How do you start a no shoes policy?

[helsi]

We are just about to start renovating our house to how we want it. This means that I am getting brand new flooring and carpets throughout and due to the colour scheme I have decided to operate a no shoes policy once it is all done.
How do I start a new shoes policy with adult visitors e.g family and friends who come round? I don't want them to think I am pretentious and I feel a bit nervous about saying to them "will you take your shoes off please".

I know what you are saying about light coloured carpets, completely stupid i know but they look so nice.
I have to say that i wouldnt have them again, when we picked it i was about 6 months pregnant and there was a great offer on it so was temperarily insane with hormones and nesting instinct!

i quite like light coloured things but know it would be asking for trouble...i don't particularly like the plasticky covered cotton tablecloth we have on the kitchen table but it gets covered in so much crap everyday i think with kids you have to put taste on hold a bit..

I'd have a no shoes policy if my hallway was big enough, but it's so narrow that there's nowhere to put shoes.

I agree and in every other aspect we have done. We have gone for cheap and cheerful with furniture and the good stuff is boxed up in the loft along with nice ornaments etc. Because the carpet was relatively cheap, we are not too fussed as we agreed we would pull it up in 3/4 years any way. What makes me mad about people dragging in dirt and not taking their shoes off is (i believe) an attitude of disregard and a lack in respect for our home.
The kids we have round have a great time and i do not make an issue of "the carpet" at all with them. I ask that they eat at the table which they dont seem to mind at all. Friends and their children come back time and time again for play and parties so they must not be offended. (i hope not anyway)

We have a built in cupboard by the door for shoes. Most people automatically take their shoes off, but if they dont look like they are going to and they have children in tow, I find it easier to say to the child `shall I help you take your shoes off' (the parent normally gets the hint without being offended)

my mum has just had wooden floors in her new house, so had the same problem - she has got a doormat which says "please remove your shoes!" on it - she has spare slippers byt the door, and if those 2 hints dont work, she just says "take your shoes off!!!"

Bundle, why light? it reflect the light beautiful making nthe room lok brighter. bigger and cosier. And if you are very strict of having a very clean house you know when they get dirty. But I'm with you... a nightmare to keep clean, too stresful if you have often people around...

We have cream/beige carpets too and they are just the nicest colour and make the room look spacious and airy.

We have a no-shoes policy 99% of the time and friends don't mind - in the summer when it's dry I'm no so strict but when it's wet outside people offer anyway.

Of course accidents happen with the kids so I just have it cleaned every 6 months and it costs me about £50.

Just put a mat by the front door for people to wipe their shoes on. Then if they're really dirty they'll take them off. I've taken to wearing slip on trainers, cos it's a pig to have to bend over ans untie/tie laces all the time. On the whole I'm with Bundle on this, why insist on light coloured carpets? What do you do about cake crumbs/juice/vomit from kids? I think you can either have kids or a clean house, not both (that's my excuse anyway...)

and don't let lilies into the house

see poor legle begle's post

....plus what do you do when you have to let old decrepeit people in who can't bend over any more? (Bit like me some days?) Live and let live I say.

This brings back memories of dh visiting me in Japan. Stupid idiot only brought one pair of shoes- doc martens. Fool! Spent the whole time moaning about not having slip ons.

BTW cubbyholes are better (less fiddly) than shoe racks. Put some slippers in therecso people can swap straight over. Hope you're doing a separate pair of toilet slippers as well (now that was a pain in the arse).

DS1 always takes his shoes off (in the strangest places such as when we were popping into to feed the neighbours cats) but will only take them off sitting on the bottom stair. Can't catch him before then (it's a rule - bottom step= shoes off nowhere else). Right pain when he has muddy boots on our steps are way away from the door. My friend's dd will only allow people to wear either shoes and socks or no shoes and no socks- no mix so don't invite her or she'll be grabbing people's legs trying to shove thier feet into shoes.

Errrr are you sure this is a good idea? It is surely just one more thing to worry about, oh god are my cream carpets going to get all dirty.