Hostingcore is the 2025 trend we're not ready for.

If you need five-to-seven business days to clean your home and mentally prepare for the daunting task of running after guests and making sure they're taken care of for an evening, I don't blame you.

The thought of having guests show up to your home with little to no notice is a nightmare for most, but unfortunately for the introverts of the world (and in good news for extroverted people-pleasers like me), it is also at the heart of "hostingcore" — AKA the latest trend online that only seems to gaining popularity.

Watch: How to clean your house quickly. Post continues below.

What is hostingcore?

Hostingcore is the aesthetic of being ready to have people come over to your home at a moment's notice. AKA, you're always prepared for surprise visits and your home reflects that.

Hostingcore is about being able to offer your place as the crash pad after a night out, or inviting everyone over for drinks at yours after dinner instead of a second location, or having the gals come over for brunch on a whim, rather than going to an over-priced cafe.

Hostingcore is all about preparedness. Having snacks available, a clean home ready for anyone to pop by without too much stress, and drinks that are ready to serve is the basic recipe for being a good host.

The vibes of a gathering can vary person to person: some hosts love pretty glassware, creative tablescapes and fresh flowers for a daytime feel; others prefer dim, vibey lighting, board games and tea.

@projects.studio

Hosting Round Up! My favorutie non work past time is cooking and creating these dinner parties 🎀 A perfect creative outlet that also is fun to host at the end of it! I love a good dinner party and excited for my next couple of plans 🧡 (its so funny to see countless days/hours of prep into a lil 10 sec video hehe)! - - - #dinnerparty #dinnerpartyideas #hostingera #dinnerpartythemes #hostingadinnerparty 🏷️ dinner party, dinner party theme ideas, hosting round up, hosting era, hosting a dinner party, hosting era in your 20s, dinner with friends, dinner party styling with friends

♬ original sound - Brandscents

It's not so much about what you are doing or how your house has to look, but rather about being able to spontaneously have people over and still provide a 10/10 hosting experience.

Which probably sounds exhausting to a lot of people, and it definitely is, even for those of us who love to host. But I do find it rewarding. It's a lovely way to give back to your friends and loved ones, especially if your love language is acts of service. Let me take care of you!!

Where did hostingcore come from?

In a lot of ways, the popularity of hostingcore makes sense — going out is becoming more expensive in this cost of living crisis, as menus become pricier and we end up paying more for less.

In turn, we're choosing to eat at home more often — I know that for me, takeout or restaurants are now for special occasions only.

Young people are also drinking less, which makes going to bars and clubs not quite as appealing. But then how do we catch up with friends and still see our people, if going out to dinner or brunch is not something we're doing as often?

The answer is simply having people come to you instead. It can be cheaper than going out if you do it right, and friends who do drink can bring their bev of choice along for the event.

@howwehost

10 DINNER PARTY ACTIVITY IDEAS THAT AREN’T DRINKING 🍕🕯️🎨🧚🎥🌸 which activity idea is your favorite?!?! ☺️ #dinnerparty #dinnerpartyideas #dinnerpartyactivity #dinnerpartyactivities #partyideas #hostinghacks #hosting #partyhost #hostesswiththemostess #paintnight #candlemaking #candlepainting #outdoormovienight #pizzaparty #diybouquets #flowerbar #charmbraceletparty #charmnecklacediy #visionboardparty #greenscreen

♬ original sound - How We Host✨The VB Picnic Co.

And with the rise of social media, consumerism and the normalisation of trendy decor, I definitely feel the pressure to have an aesthetic home — which in turn makes me want people to come over so they can see it.

Taskrabbit even named hostingcore one of 2024's top trends that will continue to grow in 2025, after it found that requests for home services over the last year seemed to centre entertaining and guest experiences. People asking for help installing home bars increased by 46 percent, and mini fridges were up 26 percent.

Overall, it found hosting and party-related tasks to be up by 40 percent — and help with sofa beds in particular went up to 113 percent! Clearly, we're setting our homes up in ways that can accommodate guests easily.

How to be a good host.

While I love hosting, I totally understand that it doesn't come naturally to everyone, and that some people find it overwhelming and exhausting.

One thing I've noticed about 'hostingcore' videos on TikTok is that they tend to be super aesthetic with multi-course dinners, custom menu cards and expensive tableware — and I'm here to tell you that, while this stuff is super cute, it is absolutely not necessary.

Really, all you need is a tidy home with enough space, a couple of snacks and a drink. Everything else is nice, but extraneous — don't feel like you can't host because you don't have a fancy tablescape, Canva-designed name tags or the time to make six entrees.

@cristinaviseu

When your love language is hosting 💕 ib: @Ronja Ljung’s post. #hosting #host #dinnerparty #pinterestaesthetic

♬ birds of a feather - venus

In my opinion, being a good host is all about having enough seats for everyone, serving food at a reasonable time (AKA not starting to cook dinner at 8pm!), providing some snacks beforehand, and maybe a little sweet treat after.

If hosting still sounds absolutely terrifying to you, it's okay! It's always a bit anxiety-inducing to have someone in your home, but I have some sneaky ideas on how to fake the hostingcore trend:

• Have people come over later in the evening or after dinner — that way, all you need to provide is a drinks and maybe a snack, rather than a proper meal. Less pressure on you is a win! I often invite people around 8-9pm for tea and cake or cookies!

• Can't be bothred sourcing decor? Make use of lamps and candles. They immediately create ambience, your place will smell good, and they're a conversation starter. One of my biggest tips is to have a candle lit in your bathroom — it makes the space feel luxe, like a five-star hotel, with minimal effort.

• Freeze things like cookie dough whenever you make a batch, or have a brownie mix box on hand — that way you can serve people freshly baked goods that are super-low effort and can be ready in 30 minutes!

• If you're a snack household, you're already half way there: just bring out whatever you've already got on hand (nut mixes, chips, crackers, fruit). Instead of serving them straight from the packet, pop them in nice bowls. They'll instantly look more intentional. You can do the same for things like frozen fries or spring rolls — whack them in the air fryer for 20 minutes and serve hot on a nice platter.

• Finally, music: pop on an album in the background for ambience and vibes. If you don't have a speaker, connect your TV.

Anyone can host — it's just about creating a standard that actually feels doable, rather than trying to emulate other people's hosting. Because, as we're so used to these days, a lot of it is made specifically for the camera…

And hey, if you still hate it, hostingcore is always a trend you can sit out!

Feature image: TikTok @stephboloutis, @georgievlewis.