Getting Your Home Ready for Hosting This Winter

The doorbell goes, coats pile up on the banister, wet boots trail towards the kitchen and someone asks where they are sleeping. Hosting guests at home over the winter is one of the great pleasures of the season, but it puts every room under pressure at once. The good news is that a little preparation, done in the right order, makes the whole thing calmer for you and more welcoming for them. This guide works through the house room by room, from the hallway to the guest bedroom and dining table, and finishes with a practical timeline so nothing is left to the last weekend.

Start at the front door

The hallway takes the brunt of winter visits. Rain, mud, wet umbrellas and wheelie suitcases all arrive at once, often in a narrow Victorian passage. A few changes make it far more forgiving:

• A hard-wearing mat at the door catches the worst of the grit before it travels.
• A washable runner along the hall protects the floor and can go straight in the machine once everyone has left.
• Extra hooks or a freestanding coat rack, so coats are not piled on the banister.
• A boot tray and umbrella stand right by the door.

For a typical terrace hall, an 80×240 cm or 80×300 cm runner covers the main path. See our hallway runners for options.

Guest room ideas that make people feel at home

A guest room does not need to be large to feel generous. Think about what you would want in someone else's house:

1. A lamp on each side of the bed, so nobody has to get up to switch off the main light.
2. Space in the wardrobe, a few empty hangers and a clear surface for a suitcase.
3. Fresh towels folded on the bed, with a note of the Wi-Fi password.
4. A carafe of water, a glass and a spare phone charger.
5. Blackout blinds or curtains for winter mornings.
6. A soft rug beside the bed, so bare feet do not meet cold boards first thing.

If your guest room doubles as a study, clear the desk and add a small rug in front of the sofa bed to make it feel like a bedroom rather than an office.

How to prepare home for Christmas guests: a timeline

• Six weeks before: order anything made to order, such as rugs, which can take up to 30 days to arrive. Book any decorating or repairs.
• Four weeks before: deep clean, wash curtains and washable rugs, and declutter the hallway and guest room.
• Two weeks before: wash spare bedding, check the sofa bed and rearrange furniture for extra seating.
• The week before: stock the guest room, plan meals and clear fridge space.
• The day before: fresh flowers, towels out and the heating on in the spare room.

Hosting guests at home: dining and living rooms

When the house is full, the dining table becomes the centre of everything. A rug under the table should extend at least 60 cm beyond the edge, so chairs stay on it as people sit down and get up. Spills are inevitable, which makes a washable rug the stress-free choice under the table.

For winter, colour forecasters point to deep reds, cherry brown and inky blue, shades that feel festive without tinsel. A burgundy or vermilion rug brings warmth to the dining room all season and long after the decorations come down. Browse our red rugs for inspiration.

After the guests have gone

Once the last car pulls away, the hallway runner and dining rug will have earned a wash. Shake or vacuum them first, wash at 30°C on a gentle cycle, then lay them flat to air dry rather than tumble drying. Rotate living room rugs at the same time so wear stays even.

Our rug picks

Lotus Rosette Net Glacier, Ink & Vermilion Distressed Washable RugMade to order · 10 sizes · machine washableFrom£50Garden Portal Burgundy & Teal Moorish Washable RugMade to order · 10 sizes · machine washableFrom£50Dragon Lattice Clay & Sage Caucasian Washable RugMade to order · 10 sizes · machine washableFrom£50Grey Textured Flatweave Indoor Outdoor RugLondon stock · ready to shipFrom£39

Lotus Rosette Net Glacier, Ink & Vermilion Distressed Washable Rug

Glacier white, ink and vermilion in a distressed floral net: crisp, festive and very forgiving of busy feet. Perfect for a dining room. Machine washable at 30°C, made to order in 10 sizes from £50.

Garden Portal Burgundy & Teal Moorish Washable Rug

Burgundy and teal in a classic Moorish design, rich enough for a winter living room or guest bedroom. Pair with dark green walls and brass.

Dragon Lattice Clay & Sage Caucasian Washable Rug

Clay and sage in a Caucasian-inspired lattice, warm and earthy for a hallway as an 80×300 cm runner or a guest room beside the bed.

Grey Textured Flatweave Indoor Outdoor Rug

A grey, rustic flatweave for the front door or porch, where wet boots land. Washable 100% polypropylene, about 4 mm, from £39, dispatched from our Enfield warehouse within 1–2 business days.

Frequently asked questions

How do I prepare my home for guests at Christmas?

Work backwards from the arrival date: order anything with a lead time six weeks ahead, deep clean a month out, prepare bedding two weeks before and stock the guest room in the final week.

What does a guest room need?

Bedside lamps, wardrobe space, towels, water, a charger, blackout curtains and a soft rug underfoot.

What is the best rug for a busy hallway in winter?

A washable runner or flatweave copes best with rain and mud and can be cleaned once the visitors have gone.

Good hosting is mostly good planning. Sort the hallway, make the guest room thoughtful, and when hosting guests at home this winter you will spend more time with them and less time mopping up.