The tablecloth can be imperfect while the invitation feels completely sincere.

Sincerity and presentation are separate, and only one of them is noticed by a guest. A stained cloth, a chipped plate, a house not quite tidy: these register for a second at most, while being genuinely wanted registers all evening. Perfectionism about the setting is usually anxiety wearing the clothes of hospitality. People remember whether they were welcome, not what it was served on.

Invite somebody this week without waiting for conditions to improve. Use the place as it is. When the urge to apologise for the room arrives, replace it with a sentence about being glad they came.