Instant regret! Two-thirds of Americans say don’t tell guests ‘make yourself at home’

NEW YORK — Hosting friends and family from out of town always sounds good in theory, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. Two-thirds of Americans have told a guest to “make themselves at home” and regretted it later.

That’s according to a new survey of 2,000 Americans, which found 72 percent have told a guest to make the space their own — and 91 percent of those have regretted it afterward.

Some of the reasons respondents have regretted allowing people to make themselves at home include guests expecting more meals than planned (54%), overstaying their welcome (45%), and making a mess (39%).

Results also looked to see who makes the worst guests, with friends (42%), siblings (39%), and in-laws (37%) topping the list. For a third of respondents (35%), the situation has become unpleasant enough that they’ve told someone they’re a “bad guest.”

On the flip side, 75 percent of Americans surveyed believe they’re a good host — with 31 percent of those saying they’re a “very good” host.

Commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress and conducted by OnePoll, the survey looked at the lengths that hosts go to, and the steps people can take to ensure their home is inviting.

In order to be a good host, over four in 10 have purchased a new bed or new mattress for people to sleep on when they stay the night (49%) or purchased new furniture to ensure guests are comfortable (45%).

The investment in furniture seems to be well-received, as furniture is one of the first things that respondents notice when entering someone else’s home — after the decor and the general smells or aroma.

“Furniture can be spendy,” says Avocado’s Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Sustainability Jessica Hann, in a statement. “But the right piece can last generations while making our homes feel like the comfortable and special places they are.”

Respondents also admit to using other people’s homes as inspiration for their own, and 43 percent have purchased an exact piece — whether that’s art, furniture, etc. — that they first saw while as a guest in someone else’s home. With that, 60 percent are more likely to purchase a copy if they know it’s sustainably made.

Two-thirds of Americans surveyed (65%) feel better about having people over when things in their homes are sustainable — which might be why 70 percent are concerned about purchasing sustainable items for their homes.

As a guest, 35 percent of respondents admit they’ve judged someone else’s home for not being sustainable.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Avocado Green Mattress on Aug. 7, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).