What naice things do you make sure are visible to visitors

[Wiggles84]

Most of the time I have detol hand soap in my bathrooms but if I know someone is visiting my home I get out the posh L'Occitane matching soap and moisturiser stuff I recieved for Christmas a few years back. Surely people notice it's always the same amount of fullness each time they visit? Plus who has enough time to moisturise their hands every time they wash them with a toddler in the house. Jesus if Im more than 15 seconds having a wee he'll be banging the door down wanting to come in or he will have jammed quavers in the xbox. There's no time for the luxury of hand moistorusing. Plus it's a bugger keeping a grip on his squirmy hands St the best of times let alone adding lubrication into the mix.

When my guests leave, back it goes under the sink so as not to waste it.

I also like the fruit bowl to be bursting with beautiful fruit. We always have bananas and satsumas but for some reason a pineapple just makes my mundane life feel that little bit more exotic. "Ooh look at wiggles84 she must peel her pineapple fresh each morning for her delightful childs breakfast". No a quick bit of toast and a banana and we're off to start our days. No one's got time for that surely?

None of us even like pineapple

I know, I know I shouldn't care what people think but what little things do you project to the world so as to not to appear the frazzled dog tired slutten you are?

Your kitchen is gorgeous Gin and I am solo copying your tray.
This thread has just inspired me to light a fancy candle and get a lovely soap out that I had been saving - nobody coming but who cares!
I'm terrible for hiding everything practical in the bathroom when visitors call - toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving foam, cleanser etc all gets squirreled away just leaving behind a fancy hand soap - drives DH mad!

Nice towels, yep
Posh handwash and cream, yep
No stunt pineapple
Wine, instead of Baron saint Jean (£2.99 Aldi, surprisingly drinkable but only the red, wine and rose are gross) would be something in the 8.99-10.99 range from Waitrose conveniently across the road from Aldi
Gin, I have a bottle of Tanqueray in the back of the cupboard and Gordons in the front, the Tanqueray comes out for visitors along with Fevertree tonic instead of Aldis

If I know someone is coming I make sure the cars are parked at a certain angle on the driveway. This blocks the view of the collection of wheelie and recycling bins (madness as everyone has them) and to hide the debt in the garage door.

Still rabbit , that's exactly how I live my life too.
I'm sorry about your mum .

WHITE and rose are gross, ffs

^dent

My garage door has no debts as far as I know!

vienetta thank you for suggesting name change. I will forever be immortalised on MN as StuntPineapple

Having a pinapple in the bowl signified it was officially Christmas in our household as a child and I think it just stuck. Even when I moved out my father would duly bring a pinapple over for Christmas lunch. It was never eaten as a child either, would just get thrown out once it had gone off - probably about 12th night when the tinsel came down.

Last Christmas was the first without my dad and I purposely made sure I had my stunt pineapple. I actually made it part of the table display as a little nod to him.

Going to seize the day and just use up the posh soap, may well refill it with the detol stuff though in future.

OMG Gin I love your washing up area. May well steal it, I'll pay you royalties. I purposely went to Waitrose today to see this posh washing up liquid and Method was on 342 so treated myself to some. Was all smug about it till I read about the Harvey Nick's stuff though.

Also apologies as can't remember who suggested it but loving the cook book idea.

We're moving next week and a few of these little ideas will really brighten the place up and hopefully detract from the fact we'll be living in chaos whilst everyone insists on coming round and snooping.

I also have a good hand towel for the downstairs loo. It's a Joules one don't you know - £6 at an outlet village but no one needs to know that.

"If I thought someone had started to burn scented candles, created a 'just for show' washing up area or put out Special Visitor handsoap just because I was dropping in for a cup of coffee, I would think they were completely mad! Do the people in your lives really notice such things? Do you notice these things if you go to someone else's house??? I mean, who checks the label on the towels?"

Teahornet, I suppose it's because I grew up in a culture where a guest to your home was always made to be an event, to make your guest feel special and welcomed. I don't drop in on people for a cup of coffee and they don't drop in here - we meet at the gazillions of cafes around us. When I invite someone into my home, it is an effort and an event - and I make bloody sure I go out of my way. Even on play dates - but in those cases we forego the candles and bake cupcakes . The focus is still on making your guest feel special and welcomed.

I do the opposite and hide my Molton Brown in case anyone abuses the 2 tier hand wash system: MB for me, Carex / M&S for everyone else.

I will admit to rearranging the bookshelf to put books I have written in a more prominent place. I know this is twatty but my house is a tip and it's a better talking point than the broken cooker in the hall.

Also loving the pineapple deception.

Stunt pineapple

I love this thread.

DH is in charge of all things beautiful for guests. When we have people round, he sends me out for a few hours, and when I come back I don't recognise the house!

Apparently it is a question of decluttering. He hides stuff in cupboards, gets out all the beautiful things I forget we own, and turns it into a thing of wonder.

I actually have no idea how he does it.

Nothing. Why would people care. I wouldn't have time to rush around getting special things out for visitors, then put them away after.

I want a dh like that

I have a hamper of Fortnum&Mason shortbread biscuits that I nonchalantly offer round to guests as if they're our everyday biccies. They come in little plastic wrappers, about 3 biscuits per wrapper which is ace for this purpose.

this is a bizarre thread

no, i don't do anything special in my home to put out a certain air or thought when they're here.

i do special things like buy in/make things if they have dietary requirements/etc, but i don't own anything i'd put out for "show" for guests

Slightly off topic but the stunt pineapple came out when showing our house for sale. Coffee and baking bread too cliched but the pineapple did the trick.

Do you think a stunt coconut would have the same effect?

Muses...

Love this thread!
Will be back later with picture of my downstairs WC with fancy primarni towel.
Is a thing of beauty

Oh, I'm hopelessly shallow and get an inordinate amount of pleasure in having naice faffy stuff dotted around, all the time really.

So, yes, I usually have L'Occitane Lavande handwash and cream by the kitchen sink, and I burn TWC candles (Blanc is my favourite). Our guest bed has a goosedown quilt and a Cath Kidston dressing gown hanging behind the door for guest's use.

I even waste far too much of my time arranging my linen cupboard, so it looks pretty and tuck lavender sachets between stuff, so all our bedding and towels smell luffly.

Don't put anything out as such but always run round toilets on skid watch!

You watch, there'll be a new section in Dunelm by the end of next week for 'stage' cleaning items

I'm jealous of your name now Stunt - I want a new name too, but I don't think 'StagedWashingUpArea' has quite the same ring

I love how you buy pineapples to look more exotic when none of you eat it.

I buy 1 red "witches' apple with my fruit because they look pretty, unfortunately they taste like shit and end up in the compost....