Hosting a dinner at home may seem like an enormous undertaking for some people. You’re thinking of the food, making sure your home looks spic and span, and every other little detail in between. Those in the know, however, have a few simple tricks to make it a stylishly memorable event without breaking a sweat. If it’s your turn to host dinner with the girls this weekend, take note of this guide for prepping your home. These tips will perfectly align with the taste and sensibilities of the fashion-forward femme who’s all about fine living in her elevated home.
- Keep your table settings minimal. A classy style doesn’t always mean an overcrowded table. You’re better off having the basics for everyone – cutlery, plate, wine glass, and cup – that will stay the same from start to finish. The trick is to stock up on a colorway that speaks your style. This year’s Pantone Color of the Year is a great color option, Peach Fuzz. You’ll be keeping up with the times with very minimal effort. I feature this beautifully feminine color here if you want to know more. Keep simple and easy-to-clean linen napkins in beautiful colors that hide stains and are easy to clean by throwing them in the wash.
- Go for dimmable light bulbs. Transforming the ambiance of your dining area can enhance the overall dining experience. Apart from luxury scented candles, go for dimmable bulbs emitting a delicate golden hue. Avoid concentrating all the illumination directly onto the table. Create a balanced lighting scheme by placing one or two floor lamps on corners. This will bathe the room in a gentle, even glow.
- Simple flowers are enough. Flowers really do add a touch of classy style to any elevated home, but there’s no sense in spending so much for it. For example, a simple bunch of wildflowers will be enough to create the impact you want. Break it into three or four small arrangements and spread them on the table in low vases. This will add small pops of pretty to make your table look festive without blocking visibility.
- Set your music playlist beforehand – and then forget it. Having to get up every few minutes to search for a song can really put a damper on your playlist. It’s best to pull out a playlist that runs for the duration of your hosting. If you want to keep it even less hassle-free, pick a good, pre-made one instead of curating a selection. There are so many mood-setting playlists out there already. All you need to do is choose one!
- Spend a week cleaning your space. The last thing you want to do is to frantically clean your home hours before hosting. This will deplete your energy for the actual event itself. It’s much better to focus on cleaning and fixing up one zone of your entertaining area every day until the actual day. On the day itself, all you need to do is to fix up small details
Many people can make hosting a chic dinner out to be a relatively easy art form – if you know exactly what to focus on. These five things will surely do a lot to set the mood—and your home—for a truly chic dinner and make you the most stylishly laidback hostess.
What’s your number one tip for hosting a dinner party?