Do you enjoy having people in your home?

Question

I watch a lot of HGTV and people are always worried about how things will be for entertaining, like the backyard, the dining room, the layout of the living room. I don't enjoy having people in my personal space. How often do you "entertain"?

Answer 1

I´m honest,I don´t like people in my home.And I don´t like to entertain people either.It´s my private space and I don´t like it being invaded by strangers.
A BBQ now and then is ALL that only close family and friends can expect at my place.
On the other side I do not like to go to other peoples homes either so no one gets hurt here.

Answer 2

LOL you know I feel the same way. I hate having people invade my space. But the next house will be a town house and we can have levels. The first level is the public level. A bathroom, the kitchen, the entertaining area. But the top levels are my personal sanctuary and you don't get entrance in there. Even still, we have people over probably once every 3-4 months.

In college I was a very social individual but after a week of parties and social activities, I'd go into my room for 3 days and not come out. My roommate wanted to talk to me, she knew if the door was closed I was feeling antisocial and she could knock but I may not answer.

I definitely feel like my house is my sanctuary. I have friends that feel the same way. We go out to dinner at least once a month if not more and have never been in their house for more than 3-4 minutes. They've never been in ours. However I have some friends that wouldn't care if their husband brought someone home from work without asking first. I think I just might kill my husband over that.

Are you the same way about going out though? If I called you at 9pm and said hey there is a great party, come over--would you go? I have to get myself ready for a party. I need to know several hours in advance, b/c once I've mellowed and gotten in my head that this is a stay at home, read a book, take a bubble bath kind of night--you aren't getting me out for ANYTHING! I don't care how great the party is.

Answer 3

I love entertaining! I do it probably every week. It gives me an excuse to keep my house tidy and I have a lot of fun cooking a meal or having a glass of wine with some friends or family. A lot of times, my friend Anne and I will get together at my house (since I have a larger kitchen) and bake all evening while our husbands play video games or talk.

Entertaining doesn't have to be formal. I just think having people I love around is the best!

Answer 4

I love to entertain. We entertain a couple of times a month, whenever we are able to get together with people. I don't worry about how things will be. It's always pretty casual when we entertain. We want everyone to feel comfortable. The way I see it, if my home isn't good enough for people, then they don't have to come over. Simple as that.

Answer 5

No.

It might be because I don't have my house set up the way I'd like it (yet, hopefully I'll get there some day). Also, I clean it myself in addition to the million other things I have to and want to do. With 2 kids and a big goofy dog, it's never pristine.

But also, even when I am thinking about how to set it up, I think about how I want it, how it will make our family comfortable and happy. It seems silly to set up a formal living room and a formal dining room and only use them when people come over . . . .

Answer 6

Most of the time. My family all lives within 5 miles of me and I have someone over for dinner or to just visit all of the time. I also have friends that just stop by to catch up. I enjoy having my home set up for entertainment and I love to entertain and apparently everyone knows.

Answer 7

I don't like having people over at all. I'll invite people to meet somewhere but never, ever at my place. Now I also have a small apartment with just one main room (apart from kitchen/storage etc) so inviting anyone over means they're in my bedroom/living space combined, too... I didn't mind having people over when I lived in a larger house and the guests were in the living room. But there also, while my house-mates would regularly invite their guests into their own room and chat/hang around there, I never did, I never invited any guest into my bedroom for anything.

Answer 8

I hate it. I just don't like to be around a lot of people so I don't entertain. I love to plan the party, cook the food all that but don't want the people. Of course I do have a social anxiety issue so that could be the cause.

Answer 9

The last place my parents' had was 3 floors high - a space they needed initially but eventually people moved out and my parents were left with spare rooms doing nothing and a big fat mortgage. So they rented out. I was on the top floor, my parents slept on the bottom floor, so in the middle we had various people staying at any given time. I hated it. It meant I had to check the landing to make sure no one was around before wandering out in my PJs (something which a girl SHOULD be able to do!), and I had to share my floor's bathroom with my sort of estranged cousin who never spoke but brought his girlfriends back all the time and who left the bathroom in a state. And I had to clean it. YUKYUK. But, my parents have moved now and their new house is very quiet comparatively. I have also moved out, and mine and my boyfriend's house often has people round - 99% of the time my boyfriend's friends. He has them to stay over, which does get old if I'm in uni at the crack of dawn the next day and he's downstairs with the Xbox on full volume. I have to wear ear plugs lol. But, honestly, I like the company. His friends are generally top blokes, they respect me and our house - which I keep clean, and they don't abuse the freedom they are given, eg, getting their own food or drinks when they want to, helping themselves to whatever's in the fridge, etc. I have to keep on top of the cleaning in this case, cos they're always dropping in every few days or so, but I would keep on top of it anyway, I'm very hygiene conscious!

I enjoy having a home that people want to be in. My boyfriend's mum's home is an open house, where people just come and go as they please with the only proviso being that his mum knows they're there. So, in this respect, my boyfriend's own home was always going to be the same way. I love making it welcome, and always burn scented candles etc to create a safe environment for people - we're both sort of agony aunts (or uncles lol), so people turn to us for support. I like that our lounge is a lovely warm, welcoming room. I try my best to offer people tea and coffee, meals etc, without being too overbearing. I also like that I am welcome to stay in the same room while my bf and his friends are around - I am a part of the group, which is wonderful. I don't mind them seeing me in my PJs etc, cos they're all decent guys. And his female friends are lovely - except for one or two who aren't allowed around (gotta draw the line somewhere don't you?), but I don't like them staying over for the simple reason I don't find it appropriate. It would be exactly the same with my own female friends - I'm not overly keen on them staying either, for the same reason.

Answer 10

I enjoy entertaining occassionally. The prep. is a lot of work, but usually worth it. I am happy, however when they say "goodnight" and leave.