Should you offer slippers to guests? Viral debate divides opinion

Where do you stand in the 'shoes off indoors' debate? And what's your take on having to provide alternative footwear for guests in your home?

As many of us prepare to welcome family and friends into our homes over the Christmas period, one question online has sparked a viral discussion about whether a host should be expected to provide indoor-appropriate footwear for their guests.

Posting on Mumsnet, user pairofrollerskates shared that they thought households with a "no outdoor shoes" rule should provide slippers for guests. The comment has provoked plenty of debate with almost 600 replies.

The poster asked: "Am I being unreasonable to expect no outdoor shoe households to provide slippers?" They went on to clarify: "Just that - slides, or foot covers of some kind. Of course, if you know in advance it's different, but when you turn up for the first time at someone's house to be told 'please take off outdoor shoes' at the door (which is reasonable, we all get to decide what happens in our own homes), surely something should be provided rather than expect visitors to pad about in bare feet, or socks."

The post left many baffled, with one user writing: "What is wrong with just wearing socks indoors? I would not expect to be provided with slippers and actually wouldn't like it personally. Who knows who has worn them before?" Another voiced concern over what size guest slippers you'd need to supply. The user wrote: "What if you had visitors with small feet, some with large feet etc?" One commenter said: "I think providing shared slippers is odd. No shoes means wander round in socks!"

But there were plenty of people who agreed with the original poster and felt that it was more than acceptable to supply slippers to guests. One commenter said they "provide a choice of plastic or material covers," before adding: "Some people still refuse so they get asked to leave." Another agreed, saying that they provided disposable plastic shoe covers - which "solves all the problems".

But some people take it even further than that. One user recalled how they have a friend who provides indoor slippers and outdoor-garden slippers too. If they are having drinks in the garden, you have to swap if you nip back inside for something and the lady has a massive basket of each in a range of sizes.

Where do YOU stand in the 'shoes off indoors' debate? And what's your take on having to provide alternative footwear for guests in your home? Would you expect a host to provide you with slippers? Have your say.