How To Get Your Home Dinner Party Ready
Entertaining friends and loved ones in your home is an important part of your social life, and whether you meet up with friends regularly, or only host for specific celebrations, creating the right atmosphere is essential to the success of the event. Here are tips to help your dinner party to be remembered for all the right reasons.
Hallway
Your hallway gives your guests their first impression of your home, and so it is important to set the scene. Remove all shoes and coats and any other remnants of daily life that have a habit of collecting in entrances. If you have a console table, decorate with a floral display and add a table lamp to gently light the area for guests when they arrive – nobody likes the harshness of an overhead light!
Kitchen
There is little more welcoming to a home than the smell of cooking food. People naturally gravitate towards where the action is, and it is likely that they will come and talk to you in the kitchen while you are cooking; however, your guests do not want to see stacks of unwashed dishes that were used in the preparation of your meal. Choose your recipes wisely so that you can prepare and clear away the used dishes before the guests arrive, and that require the food only to be reheated.
Dining Room
Your dining table is the focal point of the room, and so you need to spend time making sure that it meets your guests’ expectations. Mix in accents of color with white crockery to add a contemporary twist to traditional settings, and use a centerpiece to make a statement that ties in with the colors of the tableware. Your centerpiece does not have to be budget-busting or extravagant: a simple floral display or candles can look stunning.
You want your guests to be comfortable and have the space to enjoy the meal and hospitality, and so it is important that your table can accommodate their needs. If your table needs replacing before your dinner party, choose one that complements the style of the rest of your house and the size of the room.
Proportion is everything when it comes to choosing large pieces of furniture. While some may think a dining table is more of a necessity, a dining table is, in fact, a piece of furniture for you to extend your style. Think contemporary and modern, with thick wood or chic copper accents; rather than settle on something that will ‘just do,’ explore many beautifully crafted dining room tables before settling.
Prior to your guests’ arrival, you must ensure that you have thoroughly cleaned the house or at least the rooms that they will see. Lift couch pillows, and vacuum underneath them – especially if you have children and or pets – plump up the pillows so that they look their best, and will provide a comfortable seat for your guests. Make sure that the bathrooms are spic and span, and they have adequate soap and a freshly laundered hand towel. Receiving guests to your home requires a lot of effort on your part, but by following these tips, your home will be ready for your dinner party.
