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Preparing your home for visitors and making their stay memorable can be an art. Some of the most stylish and thoughtful people we know share their tips on hosting family and friends with ease and elegance. The most important one—make them feel at home with your warmth
Hosting guests overnight in your home often stirs up two kinds of images: chaos and stress (think Meet The Parents), or having someone feel out of place and overwhelmed (Saltburn, perhaps?) But being a host doesn’t need to involve these extremes. As Indians, we have hospitality in our DNA. We are firm believers in the concept of atithi devo bhava after all, and our culture emphasises the importance of treating guests with kindness, graciousness, and respect.
But…we don’t need to prep bedside picnic hampers or make lavender bath salts like Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Simple gestures that spark delight go a long way in ensuring guests feel welcome and comfortable, according to four tastemakers we spoke to: Rubeena Singh, Sarah Sham, Ranji Kelekar, and Eeshan Kashyap. Here are their tips on how to be a host with a flair.
Rubeena Singh is a home stylist, interior decorator and owner of the heritage luxury retreat The VeRVe Estate in Goa. As someone who has spent time restoring a heritage colonial villa to welcome guests year-round, Rubeena knows what goes into creating a warm and inviting space.
For Rubeena, hosting is about making her guests feel at home. “I focus on creating a welcoming and comfortable environment. This includes ensuring the house is tidy, that the room looks fresh and clean, and our guests have space in their rooms for their luggage and clothes. I also like to be thoughtful and have soft and firm pillows and light and heavier blankets in the guest room so they can choose what is most comfortable.” In addition to this, she also takes the time to stock up on extras: snacks in the fridge for late-night cravings, and a selection of toiletries. She also keeps fresh flowers around, since they add instant cheer to any room.
She says that little things matter. “If I know a guest prefers to sleep in, providing an eye mask can make their stay so much more comfortable. Similarly, using essential oils to create a pleasant ambience in their room can be a thoughtful touch. Placing some treats alongside water in a tray is a small touch that goes a long way for guests who like to sleep late.”
Apart from the set-up, Rubeena says how you greet your guests is equally important. “A genuine smile can instantly help guests loosen up. I also enjoy engaging in conversation while being mindful of their need for privacy. Moreover, I try my best to adjust my schedule to accommodate their requests.” And when it’s time to say goodbye, Rubeena likes to pack a few treats and a handwritten note capturing a memory of their visit.
“I’ve noticed that when I visit people and they appear relaxed, I’m also more at ease. Letting go of the need to control every detail can really enhance the experience and help everyone relax.” Rubeena saw her grandmother do the same. “I remember as a child, our whole family would sometimes arrive unannounced. Nothing seemed to bother her, and in no time, she would cheerfully bake a fresh cake for everyone.”
Eeshan Kashyap is multidisciplinary in every sense of the word: he’s a trained chef, a culinary artist, a designer, and founder of the tableware brand Tablescape. And one thing that’s common in much of what he does, is bringing people together and playing host. A few things that stand out for him are good food, attention to detail and giving guests time and space to get comfy.
Eeshaan is a big fan of snack baskets. It’s a fun element to add to the guest room, and also practical: your guests may be jet-lagged, or they may have skipped a meal or two during their journey. Having something to nibble on always helps, especially if they’re late to turn in for the night. “I keep a large snack basket of healthy things, some not-so-healthy things, stuff that’s sweet and salty… it’s fun to gather everything from chips to chocolates.”
A relative or friend making his favourite food, or something placed on the bedside table (like a gift, note, or letter) that is personal and unique always makes things special. “I was recently visiting a friend who kept an old photo of us on the bedside table. It was such a nice memory postcard!”
Giving guests a lot of space and privacy is important, according to Eeshaan we should not set up timelines or rules for guests. There’s a reason why staying with a friend or family member is different from checking into a hotel: it’s the freedom of time, the unhurried pace, and the fact that we are not bound by looming checkouts and buffet closures. “Just the idea of a houseguest coming in and staying on with that sense of ease is something that really makes a difference, whether I’m holidaying or hosting someone.”
Sarah Sham is the founder and Principal Designer at Essajees Atelier, an award-winning luxury design studio. She also happens to be mom to two energetic young girls and plays host to her family, who gather at her home regularly, which is centrally located. Between her time spent designing spaces and hosting friends and family at home, she knows how to cater to everyone’s needs, young and old.
Sarah credits her love for hosting to her mother. “My mum is a very good host. She loved having people over and she would have not one, not two, but twenty dishes, always presented Masterchef-style, so standards have always been very high,” she says. Sarah remembers growing up and seeing how people would wait for an invitation to be hosted by her mother, which is why she loves having people in her space when she gets the chance. Sarah says, “I feel like it’s an honour for me to be able to host someone.”
Sarah is a young mother and often has guests stay over with their kids as well. So, it’s important for her to make her home inviting for both kids and adults. “We have a lot of toys thanks to my two girls, so we lay out all the toys for the children to play with in my daughter’s room.” Another important part of hosting families with kids is food. Sarah ensures there’s a menu that caters to kids and grown-ups, that can be enjoyed by all.
A messy house is a huge no in her books, and Sarah says hosts shouldn’t take it casually. “Even if it’s just one or two guests coming home, I’ve seen people get lazy about basic things like getting the beds done, using nice bedsheets, laying out fresh towels. Sometimes hosts can be a bit casual leave the house however it is. My house is always impeccably neat and clean irrespective of whether someone is visiting.”
One thing Sarah has taken away while being hosted by others is how a great table setting can make everyone feel special. “A little place card, even in an informal setting, is something that has always made me happy!” She also says that a host who is respectful of dietary preferences, with enough food options for everyone, makes a big difference.
But at the end of the day, it’s the host who makes a stay memorable. She says, “Beyond what is actually offered in the home, it’s the warmth of the people hosting that stands out.”
Designer and stylist Ranji Kelekar is a true aesthete: he is an avid collector with a great eye, and has a knack for mixing, matching and layering, creating magical tablescapes and interiors that marry vintage and modern pieces. Everything he puts together is elegant and inviting, and he takes a similar approach when hosting friends at his home.
Here’s a basic checklist Ranji follows: who exactly is coming to stay, for how long, and what their likes and preferences are. He ensures there’s water in a glass bottle by the bedside table, and sometimes, a gift as well. He also believes in welcoming guests with a lovely fragrance in the air, be it flowers or candles. His tip? “Check if your guest is allergic first!”
Ranji says that the experience can be made more special with the simplest of gestures, like an extra dohar, for example. He recently stayed at a friend’s home and saw how they had placed small jars of snacks and chocolates in the room, “Just in case you were a bit snacky at night,” he says. This way, guests don’t have to awkwardly ask for an extra blanket or wander into the kitchen for a late-night snack.
As a child, Ranji travelled far and wide and fondly remembers trips with his parents and stays at relatives’ homes. “I remember going on holiday back in the day with my parents, the hotels were so tidy and well-kept,” he says. This is something he follows in his home as well, ensuring everything is in place, neat, and aesthetically-pleasing. He also recalls visiting his relatives in Bombay who lived in a beautiful art deco home. His aunt and uncle would always lay out the most exquisite crockery and cutlery, making each meal special and memorable.
While aesthetics can elevate a guest’s stay and tidiness is a must, Ranji also stresses on keeping things easygoing, instead of creating an atmosphere that is imposing or intimidating. Guests should feel like they are part of the home, and this can be done with everyday courtesies like making the food they love and enjoy. Ranji says, “Don’t overdo it. What matters is giving your guest that feeling of being special!”
Will you be living in your space during the renovation ?
DEC 2023
Please Select Date and Day
Appointment Date & time
17 Oct 23, 03.00PM - 04.00PM