17 Useful Hosting Tips for the Fall Season

Ok, I know it’s still August, but fall content is here to stay! As we move closer to the fall season, we also move into hosting season. There’s something so fun about hosting during cooler months. Homes feel cozier and more inviting when it’s cold out, probably because you want to be inside where it’s warm. Last year, I hosted a fall dinner party for my family and it was so much fun. There was good fun, some entertainment, and best of all, time with loved ones. I didn’t start hosting until I moved into my own apartment in 2022. There’s been a time of transition over the last few months due to moving out to Colorado. But now that we’re settled, I get to begin hosting again and I’m so excited. If you’re new to hosting or want to get better at it, then I know you’ll enjoy these hosting tips for the fall season.

What is involved with hosting?

I think many people get intimidated when they hear the word “hosting,” especially if they’ve never done it before. I’m happy to tell you hosting does not have to be scary! You don’t need to hold elaborate dinner parties or themed evenings but you can if you want to. Hosting can be as simple as having one friend over for a cup of coffee to read and discuss a devotional or even just talk. You’ll find that many of my hosting tips for the fall season apply to all kinds of hosting, both simple and more elaborate.

Here are some simple hosting ideas:
Have a friend over to chat while you sip coffee or tea and munch on pastries.
Host a potluck brunch where everyone brings and item.
Tell friends to bring a favorite craft to work on. Provide some snacks while you work on your crafts.
Host an ice cream social. Provide the ice cream and have friends bring the toppings.
Invite friends for a porch night. Make a pitcher cocktail of margaritas, then have some chips and salsa.
During Christmas, have a cookie party where each guest brings a dozen cookies to share. Put on some festive music in the background.

Why should you host?

If you are an introvert, hosting might be more difficult for you, especially if you’re thinking of it in terms of crowed size. However, don’t let the word throw you off. The best case for hosting is in the Bible. Hospitality is a spiritual gift and even beyond that, in Romans 12:13, Paul says, “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Hosting is a form of hospitality where guests are welcomed into someone’s home and treated with dignity and kindness.

crop woman with tray of champagne glasses

I’ve found that many people love getting invited to gatherings, but they aren’t necessarily going to be the person who will reach out and host others. On an episode of The Spillover with Alex Clark, I listened to Sally Clarkson talk about hosting others. She mentioned something similar, that it can be hard for others to open up their home. Like I said earlier, hosting doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be as simple as coffee or tea and maybe a treat to offer. The most important part is your attitude. Have you ever walked into a home and either didn’t feel welcome or felt really uncomfortable? I know I have. As a host, your job is to make others feel welcomed and like they want to be there, not like they’re obligated to do so.

What makes a great host(ess)?

The question is then, what makes a great hostess? I’ll reiterate and say it goes back to attitude. You have to WANT to have others in your home. If I’m honest though, there are a few other things that make a great hostess and I’ll be sharing some of these hosting tips for the fall season below. Some other things that make a great hostess is someone who can plan ahead and is at least somewhat prepared. I also think it’s important to be someone who values having a clean home. I’m going to say the quiet part out loud: No one likes going to a messy, dirty, smelly home. It doesn’t need to be spotless and “white glove wipe down ready.” But I think most of us agree we feel more comfortable in a clean environment that smells good. I think one of the most important qualities to have to be a good hostess is to be able to anticipate others’ needs. So now, let’s talk about some of these hosting tips for the fall season.

woman in apron putting pouring water in cup

Hosting Tips for the Fall Season

Light a candle.

Lighting a candle is one of the easiest hosting tips for the fall season. There’s something so cozy about walking into a home and having it smell like baked goods even if nothing has been baked! In my opinion, lighting a candle should never be used to mask smells in a home, but rather to enhance an already clean home. Not only that, but seeing the glow of a candle makes things feel even homier. I like to place candles in my bathroom/powder room and then either my kitchen or living area. Some of my favorite candle companies right now are Swan Creek Candle Co., Matchbox Candle Co., and In the Wick of Time.

Make your powder room cozy.

If there’s one thing I love about going into someone’s home, it’s a beautiful powder room. I think powder rooms tend to be easy because they’re small. Of the many hosting tips for the fall season you’ll read in this post, this is another easy one. You don’t have to go crazy with decorating. In fact, I decorated my powder room for less than $100. I just bought two shelves and lined them with a few decorative elements. Then, I bought a generic picture and a cute basket to store extra toilet paper. Even if you don’t want to add a lot of decorations, you can simply make sure your powder room is clean. Make sure you’ve wiped down surfaces, cleaned the toilet, and taken out any trash. I decided to add this Harvest Chestnut candle for an added touch of hominess.

Play music to set the mood.

Another thing I love when going to someone’s house is when they have music playing in the background. I have a really cool 1960s Zenith radio and sometimes I’ll put that on in the background. Most times though, I have a playlist curated for the occasion. Having a backyard BBQ? Opt for classic rock or country. How about a spring/tea party? Choose French and Rat Pack tunes. For fall, I usually go with indie/folk/acoustic music. I’m having a Gilmore Girls party in a few weeks and I already have my playlist chosen for it. If you don’t want to create your own list, Spotify and Pandora both have great options for any mood or occasion.

Don’t clean at the last minute.

If you work full-time, this might be a tricky piece of advice, especially if you feel like it’s hard to fit in time to clean regularly. One of the best hosting tips for the fall season that I can give you though, is to make sure you clean ahead as much as possible. Many of us homemakers have routines that we follow, especially when it comes to cleaning. It really helps. I’m definitely not the most dedicated cleaner in the world, but I do work to make sure my house is tidy and that surfaces are regularly wiped down and floors are swept. Since I clean throughout the week, I don’t have nearly as much to do before guests arrive.

I remember when I was a kid and we would have people over, we would frantically clean hours and hours before guests arrived because our house was always a mess. I vowed that would not happen in my own home when I grew up. Yes, I am blessed that I get to stay home and clean when it works best for my schedule. However, even taking 10-15 minutes per day can make a big difference over time.

Plan ahead.

Even if you only plan to have one friend over for a cup of coffee while you sit on your couch and chat, it’s still a good idea to plan ahead. If you’re planning a themed party or more involved dinner, you will definitely want to plan ahead. For something that’s simpler, make sure you have drinks and snacks prepped ahead of time. Most coffee pots have timers on them so you can set it to brew right before friends arrive. I love to bake, so I make sure to keep extra treats in the freezer that I can quickly pull out to thaw before having company over. For bigger events, I create pretty detailed lists and timelines. I actually get so detailed with it, I plan out my grocery lists for bigger events at least a month in advance and space out the food items into my weekly grocery lists. It works great every time.

Create schedules and timelines.

This really only applies if you’re hosting a bigger event, but it’s one of the most useful hosting tips for the fall season. If you’re throwing a dinner party or having family for Thanksgiving, creating schedules and timelines is incredibly helpful. Depending on the event I’m hosting, I plan as far out as two months in advance. For Thanksgiving last year, I created an incredibly detailed planning guide and checklist. You can even grab a free copy of the menu and grocery list I created!

When working with schedules and timelines, it’s always a good idea to plan backwards from the end of the event. Timelines are really useful if you have multiple dishes or items that you’re cooking. I love using schedules and timelines because they allow me to plan out when I need to have everything ready to go before guests arrive! Aim to have everything prepared at least 1-2 hours before guests arrive so you have time to relax and finish any last-minute preparations.

Set expectations.

Setting expectations for guests is such a good idea. Here’s what I mean by this. When guests arrive, especially if they’ve never been to your house before, they want to know what to do and where to go. They’re probably wondering things like if they should take off their shoes, where the bathroom is, what the food options are, where they can sit, and if you have any specific rules or norms they need to follow. No one enjoys feeling awkward and not knowing what to do. When guests enter, make sure they are aware of any immediate expectations, like where they should put clothing items and where they’ll be kept. Also let them know what the plan is for food and where they can access the bathroom. It will put their minds at ease and make them feel more relaxed.

Make sure everyone is introduced.

This is one of the most important hosting tips for the fall season. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone somewhere, either at a home or in public, and I haven’t been introduced to the people around me. I’m fortunate that I’m an extrovert and will gladly introduce myself. However, not every guest is going to be outgoing like that. As guests arrive, after you’ve greeted them and shown them around, make sure you introduce them to the other guests. Your introverted friends will thank you!

Help guests make connections.

After guests are introduced, help them make connections. Unless you’re having a party where everyone knows each other, you’ll have guests that don’t know at least a few people, and some won’t know any. I think a good hostess is able to help her guests make connections. If you know two friends love cats and both have cats, introduce them! Have a group of bakers or girls who love brunch? Get them talking. Even as an extrovert, it still can be awkward to go someplace where you don’t know anyone. It’s even worse when the host ignores guests. Do not be that host! If you have a guest who looks really standoffish, invite her to help you so she has some company. You can even invite another extrovert and hopefully get them talking. 😊

Provide options wherever you can.

I say this from much experience: Guests like having options, especially when it comes to food and drink. Everyone likes different things and some guests might have intolerances or allergies. Obviously, you don’t want to drive yourself crazy, but it’s good to have a variety for guests to choose from. Having a coffee date at home? Provide a few different mix-ins for the coffee like half and half, sugar, and then a fun creamer. Try this homemade pumpkin spice creamer!

Like I said, I like to keep homemade treats in the freezer and pull them out when guests come over. If that’s not your thing, you can pick up some muffins, donuts, or bagels from a local store or bakery. For bigger parties, turn it into a potluck. This is great for guests who have a variety of tastes. If you can’t stand vegetarian dishes but have a friend who is a vegetarian, have her bring her favorite vegetarian dish to share.

various desserts on a table covered with baby blue cover

Have your home stocked with essentials.

It’s easy to forget things when you wing it, so make sure you plan ahead! One of the many useful hosting tips for the fall season is to make sure you stock your home with essentials. You’ll want to thick about foot traffic and any activities you may have planned. Obviously, guests will need to use the bathroom, so make sure you have plenty of toilet paper and soap. If these are getting low, top them off!

For food, you’ll want to supply plenty of plates, napkins, flatware, and glasses. You’ll want them to be in an easy-to-access location like on a countertop. If you’ll be sitting on the couch and it’s in the colder months, cozy blankets are always a good idea to have on hand for guests to wrap themselves in.

Be a leader.

I’ve alluded to this tip before. If you aren’t willing to make sure all guests know you are in charge during an event you’re hosting, you may not want to host it. As the host of an event, you are in charge of welcoming guests, setting expectations, preparing food, leading guests through a schedule/timeline. They will be looking to you with any questions they have and you need to point them in the right direction. You are in charge and guests know that. If you don’t want to step up, that’s totally ok, but you might want to consider hosting a smaller-scale get-together, like just having a friend or two over for snacks and coffee. If you’re up to hosting a bigger event, then lead on!

A little food goes a long way.

This is advice for me as much as it is for you! I love to overdo it when it comes to food. My kryptonite is that I plan to make way too much food and I end up not having enough time to get it all done. This is where schedules and timelines have been really helpful for me. Even so, you do not need a lot of food to make friends happy. I’ve mentioned this earlier, but if you’re having a mid-morning coffee date, you can go as simple as a few store-bought pastries, Your friends will just be happy you’re having them over. For bigger parties, it’s typically the host who provides the main meal. Go with that, one finger food option, and a dessert. If you want more, ask guests to contribute.

Prep food ahead of time.

If you’re preparing the majority of food yourself, make sure you have it prepped ahead. Like I’ve mentioned a few times, when I make baked goods or other treats, I freeze the leftovers so I can just pull out a few items for when friends come over. For bigger parties, crockpot foods and casseroles are your friends! They can easily be made in advance and heated within a few hours of your event. Look for make-ahead recipes that you can pop in the freezer until they’re ready to be used.

These are some of my favorite easy options for food:

Stock up on beverage choices.

I’ll be honest, I’m not great at this one! I pretty much drink water and coffee. Every once in a while, I’ll buy Zevia or Bai, but I’m pretty much stick to the same stuff. I’m always the person who only has water to offer her guests. So, similar to the last tip, this one is for me as much as it is for you all. Water is obviously a great option, but sometimes guests want something more. For bigger parties, typically you’ll offer a cocktail or some kind of poured drink, along with soda and maybe iced tea. If you’re doing a simpler event, consider having some flavored carbonated water. Here are some great drink options for when you have guests over:

a glass bottle with brown liquid beside a glass of cold drink

Provide takeout boxes for leftovers.

If you have a bigger event, you WILL have leftovers! It just happens. There is always food left over. Have you ever gone to somewhere with food and it was all gone at the end?! I’m pretty sure I haven’t. And guess who gets stuck with all the leftover food? That’s right, it’s you. One trick I learned was to get takeout boxes and push guests to take food with them before they leave. Most guests eat there fill but end up wanting more and are just too full. Or, they end up not trying everything because they ate too much. Takeout boxes are a great way to get rid of leftover food and make guests happy.

I usually get my takeout boxes from Hobby Lobby, like these ones or these ones. You can also opt for these plastic containers with lids, these eco-friendly boxes, or these aluminum pans with lids.

Remember you are not perfect.

This is one of the best hosting tips for the fall season, if not the best. You are not perfect and you will make mistakes. Your timeline will be off, a recipe will go awry, guests will arrive while you are still cooking and preparing. The list is endless. Nothing is going to go exactly your way and you have to run with it. The best thing you can do is be as prepared as possible but be flexible and ready to throw out your plan if necessary. If need be, enlist a close friend to arrive early to help you finish final preparations. More than anything, just breathe and enjoy the moments you’ll spend with your friends.

Love this post? Then I know you’ll love some of my other posts! Check out my Fall Dinner Party Planning Post, Reasons to Get Excited about Fall (2024), Salem, Massachusetts Itinerary, and Ultimate Fall Bucket List.

Well, my friends, I hope this post encourages you to find enjoyment in hosting! Whether you are just having a few friends over during the day or putting on a big themed party, I hope these hosting tips can inspire you. What sorts of events do you like hosting? Tell me in the comments below!

17 Useful Hosting Tips for the Fall Season

What is involved with hosting?

Why should you host?

What makes a great host(ess)?