Surprisingly, one of the most common reasons that I hear for not entertaining is "I could never have people over.  My house isn’t clean enough."

You are inviting people for a party, not group brain surgery.  We do not need sterile surfaces. Also, the people you invite to your home are your friends.  They know you and they love you anyway.  They will survive an evening in your house even if there is a certain level of disorder. 

To have a party, the only rooms that need to be reasonably tidy are the kitchen (or wherever food is stored and prepared), the bathroom guests will use, and the party where the room will take place (dining room, living room, family room, etc.).  For all the other rooms, just close the doors.  If people start opening closed doors, the problem isn’t your house, it’s that your friends are too nosy.

"Reasonably tidy" doesn’t mean perfect.  Yesterday’s mail still on the end table.  Kid’s toys shoved into a corner.  The book you are reading on the floor next to your chair.  A little dust on the bookshelf. These aren’t reasons to not welcome people into your home.  People understand the life is busy and that we don’t live on movie sets.

I often wonder if all the lifestyle and entertaining magazines have helped or harmed.  It seems that people think they have to throw elaborate events in perfect settings.  Inviting 4 friends to watch the Super Bowl, eat chips and chili, and drink soda and beer is a party too.  Even if your basket of unfolded laundry is next to the couch!