How do you get guests to take off their shoes?

Question

How do you get guests to take off their shoes in your house? How do you let guests know about the shoes off rule before they arrive?

Answer 1

I'm a Hawaiian native and one of the greatest habbits I have is taking shoes off in other people's homes.One of the best things to do is have a rug laid out and a shoe rack available by the door.We had a big sign that said "Aloha take off your shoes and come relax with us". It was a very pretty sign and was to the point without being rude rather being more welcoming:)
One of the great things of having diversity in a place when growing up is learning customs from other cultures.Taking your shoes off in a house is a Japanes custom.And you don't have to be Japanese to follow it:)


HOpe This Helps Aloha,
M.G

Answer 2

I think you could just ask, but then I never entertain formal guests either... only close friends come over, them I can just ask stuff in an informal manner without being overtly concerned about etiquette. If you get more formal guests over, people from work perhaps that you don't know well, maybe a sign, a shoe box and possibly even house slippers would be more appropriate.

Personally I would never ask people to take off their shoes. I'm a full-time barefooter but I believe people's footwear is fully their own choice. I'm not going to ask anyone to either take their shoes off or put them on.

Answer 3

OK, I'm not going to fight people on this one. You can ask guests to remove their shoes if you must. But you cannot ask them to leave their shoes in the hall and walk around in socks. You must provide the following: (1) slippers that fit and stay on. (2) An attractive, convenient receptacle for shoes. (3) A chair placed near the door (4) A shoe horn. Furthermore, if several guests arrive at once, you must have chairs and shoe horns for each of them.

Answer 4

I think it might be bad form to let your guests know before they arrive that there is a 'no shoe policy'. When your guests arrive and you take their coats, you might point to the shoe rack/rug by your door(already stocked with your own shoe's so as to show no confusion abut it's purpose) and invite them to leave their shoe's there. If they are civilized guest's they will take the subtle hint and remove their footwear. If they are not, you can be as blunt as you like as they clearly are not well versed in social grace's

Answer 5

Normally, if that's a home rule people have the shoes lined up by their front door and when people come in you say politely "oh, please take your shoes off." Personally I like to keep mine on wherever I go but, some people I know have that rule and don't make hay about telling people it. :)

Answer 6

A person after my own heart!

I have a small rug at the side of the door and casually say, as they enter---you can just leave your shoes over there, where I leave mine. And, I have a pair of shoes sitting there. I do not ask or demand. I just mention it-as if I am taking it for granted they are going to do it.

Answer 7

Place a little mat just inside the front door with some shoes on it. Many people will see the shoes and realize that they should take off their shoes also. You can also put a little sign like, "Please take off your shoes when entering."

Answer 8

when they come in, just casually tell them to leave their shoes and make themselves at home. i used to have the same problem about not knowing how to tell people, and i would get so angry when people would wear shoes on my carpet. i find it so rude, and i always take my shoes off when going to a persons house, unless they are entertaining outside.

it is bad form to tell them before they arrive though.

Answer 9

Letting them know about your "rules" before they arrive is rude and impolite.
I can see you 're not a well mannered guest and not very hospitable. You should avoid imposing rules before your guests arrive.

Stop being so obsessed about this rule, I can see you don't care about making your guests at home and welcomed all you care is about "your rules", "your floor", "your carpet"

What's the big deal about them wearing shoes around your house? One golden rule in this country is to make your guests feel at home, regardless of your personal situation.

Once they arrive you can ask them POLITELY to remove their shoes so they can make them selves at home.
Other way to hint them would be for you and your spouse to greet them at the door barefoot (or wearing socks).

Most of all, try to be hospitable, this would make you a better host/hostess.

Answer 10

I usually just tell them beforehand that they'll be expected to remove their shoes at the door. That way, they can wear good socks or bring their own slippers. I always leave some shoes by the door as a hint, and I answer the door in my stocking feet.