Having someone over can quietly become a much bigger task than you intended.

A cup of coffee turns into a full-house clean. A casual dinner becomes a new recipe, three side dishes, and an afternoon spent worrying about the bathroom.

You can make people feel welcome without making your home perfect.

Start with the visit, not the house.

Think about what you’re actually inviting someone to do. Talk over tea? Eat dinner? Watch a film?

Prepare for that activity first. Make somewhere comfortable to sit, clear enough space for food or drinks, and check that the bathroom has soap, toilet paper, and a clean hand towel.

Rooms you won’t use don’t need to become part of the preparation.

Choose familiar food.

If you’re serving a meal, make something you already know how to cook. Ask about dietary needs ahead of time, then keep the menu manageable.

One main dish can be enough. So can takeout served at the table. The food doesn’t need to demonstrate effort to be generous.

Let people know what to expect.

A clear invitation takes pressure off everyone: “Come over around six for soup and bread,” or “Want to stop by for coffee on Sunday morning?”

It helps guests plan, and it gives you a natural limit on what you need to prepare.

Leave yourself a little time.

Try to finish the essentials before the last possible minute. Use whatever time remains to get yourself ready or sit down, rather than finding another thing to clean.

And if someone arrives while you’re still chopping vegetables, that’s fine too.

Your home doesn’t have to look as though nobody lives there. You’re inviting someone into your life, not presenting a finished room.