In case you haven’t heard, staying in is the new going out. From impromptu get-togethers, to carefully crafted dinner parties, to late-night shenanigans, if you want your home to be the place that friends and family come to unwind, relax and throw caution to the wind, you need to be entertaining-ready.
Gone are the days when you could pop on a mix CD, lay out a few bowls of chips and hope for the best. Now, if you want to be the go-to party venue, you need to put in a little more effort.
Fortunately, there are several tried and tested ways to ensure each and every soiree you throw goes with a swing.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Make your guests comfortable
Seating is crucial when it comes to entertaining and how you layout your home’s chairs, and sofas will be dependent on how many guests you are having and how much space you have.
For smaller gatherings, comfort is everything as you want to provide an informal atmosphere that promotes both recreation and relaxation. If you are intending to do a lot of home entertaining over the next few months and over the Christmas period, you may want to invest in some new furniture. You can find a sofa online to suit all budgets, plus, you can have it delivered directly to your doorstep, allowing you to avoid the crowds and spend more time planning your next party.
Choose the right lighting
Never undervalue the importance of lighting when it comes to preparing your home for guests, especially when it comes to eating dinner. Avoid bright overhead lighting that can kill a relaxed atmosphere and instead focus on side lamps and string lights.
If in doubt about how many lights to have on, remember that you want to have enough light so that everyone can see each other but not so much that your guests are unable to unwind and enjoy the evening.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Invest in a bar cart
If you are looking to make a “real bar” experience for your guests, an elegant and stylish bar cart is definitely the way to go. A purely decadent purchase, of course, your home doesn’t need a bar cart, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get one. With a wide variety of styles and designs to choose from, a bar cart also allows you to spend more time actually conversing with your guests as you don’t need to be rushing back and forth to the kitchen preparing drinks.
Your guests can simply help themselves!
Declutter your entryway
The first element of your home that your guests will experience when they arrive at your party will be your entryway. Therefore, you must make a good first impression and clear away any clutter or unnecessary items.
If you have a porch, you should take the time to clear this area as well, removing any shoes, coats, or other household items that have somehow made their way to this space even though they have a home elsewhere.
Add greenery
As the evenings close in and the temperature drops, you will be much more likely to be entertaining your guests within your home rather than in your outdoor space. However, that doesn’t mean that you bring a little bit of the outside into your home in the form of house plants.
ADVERTISEMENT |
Not only does the right house plant have the ability to lift a room and add some freshness, but it can also help clean the air in your home.
Alternatively, some fresh flowers dotted around the place can add both color and style.