In my house our family is expected to remove their shoes when we enter. Sometimes a quick scoot across the wood floor in the kitchen doesn't hurt, but for the most part, we've taught our kids to remove their shoes when they enter our house or any other house. It just saves my carpets and makes clean up easier. I'm sure many of you have the same rules.
Now that the holidays are here, there are many opportunities to entertain in your home. Do your "rules" change? I have a friend who hosted an adult birthday party and posted signs at every door for people to remove their shoes and another friend who insists you leave your shoes on if you are comfortable.
It's Feedback Friday...
As a hostess, do you expect guests to follow the same rules as your family in regards to wearing shoes in your home?
Would you go so far as to post signs?
As a guest does it make a difference to you?
Would you go so far as to post signs?
As a guest does it make a difference to you?
If you are planning a night out for New Year's Eve tonight, you might want to Check out a post from last year: Jazz it up for New Year's Eve! For more inspiration check out this week's Tutorial Tuesday links.
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As a guest, it makes me a little uncomfortable to be without my shoes in someone else's home. It makes me feel vulnerable lol. As a hostess I would let the guest decide if they are okay with it then they can remove but I wouldn't make it a requirement. And no I wouldn't post signs.
ReplyDeleteWe don't ask people to take their shoes off when we entertain or even have extended family over, but we do make sure to throw down some old (but nicer looking) rugs if it's wet outside so most of the moisture comes off on the rug and not throughout the house. I also feel funny about taking my shoes off at a party - especially if I'm dressed up. It seems weird to me.
ReplyDeleteIt does make me uncomfortable when a hostess *insists* that I remove my shoes.
ReplyDeleteI had one AWFUL woman host one of my Blessings Unlimited parties, and she insisted that I remove my shoes *each* time I came in the house carrying one of my large boxes.
Then I had to walk across slippery hardwood floors in stocking feet and DOWN a flight of stairs to the basement. I was carrying one particularly large box, and I tried to just keep my shoes on for that trip and she freaked out. She said, "Shoes!" really loudly and pointed at my feet. When I tried to explain that the box I was carrying was really heavy and I was afraid I'd slip she replied, "That's why my husband put a runner on the stairs." I wanted to slap her face. No joke.
I think a good hostess should be a bit more gracious and make an exception when hosting adults in her home. Kids, on the other hand, should be encouraged to follow the rules.
My house in Seattle had ivory carpet (and, no, I didn't choose it!) We took our shoes off as we came into the house and kept a basket by the door to deposit them. Also in the basket were about 10 pairs of slippers I picked up at IKEA. Friends and family always took off shoes and grabbed a pair of slippers. When we entertained, I never asked guests to remove shoes. We did have a large oriental style rug in the foyer and I hoped that most "dirt" would be deposited there before dirty shoes traversed the rest of the house.
ReplyDeleteMy new house has people friendly carpet. I continue to have a shoe basket but mostly only family removes shoes now.
It makes me feel uncomfortable as well. People are more important than things- even nice carpet! I think having the family who lives in a home is fine- the day to day stuff will wear it down so fast. But I think if want to entertain, you have to take the risk of dirty floors- just like you take the risk of broken dishes and spilled wine. You just have to prioritze- people or things?
ReplyDeleteWe do our best to take off our shoes, but aren't always great at it. However, I have found that people who have a "shoes off" policy in their home...take their shoes off in mine (without being asked). My aunt always had a shoes off policy, and that included extended family...to be honest, I don't really care.
ReplyDeleteIf you come to my house...take 'em off...leave 'em on...whatever...
If someone wants my shoes to come off (even if it is for a party) then I will take them off...if they don't care, then I'll leave them on. I just want to be respectful of their rules...it's their house, and their carpet/flooring and their money to clean it.
For guests I would let them choose. Some would likely keep their shoes on, and others would not. I would not want people to avoid coming to my place just because they do not want to take off their shoes! I am lucky that my main family room is tile so it is easy to clean!
ReplyDeleteLOL as this is always a dilemma here. We always take our shoes off inside the house. The kids friends always do. I have one great picture of a swim team dinner for fifty with a mountain of shoes piled by my front door!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jen!!
xo Cathy
I keep a little bench and a basket of shoes in the foyer and most people get the hint. But, if someone asks "Do I need to take my shoes off?" I usually just tell them that they can do whatever is most comfortable.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they're wearing raggedy socks or have chipped toe nail polish?! I don't want anyone to feel embarrassed in my home. Hopefully they won't track mud onto my floor...but it wouldn't be the end of the world.
We always remove our shoes (I think it's a Canadian prairie thing!) and if people ask we tell them we don't wear our shoes in the house but if they don't ask we don't suggest it. I actually just read something though about the amount of bacteria tracked into homes on shoes...food for thought :)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I usually don't wear shoes in the house. When we come home from work in dress shoes, we wear them inside, but running shoes or any other outdoor shoes come off before we go in. When guests come over, I never ask them to take off their shoes.
ReplyDeleteI would be really uncomfortable having to take off my shoes, because lets face it, sometimes I have stinky feet!! YES, I just admitted to that, just keeping it real!! I work really hard to keep the stink under control with foot sprays and foot powders etc. So another thing that would embarrass me would be leaving my foot powder all over their house!!
ReplyDeleteI would NEVER ask a guest to remove their shoes. Luckily I have tile floors so it's not an issue.
I just love your Feedback Friday posts!! So fun!!!
we have ivory carpet and don't wear shoes on it often but I would never ask a guest to remove their shoes. Just too many ifs. What if they have old socks on and are embarrassed? What if they worry about foot odor? I just don't think the potential embarrassment is worth a spotless carpet.
ReplyDeleteIt's a rule I've enforced with the kids and their friends, but never would with adults. I've been to a house where the owner insisted that everyone remove their shoes- it made me feel quite uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteI feel very uncomfortable without shoes on my feet at other peoples' houses, so I'm glad when they don't mind guests leaving shoes on. At our house, we leave it up to the guest.
ReplyDeleteish ish ish! I hate shoes on carpet... think of all the nastiness on the bottom of your shoe..... ISH! Yep, shoes off at my house. I haven't had to post signs, I guess my friends know me well :), but I do always put extra rugs out and throw a couple of our own pairs of shoes on them just to get things started :)
ReplyDeleteAnyone can keep their shoes on or remove them at my house. We don't usually keep them on at home but I do during parties. I just want people do whatever makes them feel comfortable and relaxed at my house. I don't have carpets though...
ReplyDeleteAs a guest, I don't mind removing my shoes. I just look at the feet of whoever answers the door or ask as I come in. I do, however, feel very awkward when the host doesn't give me an opportunity to remove them on my own and greets people at the door verbally demanding shoe removal. It makes me hyper conscious (and therefore uncomfortable) of dropping a crumb, rumpling a pillow, and sets an uneasy tone for the rest of the visit. If shoe removal is a must, a sign on the door would be appreciated.
I like it if guests remove their shoes, but I would never ask them to. If they ask, I always say, it doesn't matter. I am a year round barefoot person, I just don't like shoes or socks, but I have heard that walking on carpet barefoot is actually worse than shoes, because of the natural oils on your feet.
ReplyDeleteWe are a shoes off family at our house and my kids' friends know this, but when adults come over I never think to ask them to remove them, and would never do signs or ask people at a party to remove them.
ReplyDeleteI missed out on last week's party but I put your button on my blog anyway. I have to keep visiting and seeing all the great tutorials. Maybe this week I'll remember to put one of my tutorials on...
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a Happy New Year. Linda
...I was born in England (where they never take off their shoes) lived in LA for two years (same there) but raised in Sweden (where they DO take off their shoes). Had a hard time teaching my stepchildren and their dad taking their shoes off. I hate cleaning and walking in with dirty shoes doesn't help. After moving back (without husband and children) I know that they always take their shoes off, saves a lot of cleaning apparently. So shoes off!!!!
ReplyDeleteMost people seem to go shoeless in their own homes, so I doubt it is any hardship to take their shoes off.
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing wrong with asking people nicely to remove their shoes. Nobody has ever been offended by my asking.
I have an whole blog on this subject: Shoes Off at the Door, Please You might like to take a look.