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You’ve sent out the invitations. You’ve picked a theme. You’ve planned and prepped and cleaned and decorated. You’ve even finished cooking the treats. But in my experience, the day of the party can even more stressful than all the planning put together. No matter how much you prepped.

In the 30 minutes before guests arrive there seems to be so much to do, so many last minute adjustments to make. It’s overwhelming. Where do you start?

Below is my personal list of last minute tasks I try to do in those 30 minutes before your guests walk through the door. I’ve ranked them in the order that I try to finish them, but feel free to rearrange as you need!

1. Tidy the Bathroom and the Coat Room

While we like to ignore them, bathrooms and closets are the rooms you should focus most on, other than the living/dining area. You probably won’t find guests wandering into your bedroom or study, but these two areas are likely to see more traffic than you think.

Bathroom

The bathroom at least guaranteed to be used by at least 2-3 other people during the course of your party. And depending on the length of your party, probably more.

I’m assuming you’ve done a deep clean of your bathroom already, so don’t worry about scrubbing down the toilet bowl or cloroxing the handles. Instead, run through this quick list. All you’ll really need is a cleaning towel and your hands.

• Wipe off any water from the sink bowl, faucet, and counters.
• Wipe off any big spots on the mirrors.
• Wipe down the toilet lid, seat, and rim.
• Put out a candle and some matches for guests. (You can light this now or not.)
• Put out a freshener spray.
• Put out something to read: magazine, short stories, guest book.
• Put away any make up, hair supplies, products, medicine, or other assorted and unsightly accessories.
• If you’re having a large party, replace your fancy hand-towels with a roll of cute paper towels. 

Coat Room

During winter, you’ll have to deal with everyone’s coats. And scarves. And hats. And ski masks. And snow-boots. It’s all possible. You’ll want a place to put these accessories. Your party will be crowded enough with people without their full winter wardrobes too… 

If you’re only having a few people over, it’s not as big a deal. Sometimes I even ask people to use their coats as place holders if we’re doing a small buffet-style dinner. But having a coat area is a really nice and classy touch if you can find the time and space!

The coat room doesn’t need to be a full coat-check closet situation. Even if you’re just using your bedroom or side room, keep it neat and clean. Chances are you’ll be the one going in there to retrieve guests’ coats. But we all know that one friend who proves their independence by finding their own coat. If the area is organized and cleaned, it’ll be less of a hassle for everyone.

2. Put away any personal papers, medicines, and valuables 

Obviously no one wants to think that their friends might be snooping…or worse. And the likelihood is they won’t. But you never know who they might bring as a last minute surprise guest. Any time you are having people into your home, especially people you don’t know well, it’s a good idea to tuck away very personal information and anything that could be tempting.

But more likely than a snoop or thief, remember that people at parties get drunk. They stumble around and aren’t in as much control as usual. If all of your valuable trinkets and most beloved decorations are out of the way, you’ll rest easier knowing they won’t be accidentally broken.

Make sure jewelry, heirlooms, breakables are put away. Also tuck away medicines and prescriptions. (We’ve all seen movies with that medicine-cabinet-snooping scene in them.) Put away any bank statements, bills that are lying around, passports, even personal cards from friends if they contain sensitive details. More than any of the other reasons, your home will look a little cleaner and brighter and ready to receive guests!

3. Create Ambiance

Ambiance? What does that mean, exactly? Presumably you haven’t left your main cleaning and decorating for the last minute. So these count as the final touches you bring to a room to make the party atmosphere come alive. That includes lights, music, temperature, and last minute straightening.

Lighting

If you are planning lighting, make sure you set aside 5 minutes to turn them on. If you have twinkle lights, you can even get this out of the way in advance by using their self timer abilities. (Side note, if you can put most of your lights on a timer early in the week, that’s one less thing to worry about.)

Candles

If you want candles, make sure you get out the matches and put them in an easily accessible place. The actual lighting of any candlesticks should be done much closer to your guests arrive. Puddles of wax on the table is not pretty. But if you are using candles in a jar, feel free to light those around the 30-minute mark. They’ll look pretty and make the room smell lovely.

Music

If you’re planning music, turn it on about 5 minutes before guests are supposed to arrive. If you did the playlist yourself, it’s always wise to put a few songs that relax you (or pep you up) on at the very beginning so you can listen just before guests arrive. They can always reappear later in the playlist for your guests as well, but your favorite songs really can de-stress you when you need it most.

Temperature

Check the temperature in your apartment. If it’s summer, make sure fans and A/C are running. Close or open any windows that need adjusting. In the winter it’s really helpful to make sure your heat isn’t too high (especially if you’ve had the oven on all day.) What feels warm and toasty to you alone will feel like a sauna when you’ve got a bunch of guests in the same room. Have a fan handy or open a window in advance.

Party-Room Once Over

Give the main party room a once over. Wipe off any dust, pet hair, or condensation that may have appeared since you cleaned. Fluff any couch pillows and shake out throw blankets. Straighten your coffee table books. Put out flowers or make sure your decorations are where you want them to be. 

4. Set Out Drinks and Appetizers

Whether you are having a casual hangout, cocktail hour, or a full-blown dinner party, having something for guests to eat and drink when they arrive is essential.

If you have time to get snacks out early, do it. It’s the perfect way to welcome guests in and get the party started. Large groups of people who don’t know each other need something to break the ice and you can’t shepherd everyone all the time. Appetizers and food tables are one of the easiest ways to get people chatting. Even if everyone is already good friends, munching on snacks just makes it feel more like a party, doesn’t it?

If you’re doing a welcome cocktail, be sure all the pieces are ready to go before guests get there. It is a welcome cocktail, after all. I personally recommend creating a big batch drink if you don’t have a bartender. You are hosting, not serving. Scooping a ladle or pouring a pitcher is a better use of your time than standing at a bar cart shaking a drink every time someone walks in the door.

If you do have a bartender or are really craving a shaken cocktail, get crazy and go for a fancy shaken drink!

Either way, make sure the drinks area is all set up before guests arrive. That way you can offer them something as soon as they walk in the door. Slightly tipsy guests are more friendly and chatty anyway.

It also gives everyone somewhere to stand and something to do until everyone else arrives.

5. Prepare for Guests’ Unexpected Needs

Sort of a vague heading but there are a few little essentials that are helpful to remember. Make your guests’ visit a little classier. And a little less stressful when things go wrong. Whether you end up using them or not, you’ll feel like a 5-star-host just knowing they’re there.

• Set out extra allergy meds if you have a pet and you know someone is allergic. Nothing ruins a party like your friend sneezing and getting hives because your cat won’t leave them alone. (Daisy has the remarkable ability to sense and target anyone with allergies.) Extra ibuprofen is always handy too!
• Make sure there are tissues or paper towels within easy access in every room guests will use. If someone has a cold, they’ll feel much more comfortable grabbing a tissue that’s already out rather than asking. And when someone spills their glass of Merlot, you won’t need to panic run to the kitchen to grab the towels.
• Make sure you have chilled water if it’s summer. Conversely, make sure you have some warm beverage options if it’s winter. Little touches like this make a huge first impression on people as they come in. They’ll instantly feel welcome if you offer them a hot tea after coming in from the snow. Or an ice water after spending the past three hours stuck on the sweaty NYC subway system.
• Turn the volume up on your phone. Nothing is more irritating for guests than arriving at someone’s party and being unable to get inside because their phone is too quiet.

Remember to take a second for yourself!

Hosting parties is incredibly stressful. You’re opening your home to people and providing for their wants and needs for a time. Not to mention all the prep and planning that had to go into making the party happen in the first place!

Reward yourself before guests arrive. Pour yourself a drink. Help yourself to a welcome cocktail. And be sure to set aside some appetizers on a plate for yourself. There’s nothing worse than running around for the last 30 minutes and welcoming guests as they come in…only to find when you finally have a second to eat all your favorite apps are gone!

If you have more time than you expected. Sit down. Relax. Listen to some music and enjoy all the hard work that went into creating your party.

What if A Guest Arrives Early?

I know. A guest showing up on your doorstep way too early is incredibly annoying. Especially without warning. And the truth is, it’s almost guaranteed to happen when you’re running behind. Good old Murphy’s Law.

But here’s a little secret, most people really enjoy helping out. So get them to help and put them to work! If the drinks aren’t out yet. Have them help you set the bar out. If you need help carrying appetizers to the table, let them do that!

The one thing I don’t recommend is asking them to clean your bathroom. That’s weird. And uncomfortable for everyone.

But straightening cushions and turning on lights is fair game!

Have Fun!

You invited guests to your home to enjoy their company. If you start to rush in the 30 minutes before they arrive or you’re feeling overwhelmed, just remember…this is supposed to be fun. Relax and enjoy yourself!

Your guests aren’t coming over to nitpick your hosting abilities. They’re coming for a good time too. Don’t stress over minor details or that one thing you didn’t get to finish before the bell rang. Chances are guests won’t notice them. And if you’re taking the time to read lists like these, you’re already a super-star-host!

And guests out there…don’t forget to write your host a thoughtful thank you card for all their hard work!