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" Even the most polite guests can experience an undeniable foot-in-mouth moment. We know, we&amp;#039;ve been there. So here&amp;#039;s our short primer on the phrases and questions to avoid to protect your host from unnecessarily hurt feelings. 1. &amp;quot;This must have been a fortune!&amp;quot; Maybe it was. But your comment will likely make your host feel self-conscious about their spending. Keep the conversation around the beauty of the pieces or the clever choices, not the financial commitment. 2. &amp;quot;Let me help tidy up before the rest of the guests arrive.&amp;quot; Wonderful sentiment, terrible execution. Be wary of the implication that the home needs extra cleaning (and that your host is therefore incompetent). If you&amp;#039;d truly like to lend a hand, offer a more vague &amp;quot;Is there anything I can do to help?&amp;quot; 3. &amp;quot;You&amp;#039;ve made so much progress since the last time we were here!&amp;quot; Unless their home was literally a renovation site the last time you visited, stay away from any compliments that praise the present state of someone&amp;#039;s home at the expense of how it looked in the past. Instead, keep the focus on how great things look now, rather than in comparison.  4. &amp;quot;Your home is so cozy!&amp;quot; Yes, it can be meant as a compliment. But when it&amp;#039;s presented without context, less-confident hosts might see the comment as a slight against the size of their home. Try pairing it with words that emphasize the positive connotation (warm, comfortable, festive). 5. &amp;quot;Is that homemade?&amp;quot; We&amp;#039;re talking decor, not food. If the object you&amp;#039;re referring to is store-bought, you&amp;#039;ll make the host worry that their money wasn&amp;#039;t well spent. If it is, you may be implying that their handiwork isn&amp;#039;t polished. If you love the item, just compliment it. If it is handmade, they&amp;#039;ll tell you and you can praise them, then. TELL US: What other statements would you add to this list? Photo: David Cox/Getty NEXT: 5 Quick Ways to Clean Up Before Guests Arrive \u00BB This story originally appeared on Elledecor.com More from Elle Decor: \u2022 How to Host Guests In Style \u2022 10 Smart Tips for Hosting Your Best Summer Party \u2022 Don&amp;#039;t Make These Entertaining Mistakes "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a24935/etiquette-for-houseguest/>