literally cannot stop shaking from laughing at that "like a gentleman" line🤣🤣🤣
OMG the hand towel in the powder room - YES! I see this all the time and it GROSSES me out... I feel like I have to dry my freshly cleaned hands on something icky. I'd rather dry my hands on my own clothes.
Ha-ha! A relationship ended before it started when the gentleman in question invited me over for dinner and the only towel in his bathroom was so stiff with god-knows-what that you could stand it up leaning against a wall. Of course everything else was dirty, too, but that towel was awful. Shudder.
I will have a small paper towel box for guests to use in my powder bathroom. I will have the towel for decoration only.. yep. Towels are gross for guests…
I always use disposable hand towels in the vathroom when guest come over,they are great
🤢 Thanks Jean - I didn't need that visual! haha
Note to self: Always wear cotton when visiting others.
As a migraine sufferer, thank you for the tips about natural smelling soaps. I hate walking into a restroom and having to use my purell as soap so that my hands don't smell like candy corn all day. Now to figure out how to survive the glade plug ins and melted wax pellets.🤮🤕
You crack me up! Keep em coming!
Overnight guest video lease!
There’s a special place in Hell for those Glade people
Same! These things can bring on a 3 day migraine for some of us ☹️
OMG the hand towels!! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to someone’s house and they don’t even HAVE a towel in the bathroom to dry my hands with.
There's a guy from my mom's office that gifted us a set of wooden coasters that were made from discs of a small log. They look great and really interesting when stacked. Fits right in with my mom's rustic style.
He secretly likes her lol
@@jessicagameros5321 yes lol
@@jessicagameros5321 😂😂 oh I doubt it, he's happily married. Just really handy and really friendly
Beautiful! Yes they are such a fun accessory!
@@bandilenzimande5253 he made them himself? That's amazing
Sometimes it's the smallest touches that make something feel "nicer." Look at switch plates and areas around those and your door and cabinet knobs. They get grimy so easily since they're high contact areas. Get some soapy water and get that gunk off -it'll make you feel so accomplished! As a bonus tip: they sell small boxes of switch plate screws at every big box store and it takes no time to switch them out if the paint is chipped or they've gotten rusty in a high moisture location like a bathroom! I went with bronze screws and white plates in some spaces because I think the contrast looks nice - make sure to choose which way the slot on your screws point intentionally! I prefer straight up and down.
Another tip: just dust and paint over the baseboards. Lol. Keep a small can of the baseboard paint, and touch them up every once in a while!
I just did this to my own place! My plates are a bit yellowish, probably a mix of natural colour and age, but when one of them broke recently, it forced to look at what was available in the store and I found switch plates that more closely match the colour of my cream walls. What a difference it makes!
@@meh5069 rails too !
The slot on the screws pointing the same way (either fully horizontal or vertical only)... You melted my OCD heart. ❤️
I believe face plates (and other older plastic fixtures) often go yellow because of frequent chemical cleaning (spray and wipe, etc). Use unscented baby wipes instead - they are so damn useful for cleaning almost ANYTHING: skirting boards, door frames and handles, window sills, grime and marks on walls, etc. Use in conjunction with paper towels for drying excess moisture, if necessary.
As for face plates that are already yellow and you can’t replace them for whatever reason, use a ‘magic eraser’ sponge/pad. They can work damn well on stuff like that, but bear in mind they are abrasive. So consider whether the outcome is worth some potentially visible scuff marks.
I like the note at the end about people with allergies! Honestly, it’s really hard to ignore when you get to someone’s home and the smell is literally hurting you
“Consider the guest experience.” Eloquently put. You nailed it, Nick!
"I would instead go home and share it with 200 000 people on the internet because im a gentleman"
haha thank you nick for being such a nice man !
I do the bathroom tidy up/fresh towel when I have a guest or two. When I have a bigger group (like 10+) usually at the holidays I put out the decorative paper guest towels in a pretty tray- maybe tacky(?) . Just figure with a lot of guests that a hand towel that starts out clean and dry doesn't remain so.
Not tacky at all. It's treating your guests with consideration. I think thats a great idea!
Agreed! I think any gesture that shows that you care about their experience coming into your home makes a difference.
My aunt does something similar with a basket of washcloths and a “dirty towels” basket under the sink. I like it because they are reusable but every guest gets a fresh towel, but I could imagine if your parties are long or really big that would be less practical
That's a good idea, when you have a lot of guests you would need to change the towel every hour
@@Birdfreak2010 when the whole family is at my aunt's house (especially if we stay for the night) she puts a stack of towels on the bathroom shelf and we know that whoever notices the towel is starting to get wet throws it in the basket and puts a fresh one
I actually appreciate that there are small things that can be easily updated. Like there's no need to replace the whole dining table but maybe replace the utensils from dollar tree I bought back in college 😬
2:38
Chipped edges on glasses are DANGEROUS, Nick!!
Am I the only one watching this and thinking: “more like nice things for myself that I can justify purchasing because they’re nominally for guests” 😏 ??
Matching hangers!! Jaja
I’m like, uh…resale value!
Both is okay.
I like to take the Windex to all shiny surfaces that will catch a glint of sparkle. It's not much but it adds up in the big picture. Pictures, ceramics, mirrors. glass shelves, lamps, vases...shine, shine, shine.
Oh yes, a quick once over makes a world of difference!
Wasn't Windex featured in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? :-)
@@tinamcnalley2575😄 But I’ve never heard of it like that in real life. I prefer Invisible Glass: no ammonia, just fresh alcohol. Everything else in the movie though, definitely familiar. My church isn’t Greek but it’s Macedonian, borderline Greek 😁, the mom and dad would still fit in perfectly there. It was built on alcohol funds. Prohibition was a blessing in disguise. Maybe I should try cleaning my windows with rakija, the local version of vodka.
I so prefer when he says “I’m judging you for these design mistakes” to when he tries to put it delicately for those of us with poor taste and worse coping skills ✨
Regarding scents, some people, like myself, are sensitive to scents. I’ve gotten migraine headaches from some scents that people either wear on their person or infuse into the room.
I would invite Nick to my home with the sole intention of him roasting me to a crisp.
😂😂😂😂😂
Totally! Haha
Oh I'd just tell you that you have a lovely home. That's the Canadian way! lol
That’s ace!
@@Nick_Lewis Knowing they are actually despising us?
I bought a nice diffuser for the bathroom at the beginning of the lockdown here in Sydney (Australia) and I wanted to open it once we would have guests again.
But since the lockdown was never ending (the stay at home orders lasted for more than 3 months) at one point I decided to open the diffuser for MYSELF and enjoy my own house.
Best decision ever!!
If you learn to do these little things for yourself, to take care of your house because you love to live in it and not just to prepare it for guests, you will live in your own “spa” every day of the year!
Btw, you’re welcome to come and enjoy a nice wine in our beautiful wine glasses 😉
I have NEVER, not once in my 36 years on this earth, hung my coat in the coat closet at someone else’s house nor has anyone done it at my house. Am I alone in this???
Come to think of it, I haven't either. Visitor coats usually go on wall hooks, coathangers or chairs don't they (sometimes on a bed when there's a party but that's not so great). I'd feel awkward opening a closed door at someone else's place unless it's clearly the bathroom. But even then I ask first, just to make sure haha.
Never in my 56 years
not in my 61 years either I always take the coat and hang it up or if no room in closet the bed. and I always have space in dressers and closet for guests.
No, you are not alone. My foyer closet is tiny. If I were having people over during coat weather I would put their coats either in the guest room closet,or simply lay them on the bed in the guest room.
@@janicefield9671 Hey! First comment I saw that uses the ole “ bedroom coat stash”! 🤭😆😁😬
Totally spot on. My entry closet is full normally, but I offload a bunch into the spare room when guests are coming. Yes, friends, the awesomeness of my closet is a sham.
Funny!!!
That made me laugh
I keep a basket of rolled hand towels in my powder room. When we have a lot of guests, it’s really easy to change out the hand towel when it gets damp.
I love everything you said, but one thing I would have to say is that as a guest in someone’s home, I really really do not like going to somebody’s house and it is scented! It takes away from everything else especially if there’s food involved. Just enjoy the smell of the food and the wine. More importantly I and many others are allergic to so many different scents. I can’t even walk down the aisle in the grocery store with all the laundry soaps and fabric softeners because it literally hurts my head and sinuses. Some argue that the scent they’re using is natural. That doesn’t mean it’s still not bothersome or somebody’s not allergic to it.
Amen on the closet comment! Nothing I hate more than being asked to hang up my coat and having to wrestle with 30 coats on wire hangers packed in like sardines just to squish mine in. Because my front closet is so tiny, when I have a party I take all my own coats off their hangers and throw them on my bed (bedroom door stays closed anyway).
When I visit friends, or invite them over, it’s for the pleasure of their company. I couldn’t give a damn what other people’s coasters are like, or how they decorate their homes.
These items are important to make sure you yourself are having a nice experience in your own home!
Exactly!!!! My husband and kids get upset bc I spend a lot of time on these details. They say
“Nobody comes over”, my reply is “it’s for me!”
I love all these ideas. As for soap….I do prefer liquid soap, but for goodness sake, swap out the cheap store container and transfer the soap to a nice dispenser. Better yet, find what you like and buy it as a refill supply into your lovely dispenser.
Do this: (1) clean, (2) provide delicious food, (3) set out fresh flowers, (4) don’t worry about the rest. Thanks for the laughs, Nick.
True, cleaning should always come first.
Fresh flowers are incidental. If you have them to hand, fine, but have the place (at least the public parts) tidy, and serve great food, keeping in mind your guests tastes, allergies and sensitivities.
I chuckled all the way through this . I agree on all points, though I'd not thought of the doorknobs! Duh! The whole not judging to your face and sharing instead with 2k friends, hilarious. Great points! Love your videos 💜💙💚💛🧡❤
Not 2k, 200k haha
Such a small detail but it matters to much!
He's only sharing with 200,000 of his CLOSEST friends, and they're all very discreet, so it's not so bad.
Note on soap: PLEASE have an unscented option! I stayed with my aunt for a week and by the end of the week my hands were raw and scabbed and covered in rashes. Allergies to fragrance are a real thing. I can’t even wear perfumes.
You should bring your own toiletries in the future then it won’t be an issue.
Also, artificial fragrances contain phthalates which are very unhealthy and are estrogen mimickers, especially bad for men.
Id go buy my own soap before letting my hands get raw and scabby. But that's just me. 🤷
Your own fault. You were there a week! You could have nipped to the shops and bought your own.
I don't know if I can get through this without laughing. I'm just so glad to have someone special that I can go visit and have a good time that I don't give a shit what color their door knobs are. Or if there's a little dirt around the sink or whatever I'm there for them and not for this. But I'll go with it at this point. What the heck.
I'm like you I go for the people not the home.
@Gail Remp. I hear ya Gail, life is too damn short😂
I notice my friends and my family when I visit their homes.
If I somehow learned that someone I had invited into my home was judging me on my doorknobs I would be appalled at my bad choice of acquaintances.
EXACTLY!!!
Yessss! That is one thing my mom has always done -before guests come over, you must put out a fresh hand towel.
You forgot the most important thing... Full roll of TP! Towel second
I always take my guests coats and I wouldn’t think of going in anyone else’s closet so this surprised me. I guess it’s just whatever your taught. Enjoy your videos. 👍💕
Yeah, I come from ‘that era’ where we just threw them on the bed in the nearest bedroom! 😂😆😁
Omg you’re so right! It is the little things. My in laws just visited for the first time in over a year and my mother in law was so impressed by my organization in our 2br apt - the shoe closet, the broom closet, the guest bath, the spice cabinet! she made a trip to the container store and is recognizing her 5br home 😆
The first thing I’ve always made a priority every time I’ve moved is whatever I walk into when I walk into my home. An entryway, a room - the first thing people see is my first decor focus.
Nice. Talking notes!
Omg I loved this video! When I have guests I open the windows all day so the house smells fresh. Plus I change the guest towels every time I visit the powder room, making sure I change the colour 😉. My favourite hack with hand soap is to mix my favourite grapefruit soap with an unscented soap, it dilutes the strong scented soap and I end up with 2 bottles!
I really appreciate when people dont use artificial scents in their home as Im somewhat allergic.
Yes! Door knobs and hinges are the upgrade I didn’t know I needed. Something felt off at my house and I realized it was because all cabinet knobs, door knobs, and hinges were different. Changing them all to matte black (to match my fixtures) made it feel way more cohesive and intentional!
Beyond aesthetics, getting a more natural soap for guests is considerate of sensitive skin. Those Bath and Body works soaps have something in them that wrecks my hands.
Yes! I also like scent free
Bath and body products always give me headaches. So fake and gross smelling.
I always refill the beautiful soap bottles I bought with sensitive as well and people still tell me how nice it smells 😆
And they smell nasty
Probably sulfates. One of my babies was in the NICU for a week (born with a blood infection, needed antibiotics-she was so active she kept knocking out her IV, even though it was splinted, so they had to stick it in the top of her head 😬, and she’s still a whirlwind at age 8 😆), and all visitors had to scrub hands with antibacterial soap for 2 minutes, and I had to go in to nurse her every 4 hrs day and night. (Also was recovering from emergency c-section + surgery for extensive adhesions. 😩) But I had a bad reaction to the soap, and the skin on the backs of my hands was cracked and inflamed. Dr brushed it off, just gave me a tube of Aquaphor, which of course did next to nothing. 🙄 Anyway, ever since then, my skin is sensitive to soaps with sulfates in them. Dove is OK, and so is the knockoff Dove from my local dollar store, but the scent is not ideal. Haven’t gotten around to buying fancy soaps lately.
An alternative to a diffuser or room freshener if your guests have asthma or get headaches is to bake something before they get there. It can be as simple as the premade Pillsbury cookies that only take a few minutes but it will make your place smell amazing but likely won't give your guests a headache
Another option is simmering orange peel with spices. Creates a natural and understated scent.
I like to have some fresh eucalyptus in a vase, for a subtle fresh scent.
Really useful video. I'm going to watch it through again and take notes !
One thing I would add is to consider things that are going to puzzle/confuse/worry your guests - like in the bathroom, pumps of soap and lotion side by side with nothing to tell you which is which. Light switches in odd places. Make sure there's enough loo paper without a guest having to search for a new roll themselves.
"Because I'm a g e n t l e m a n"
Nick this is one of the funniest channels on UA-cam, keep up the great work
I would recommend a scent free soap for guests because I would react like crazy on my hands if they were scented. Lovely fancy soap - no scent!
Absolutely agree. Like a nice milk soap or shea butter for the vegans. Also the best scent in a room is if it smells like freshly aired out. Having asthma and allergies, you'll never know if you might react or not. Same if your guest sleep over, the smell of the scented detergent on the bedding.. uhh. Imagine your whole body itches and you don't know why. There is a reason hotels use the unscented ones.
If you want your home to smell nice for any guest, make coffee or bake something.
@@mirabellegoldapfel6256 Totally agree with both of you. Don't impose unwanted scents on your guests. Unscented is the way to go.
I watch you for the humor and sass. I wouldn’t even be mad if you clowned me to my face. It would probably be 100% true and you can’t hate that.
Yes. I really prefer people who are honest to my face over those who suddenly take their disapproval to social media.
A really important thing is to have unperfumed toilet paper. For those who are sensitive, it creates a thrush-like reaction...not how you want guests to remember their visit!
Discreet yet visible tampons & pads are really important, too, so guests can see them without having to go through the embarrassment of asking for them. I was caught out at the tender age of 11, and still feel anxious when I remember having to pull an older friend away from a room full of boys to ask for help....ack. If I can spare just one person that trauma, then it is so worth it!
There's... perfumed toilet paper???
Both, because there might be a medical need for one or the other.
My place used to be a rental and switching out the cheap rubber bath/sink plugs for chrome has made the biggest difference - it didn't occur to me to do it until I'd already been living here for two year but genuinely transformative and wish I'd done it way sooner!
Excellent breakdown! All of the things I touch I judge (for hygiene reasons in this day and age) and I'm with you on the wet gross hand towels in the bathroom 😝
definitely with you on the hygiene points. Other things I simply consider where the person might be on a financial scale, or a priority scale, and NO Big Deal.
You're so funny. I love your videos just for honesty and sarcasm
So, any suggestions for those of us without a foyer/entryway? My house is from 1860 and has no real foyer. You just walk into the house! No closet, no where to put anything. We put up hooks and put out baskets for mittens and hats, but the kids have beaten me down and we have a huge pile o’shoes and boots lol. But, really, not having any mudroom or foyer is a huge challenge
A shoe bench, and some woven baskets to dump backpacks/umbrellas into?
@@kelleymcmorris7430 oh yes, of course, and that’s exactly what we did - it’s still a disaster lol. But I’m more curious about how a designer would approach the whole “no foyer” type house. This was a video about welcoming guests (remember when we did that) and he discussed the foyer/mudroom/etc and how to make it welcoming. But what if that space isn’t delineated or defined? What if guests just walk into your dining room or living room bc that’s where the door is? I know I’m not the only one
I would suggest a large armoire that can divide the space up and give you a big closet like space and get a multifunctional hall tree that has hooks for hats and scarves and a coral tray thing for umbrellas.. those would be pretty period accurate for that type of house. Just make sure the armoire has a nice backing to it.
@@1redsquirrel Every person gets one pair that lives at the front door. Rest need to live in their personal closets or another closet/basement space. (source: I grew up with a family of 4 who shared a small home with one bathroom). Enforce this before guests come over. My family also does the all the winter coats on someone's bed before an event to make room for guests' coats :).
My house is from 1920... I turned a portion of my enclosed porch into a mud room.
The old CDs as coasters made me laugh 😂
I'm glad you mentioned scent. It's even more critical with very small spaces (if you live in a studio you don't want to have your bed smell like the kitchen)
Before essential oils, investing in a sleek and efficient air purifier is a must.
Agreed! This is exactly why old school houses had the kitchen closed off in the back. So cooking smells don't permeate the air
For the soap one, I personally appreciate when I can determine that I'm not allergic to it. Blue dye allergy for anything that cleans is so hard, and being able to pick up and look at the ingredient list is a life saver, especially if it doesn't have dyes at all. :) I also have a hard time with strong smells so I also appreciate when someone's space is toned down in their communal areas,
A small thing I've started doing that I THINK makes a big difference is folding the end of my toilet paper roll every time I visit the bathroom or after cleaning it 🤣 there's something so luxurious about going to a hotel that's folded the end of a toilet paper roll, and I always notice that on the rare occasion I see it in someone's home.
I do this with my tp rolls bc it makes it easier to grab from the… “throne” 😂
Good observations. We just bought a house in the US and I noticed that the doors themselves are super light and cardboard-like. I like HEAVY doors, even internal doors, closet doors and French doors. Imparts a quality feel to the home.
The obvious moral of this video: Do these things if you don't want to be judged by guests.
The not so obvious moral: Guests that come to your house, eat your food, drink your wine, then judge you behind your back, weren't worth all the worry.
My thoughts exactly. You need new friends
I don't see it quite the same way. I think these thing are just little touches that show your guests that you take pride in your home and that you value their company and their experience. I mean in the end, even if you don't listen to any of my tips, I'll still have fun and cheers you with a glass of that wine! 🥂
@@Nick_Lewis hi Nick, didn't mean anything bad by it. I guess it might be different here in the UK, I feel these things just don't matter as much. Obviously you want everything to be clean but I don't think many people are too fussed if your crockery or cutlery are matched. I totally respect where you're coming from though.
I think he's just being funny, he's not really saying your guests will judge or you should care if they do. The message is that we all want our loved ones to have a great time when they visit us and these are some things that will make them feel special, like they're in a fancy hotel lol I had my family over today and I really enjoyed putting fancy towels and soap in the bathroom, I enjoyed serving them food and drinks in the nicest dishes I have just like I enjoyed cooking and baking for them
Honestly, I have never looked at anyone’s door knobs or judged their flatware. I would if it were a restaurant and I was paying for the experience. I expect the place to be clean and nothing else if someone invites me to their home. It might be cultural but this comes across as so superficial and privileged that I just can’t…
Take me (and my door knobs) as I am or not at all 😂😂
Literally. Every single detail you outlined is my life...and I'm an extroverted introvert who rarely has people over. But even for workmen or the EXTERMINATOR, I'll do every bathroom thing (thinking they may have to use it). I guess I'm a dinner party hostess in my mind. (Note, I stopped a contractor who was fixing an antique brass doorknob from switching it out for a piece of garbage and forced him to repair it. He was so confused lol)
Great topic! We really forget the powder room is more important then the master bathroom.
Another small detail with soap/scents is to consider that some of us are super sensitive and allergic to smells and oils and things!! Seriously - I would be trying to find a way out of Nick’s ‘scented’ house as a guest before I broke out in hives and my eyes swelled shut!!!
I just use a light scent! My dog tends to fart and it rains a lot where I live so we definitely need that in the winter when the doors and windows are closed
I feel sorry for you if you have those problems. That's so sad.
The weak must fear the strong
Those are the things I also check before having guests! Others that for me are really important is a pretty and clean door rug, plants in the house entrance, and buying fresh flowers.
Fresh flowers here, unless it is the time of year when I have my own growing outside, takes an hour drive one way to purchase them. So... no. I do have plants growing inside, but the house entrance faces north. I like having a couple or so plants in the interior.
me too love flowers or flowering plants. all the time not just for guests. but if I have over nite visitors il put fresh flowers in there bedroom.
On the topic of soaps/scents: being someone who is allergic to most scents, I really appreciate it when there is an unscented/lightly scented soap and you have gone easy on all the diffusers/candles
I totally agree about bathroom hand towel etiquette. Personally, I love having a small, simple basket, tray or container filled with small white wash cloths (the small white square type) all rolled or folded nicely in container and guests can use it to dry their hands and then place it in an inconspicuous small, metal looking like garbage pail but smaller so it’s obvious what to use it for, or a small basket nearby for used hand towels of this sort can be tossed into. Makes a huge difference for a guest bathroom experience.
Feeling hopeful: Got most of the list done, except the bathroom situation - we’re in a post-move remodelling so I’m holding off the finalising touches until that’s done. Fresh soap & clean towels, even If it’s not fancy.
I will say this about scent (I suffer from an excellent sense of smell): Please do not add scent (spray, candles, diffusers etc) to cover a bad smell. Some of us catches both smells, and it has the feeling of using lots of cologne to replace a real shower. 🤢
I am one of those that pick up both easily too, it amazes me that people think "good smells" cover up "bad smells", they are all smells still and can be way too intrusive if you add a lot to try to cover something up. Floral scent does not balance or cancel out sweat or bathroom stench the way salt or bitter tastes can be balanced with sugar it just makes for a really freaky bouquet instead.
Yes - and less is more!
Agree x1000000! I used to know someone who hated changing her poor cats' litterbox and when they got so stinky they were antisocial she'd just spray a hose worth of febreeze around her place. It got so bad one time another friend and I forced her to hand over a couple Glad bags and we changed the litter ourselves. I guess she must have been embarrassed as she kept the boxes way better after that.
@@sparklie962 And lighting a scented candle in the room that houses the litterbox doesn't make it smell better either!
Hello Nick! I have just bought my first ever flat and this video is basically like a checklist for me! I am sure I have thought about each of those items at some point - but obviously - haven't noted anything down - so having them all collected in one place is just an excess of convenience! Thanks again for the videos you are creating and please - take our warm greetings from Poland :)
I love your energy….and comedy. “They would kind of judge you, I mean I would judge you, I mean I wouldn’t do it to your face, I would just go home and share it on the internet.” Oh my word great belly laugh in the first few seconds, I’m hooked
"Because I'm a gentleman" 🤣🤣🤣 you got my thumbs up just for that! Love your videos! ❤
Another soap angle to considered for guests- My severe allergies can handle the essential oil scents in soaps but, if I use the artificial scents, I often have reactions. I know a lot of other people who are that way too. So, better to use a product that is more natural for soaps for guests.
As for scents, there are some homes I won't visit again because the heavy artificial scents will set of my asthma and may lead to a hospital visit.
You forgot: FRESH AIR!!
If you're gonna serve your guests a meal, make sure to have let some fresh air into the room before seating!
My Virgo placements are really digging the towel and soap advice 😍 May everyone follow them! ❤️ But don't worry, if the towel is wet and dirty I will ask you directly for a clean one, as I won't touch it. Nor will I judge you ...for very long.
And those quality wooden clothes hangers support your guest's clothes properly. There's nothing like placing a heavy winter coat on a plastic hanger and it goes plop on the floor. We're in the process of furnishing a new guest room, and I keep telling my mom it needs this or that for the guests. USB charger, decent lighting, full-length mirror, maybe a decent candle.
Thank you! You were reading my mind! My friends still remember 25 people sit down dinner with complete place settings, tablecloths and fabric napkins. You are welcome to come over for dinner, drink or a cup of coffee anytime! If I know I’ll have people over, I usually have disposable linen paper hand towels in a pretty holder in the powder room.
Speaking of gross. People keep your cats off the tables, counters, etc. They were just in the litter box and didn't wash their paws or wipe properly.
Ugh I had a friend that would let her cats do that… I didn’t even feel comfortable drinking water at her house. She would even let the cat all over the kitchen counters as she cooked 🤢
I never eat in my friends house even on holiday. She puts dinner plates from the table on the floor for her dogs to eat leftovers.Gross!!! In the front of everyone!
Yes that’s so gross. I have a cat but he knows the kitchen counters are off limits. And he has his own plate, he doesn’t need to eat off mine! It makes me want to gag when my friends let their dogs lick the plates while the are loading the dishwasher.
@@kaylean39
Yep, I have quit eating potluck food, my friends and family tease me about it but I just can't do it.
Keep your cats off tables and counters 🤣. Cats go where they want and if you declare some place off limits they will just do it behind your back 😉.
I wish my Mom could have known you. She lived by your rules and would have loved loved loved your thoughts. ♥️
Love your brand of sarcasm! 🤣
I was like 😬 when he mentioned Facebook marketplace. I got 3 furniture pieces from there, but I promise they look great😆
Right?! I buy quality used Facebook market place items!
Hi Nick. You're so right about all these "little" details, and not just for guests. In regards to the bathroom hand towel, I prefer to set out disposable ones and just have a decorative set hanging on the rack. Especially after Covid-19.
The only detail my guests notice is whether there is lots of free stuff for them to eat, drink & swipe.
The one other detail they notice is the door knob hitting them on the way out.
@david hutton. Well you don't have very kind folks to hang out with 😂
Great video. Yes I like setting my home up for guests as 5 star as possible.
Next to scent, I personally always notice the acoustics of a room/house. No matter how nice it is visually, if it sounds cold, it feels cold to me.