The Art of Hosting a Dinner Party
Read up on tips on food, drinks, decor and all that goes into hosting an elegant and warm dinner party at home
Music, food and friends is all that one needs to have a good evening at home. True enough, but I believe you’re a true-blue adult when you’re comfortable hosting a proper dinner at home – and by that I don’t mean ordering in food and then proceeding to eat it from the boxes it was delivered in. There is a certain grace in actually hosting a dinner, be it for a special occasion or just a relaxed meal with good friends.
Apart from the above-mentioned three ingredients, the perfect dinner party also requires the right ambience and mood. Here are some tips that will help you achieve a comfortable yet classy atmosphere when entertaining at home.
Apart from the above-mentioned three ingredients, the perfect dinner party also requires the right ambience and mood. Here are some tips that will help you achieve a comfortable yet classy atmosphere when entertaining at home.
In the dining room:
Make a statement by using light as the centrepiece over your dining table. If you have a long, rectangular table, linear fixtures are the way to go, such as multiple pendants running the length of the table. A round table can be lit up with a chandelier or a cluster of staggered pendant lights. Make sure to have dimmer switches to be able to alternate between different moods.
Tip: When hanging your light, leave a gap of at least 30 to 36 inches between the bottom of your fixture and the table top.
Make a statement by using light as the centrepiece over your dining table. If you have a long, rectangular table, linear fixtures are the way to go, such as multiple pendants running the length of the table. A round table can be lit up with a chandelier or a cluster of staggered pendant lights. Make sure to have dimmer switches to be able to alternate between different moods.
Tip: When hanging your light, leave a gap of at least 30 to 36 inches between the bottom of your fixture and the table top.
2. Music
Pre-plan your music according to the theme or mood of your party. A sit-down dinner requires gentle music in the background to enable easy conversation across the table. Post-dinner music can be peppier, to get some dancing going, if you like. Make sure that the music wafts throughout the entertainment space; however, you don’t want it so loud that it drowns out conversation.
Pre-plan your music according to the theme or mood of your party. A sit-down dinner requires gentle music in the background to enable easy conversation across the table. Post-dinner music can be peppier, to get some dancing going, if you like. Make sure that the music wafts throughout the entertainment space; however, you don’t want it so loud that it drowns out conversation.
3. Dining table setting
Your tableware and table decor would depend on the menu and theme of the party. Choose your cutlery accordingly and set each place beforehand; this will avoid last-minute rushing around looking for missing pieces of cutlery. Finish off with nicely ironed cloth napkins – not paper napkins.
Your tableware and table decor would depend on the menu and theme of the party. Choose your cutlery accordingly and set each place beforehand; this will avoid last-minute rushing around looking for missing pieces of cutlery. Finish off with nicely ironed cloth napkins – not paper napkins.
4. Food presentation
Another major factor would be how you are going to serve the food. For a large gathering, you could opt for a buffet-style where people serve themselves; a sit-down meal if it is a small gathering. Whichever option you choose will decide how you arrange your furniture, both in the dining and the living rooms. Ensure you have enough seats placed around the room, so that no one is forced to stand and eat.
Another major factor would be how you are going to serve the food. For a large gathering, you could opt for a buffet-style where people serve themselves; a sit-down meal if it is a small gathering. Whichever option you choose will decide how you arrange your furniture, both in the dining and the living rooms. Ensure you have enough seats placed around the room, so that no one is forced to stand and eat.
5. Dining table seating
Use place cards to decide who will sit next to each other, to encourage conversations and to create new acquaintances. Since you know your guests, mix and match them well; this also ensures that conversation does not get too one-sided. Setting out place cards before guests arrive avoids the awkwardness of deciding where to sit.
Use place cards to decide who will sit next to each other, to encourage conversations and to create new acquaintances. Since you know your guests, mix and match them well; this also ensures that conversation does not get too one-sided. Setting out place cards before guests arrive avoids the awkwardness of deciding where to sit.
6. Decorations
Flowers…
Fresh flowers are a sure-shot way to liven up any space and can set the tone of your dinner party. For example, sunflowers and daisies are more suited to a casual atmosphere, while roses and lilies impart a more sophisticated feel. Flower arrangements on the dining table or on a coffee table should be either short enough that you can talk over them or tall enough that you can talk under them.
Tip: Create small arrangements with garden flowers or tiny leafy branches, using bottles or jam jars that you already have at home and scatter them about.
Flowers…
Fresh flowers are a sure-shot way to liven up any space and can set the tone of your dinner party. For example, sunflowers and daisies are more suited to a casual atmosphere, while roses and lilies impart a more sophisticated feel. Flower arrangements on the dining table or on a coffee table should be either short enough that you can talk over them or tall enough that you can talk under them.
Tip: Create small arrangements with garden flowers or tiny leafy branches, using bottles or jam jars that you already have at home and scatter them about.
…and candles
Dot your living room and dining table with some candles and light them just before guests arrive, to create a warm ambience. You can kill two birds with one stone if they are scented right – the air will linger with a gentle perfume and it will keep mosquitoes at bay. Use different-sized candles to add dynamics to the table. If using tea lights, place them in coloured tea-light holders that are in keeping with the theme.
Read on for more quirky tips on party decorations
Dot your living room and dining table with some candles and light them just before guests arrive, to create a warm ambience. You can kill two birds with one stone if they are scented right – the air will linger with a gentle perfume and it will keep mosquitoes at bay. Use different-sized candles to add dynamics to the table. If using tea lights, place them in coloured tea-light holders that are in keeping with the theme.
Read on for more quirky tips on party decorations
7. A friendly bar
If your guests are free to make their own drinks, make sure things like bottle openers, ice, ice tongs and various other accessories are in plenty and at hand – there’s nothing more annoying than to be rummaging about for a corkscrew when looking for a refill.
Tip: Large format bottles of wine and champagne are not only bound to impress but are also practical for large gatherings.
Browse through some home bar designs here
If your guests are free to make their own drinks, make sure things like bottle openers, ice, ice tongs and various other accessories are in plenty and at hand – there’s nothing more annoying than to be rummaging about for a corkscrew when looking for a refill.
Tip: Large format bottles of wine and champagne are not only bound to impress but are also practical for large gatherings.
Browse through some home bar designs here
8. A prepped powder room
Make sure the powder room is ready to receive guests. Add fragrance, not with sprays but by way of scented candles or a bunch of flowers. A liquid soap in a beautiful pump container would be a better option than a bar of soap, aesthetically and hygienically. Also ensure there are enough guest towels (linen-like paper towels would be most convenient) and keep an attractive waste basket for the used towels.
And, on that final note, have a great party, folks. Of course, to have as good a time yourself as your invitees, and to avoid sweating over the stove while your guests are sipping cool martinis, plan carefully and ensure elementary chores are taken care of well in advance.
Read more:
The Secret to Hosting a Big Dinner Party in Your Small Home
Tell us:
What are your tips for hosting a great party? Share them with us in the Comments section below.
Make sure the powder room is ready to receive guests. Add fragrance, not with sprays but by way of scented candles or a bunch of flowers. A liquid soap in a beautiful pump container would be a better option than a bar of soap, aesthetically and hygienically. Also ensure there are enough guest towels (linen-like paper towels would be most convenient) and keep an attractive waste basket for the used towels.
And, on that final note, have a great party, folks. Of course, to have as good a time yourself as your invitees, and to avoid sweating over the stove while your guests are sipping cool martinis, plan carefully and ensure elementary chores are taken care of well in advance.
Read more:
The Secret to Hosting a Big Dinner Party in Your Small Home
Tell us:
What are your tips for hosting a great party? Share them with us in the Comments section below.
In the living room:
Adjust the lighting to suit the ambience you would like to create. Dim lights set the mood for an intimate dinner party; use candles to light up dark corners. Brighter lights are advisable for larger gatherings and large rooms, where barely-there lighting will only serve to have your guests bark their shins on unseen furniture.