There is something wonderful about being able to host a party at your home. But have you ever been reluctant to do so because you don’t think your house is up to the task? The fact is that, as long as you’ve got good company, you can have a good time anywhere. But even so, here are a few ways to make your home more inviting for your guests.
Balancing Hospitality and Your Home
First, it’s important to consider the benefits of being hospitable and balancing them with the benefits of just enjoying your home and your own space. Different people have different social needs and preferences. If you’re an introvert, you might find parties and social events exhausting, so you might not like the idea of hosting.
However, we all still have some social needs. Being hospitable and making the effort with your friends and family helps you to grow closer and create a community. This means that you can counteract the effects of loneliness. We live in an incredibly disconnected and lonely world, which is in part due to people replacing in-person interaction with digital connections as much as possible.
Unfortunately, while being able to phone and text your friends is great, it isn’t the same as being with them in person. We come up with excuses like being too busy or not having the money, but our social wellbeing is a need, not a luxury. We are healthier and happier when we spend time with each other.
With this in mind, it is important to not burn yourself out socially either. It’s possible to go too far the other way, by always having every spare moment of time planned out with another party or visitor. While you can be hospitable without spending a lot of money (just invite people round for movies and takeout), it can still get expensive if you want to mix things up.
So find a balance. Every person has a different balance and, if you have a family, try to make sure everyone’s needs are met. If one person is an introvert and another is an extrovert, find ways to keep both people happy. Start small when hosting and inviting people over, don’t immediately invite everyone you know for a home-cooked, three-course meal.
Reception Rooms
If you have a larger house, you might be able to host more people on your property. One thing to do early is to set boundaries. There’s generally an unwritten rule that bedrooms are private, and reinforce this by keeping the doors shut. If there are rooms you don’t want people to go into, shut the doors and, if you want to be sure, let them know by putting a polite and friendly sign up.
You will be left with “public” rooms. If you have multiple reception rooms, this can be very handy for separating larger groups of people into smaller groups that they’re more comfortable in. You might end up with a quiet room and a loud room, especially if you wanted to stick on a movie or play some music or even games. People can have the choice to sit and talk or not.
Make sure to clean the rooms that you want people to spend time in before they arrive. As a general rule, it’s good to clean the whole house, but you don’t have to have your bedroom spotless if you don’t expect anyone to see it.
The Backyard
Speaking of party areas, as the summer approaches, so does the possibility of spending time outside. Barbecues are a fantastic excuse to invite people over, as you can enjoy the sun and great food together.
Even if you only have a small backyard, you can still cook outside while some people sit inside. But it’s best to have a BBQ if you have a lot of space, because you can play some lawn games, play music, and have different areas for different activities.
For example, you might have a decking area for people to put garden furniture and sit and eat. You also want a flat, fireproof area for your BBQ. If you do end up risking your decking with your BBQ or a firepit, make sure to use a fire blanket under it and keep a bucket of water handy. Nobody wants to have to go home early because an errant spark burned the decking down.
If you’re not sure about using the BBQ, don’t worry. You can quickly pick up the basics of barbecuing and, as you get more confident at the grill, you can consider projects like smoking a large cut of meat. This will level up your BBQ game and feed a crowd.
Serving Food
Speaking of BBQ, what about serving food at your parties? Some parties (dinner parties) revolve around the idea of good food and good company. If you’re a confident cook, this can be a lovely way to share your skills with your friends and family.
But this isn’t the only way to serve food. Party food is designed to be easy to pick up and eat while standing, which is great when the food is mainly fuel and you have a lot of people to feed. You can also ask people to bring food for a potluck kind of thing, so everyone can have a share. In this case, be sure to find out what people are bringing, otherwise you might end up with a thousand bowls of chips and no dip.
Finally, there’s always the option of a takeout party. Whether you treat the crowd or everyone orders their own, this is ideal for watching a game or movies so you don’t have to lock yourself in the kitchen.
Be sure to tell people about the food situation before they come. This way, they know whether or not to eat beforehand, and if they are expected to get their own takeout, it won’t come as a nasty surprise.
Don’t Forget the Drinks
One thing that’s arguably as important as the food is the drink. If you drink alcohol, it’s a good idea to have alcoholic and non-alcoholic options for your guests. Some people are teetotal, are the designated drivers, or just want other options so they can pace themselves.
Make sure to think about what you offer. If you’re serving wine, it’s good to stock up and fill up a wine fridge before people come. This way, you can serve people as they want it, rather than having to wait for the wine to cool down. A wine fridge is an affordable option that adds that sense of convenience and luxury.
Speaking of wine, if you have a discerning palate and your friends do as well, joining a wine club can be a great way to fill up your fridge or wine rack and get a selection on the go. You can even host a wine tasting.
Of course, there are other alcoholic options to consider as well. Beer is a classic choice for less formal parties, and cocktails can be a lot of fun. If you’re doing cocktails, consider making pitchers or limiting the options in another way, otherwise you’ll spend the whole night playing bartender.
So, what about non-alcoholic drinks? Water is a great option, but make sure to stock up on juice and soda as well. You can also make iced teas and mocktails, so people who aren’t drinking can still enjoy something a little bit different and special. This way, you make sure that everyone has a good time at your party.