What you really shouldn't do in someone else's house

Making plans with friends or planning a date can of course be done outside; but it doesn't have to be. It's just as cozy to meet at someone's home. If you choose this setting, make sure to behave properly. Especially if you're visiting for the first time. According to etiquette experts, a number of things surprisingly often go wrong, and we are happy to help you avoid those awkward mistakes in the future. If you catch someone else doing it? Then this is also your free pass to say something about it.

Feel free to look around, but with your eyes

Haven't we all heard this saying while shopping with our parents: ‘you look with your eyes’? But when it comes to your behavior in someone's house, this is something to fall back on. Of course, you can look around a bit and the chances are that you mainly have to ‘act like you're at home’; only they almost never mean that literally. It's usually not appreciated if you immediately plop down on the couch with your feet on the coffee table. Another reminder: not every door or cabinet needs to be opened. A little snooping won't make anyone angry, but just ask first before you start pulling things out of the cabinets. You might as well leave your inner interior stylist at home; it's not up to you to rearrange the entire decor.

A tour is not always included

Especially if you're visiting someone's home for the first time, you're naturally very curious about what it all looks like. However, it's not very polite to immediately ask for a tour. Many people are proud of their home and want to share it, but that doesn't apply to everyone. If no one spontaneously asks if you want to take a tour, there's probably a reason for that. What you definitely shouldn't do is start your own tour. You're a guest and can't just snoop around everywhere without permission. You wouldn't want that either, right?

Time to make that exit

You probably don't have a strict plan for how the evening will go at the beginning. You certainly don't have to agree on a fixed end time. There should be some room for spontaneity. However, it's important to keep an eye on not staying too long. There's a good chance the other person won't literally say that you need to go, but by paying attention to body language and actions, you can spot that message in time. If someone starts tidying up subtly, that's a clear sign that the evening is coming to an end. By then throwing the ball yourself and announcing your departure, you save both of you from an awkward situation. It's a good sign that it could have lasted longer, but there's always a next date for that.

Hiding clutter is a no-go

No matter how hard you try to behave perfectly, something can always go wrong. Maybe you accidentally knock over a flower pot or spill something while eating. Annoying, of course, but really not a disaster. What you shouldn't do is try to hide it. They will see the stains later anyway, and then the situation suddenly becomes awkward. It's better to just be honest about it. Usually, it's so tidy that you can laugh about it afterwards.

Plus one? Only with a heads-up

Maybe you have an evening planned, and you actually think it's nice for them to meet your new flame right away. Important tip: first ask if that plus one is really welcome. You can't just bring someone unannounced while it's not your house. It also changes the dynamics of the evening, which not everyone may be in the mood for. So, even though the chances are high that it will be fine, a message beforehand is just polite. girlfriends Etiquette on the menu.

Have you been invited to a dinner? Then communicate your dietary wishes and allergies well in advance. You can't assume that everyone just knows what you can and cannot eat. If you wait too long to text? Then the groceries have probably already been bought, and everything has to be changed. Not really a nice start to your evening. Now that we're talking about food, it's also not up to you to decide what pets can and cannot have. Even if the dog is staring at your snack board so cutely, first check if you can give them something. That little creature is someone's baby, and they naturally want the best for it.

Is there perhaps a shoe rule?.

It's really a personal preference: do you keep your shoes on or off inside? Some people really don't like it if you bring in all sorts of dirt from outside; and that's not strange. Maybe it's not such a big deal for you, but it's still polite to consider others. So don't just walk straight in. First, ask what is desired; that will only be appreciated.

Empty hands? Not really chic.

We actually don't need to explain this anymore, but showing up at someone's place with empty hands is not very chic. Okay, if you're practically living at their door, you really don't have to bring something every time. But for a first visit, you should expect that. It doesn't have to be anything big either. A nice bottle of wine or a flower is often more than enough. It's mainly about the effort you put into it. It's just a sign of gratitude that you get to be a guest somewhere. And with such an entrance and your perfect manners, you'll surely be invited back again.

| Image: Craig Blankenhorn\/Max.

Source: Huffpost Meeting at someone's home is really cozy, as long as you behave properly. According to etiquette experts, a number of things surprisingly often go wrong…