Clean up cookware before your guests arrive. Not only are you knocking out tasks so you don't have to do them later, but you're also creating a clean space to work and hang out in while people are ...

I took the time to identify three areas I reckoned could be improved before my guest arrived. The final five tasks were tiny finishing ones that would pull the room together with minimal effort.

Darlin Tillery is a Newsweek reporter specializing in Life and Trends, focusing on the latest societal shifts. Based in North Carolina, Darlin covers a range of trending topics, from viral online ...