Entertaining At Home

When it comes to keeping my house clean and having people over, I try to do my best and then have an upbeat, que sera attitude about whatever’s left undone. We can never please everyone, and trying to leaves us drained and disappointed in ourselves. (Never a good thing.) Besides, I figure that if anyone I invite into my home is displeased by its condition, well, that person may not be a good relationship investment.

No matter who your guests are and how often they’ve been to your house, it’s rare, probably impossible, for a guest to truly make themself at home in your home. As cliché as the phrase may be, as hosts we definitely want our guests to feel comfortable enough to rummage through the nightstand, for example. But we absolutely don’t want them to feel uncomfortable, either.

Few things brighten up a room like a gorgeous bouquet of flowers. So what to do when you have a beautiful bunch of flowers but can’t seem to arrange them nicely in the vase? Fret not my flower-loving friends, there’s hope to be had. We put our thinking caps on and discovered an unbelievably easy and inexpensive way to score a perfect flower arrangement, no pesky spool of floral wire necessary. Zip ties!

For most of us, it’s standard practice to clean before guests come over. We want them to feel welcome and comfortable in our house and we honor their presence by creating a general air of order and cleanliness. And on the other hand, we certainly don’t want to be judged for our dusty baseboards and the inside-out socks that seem to always be peppered throughout the house. But there’s more.

Tis the season for celebrating, which means you’ll be stuck with some post-party cleanup sometime over the holidays. But before we get too deep into the holiday party season (a.k.a. “oops” season), it’s important to remember that a certain seemingly recyclable material actually isn’t actually salvageable at all.

Because looks are just part of the equation. You gotta be able to drink from it, too.

Wine isn’t something my husband and I save for weekends or special occasions. We actually enjoy it most nights of the week—casually, though! Just a glass with dinner to toast to the day. (It’s a habit I developed from my days in Italy and really do enjoy the ritual.) This means that once we open a bottle we’d really like for it to be able to last us a couple of days, as a single bottle of wine holds about four to five glasses.

Make yourself at home... sort of!

Our favorite board games, so you can have another excuse to stay home this winter.

The Instant Pot is one of the biggest food trends of the past few years, and it is only getting bigger. People are obsessed with it because it does the work of seven other appliances and takes up less space in the kitchen. It can pressure cook, slow cook, cook rice, steam food, make yogurt, warm food, and sauté food. And now it looks like the Instant Pot is actually an eight-in-one machine, because you can even use it to make wine. Yes, wine! It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true.

I hate to be the bearer of stressful-yet-delicious news, but the American holiday of Thanksgiving is just about 10 days away. Luckily, 10 days is plenty of time to ready both your appetite and your home. If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year, this list is a lifeline for staying on top of things and avoiding that frantic day-before energy.

When the season of giving rolls around, sometimes (all the time) we’re stumped with what to give. How many times can you give a candle, a bottle of wine, a coffee table book (although these are all great options when you need a last-minute gift)? But this year, Reese Witherspoon has heard our cries and has come to the rescue with her recommended holiday picks from Crate & Barrel.

When you live in small space, inviting people over can be tricky—simply for the lack of real estate. There’s limited place to prep crudités and even less space for everyone to sit. But if you want to throw a party in a less than lush apartment, a quaint country bungalow, or a trendy container home, there are some space-saving tricks that can make hosting less of a challenge and actually, well, fun.

I’ve been cooking for most of my adult life, and I’ve never actually been completely sure just what that drawer under the oven is for. It seems like a good enough place to store baking pans, but that also feels like wasted space, or that it should actually be for something besides storage. I’ve never really used that drawer for anything.

When a bouquet of flowers or bottle of wine just won’t fit the bill, try one of our hostess gift suggestions that stray from the norm. Whether invited over for dinner or for an entire weekend (or longer) stay at her home, we’ve got a perfectly priced range of items she’s sure to fawn over no matter the occasion. For the fashionista who has everything, gift her this classic design book.

We hate to break it to you, but bar carts are so yesterday. Today, interior decorators and design fans are taking their love of libations to the next level by turning their extra closet space into a wet bar. If you ask us, this is one trend that’s here to stay. Not only will you have plenty of space to store bottles of bubbly, glassware, and other accoutrements, you have the opportunity to turn something as mundane as a hallway closet into a bonafide design moment.

Two years ago I was in a state of constant travel, on a trip that took me from my home in Seattle throughout the United States and Europe. Along the way, I learned a variety of lessons. I learned how to pack really, really well. I learned how to let go of attachments to most of my possessions, especially when I couldn’t fit them in my bag. And I learned a handful of useful (and not-so-useful) expressions in German, Greek, and French.

While you might associate the slow cooker with colder months, it doesn't need to collect dust the second it gets hot out.

You know you’re staying in a luxury five-star hotel when your wash cloth or hand towel is folded into some sort of flower or zoo animal. It’s one of the little touches that signifies the level of care that’s been put into every aspect of your stay, so how cool would it be if—without a lot of extra effort—you could surprise your house guests with the same experience?

‘Tis the season for partying outdoors. But what to do when you don’t have a proper backyard in which to throw an al fresco bash? Fret not, my patio-deprived friends. There are still plenty of ways to host a stellar summer soiree without an actual backyard. It just takes a little planning and creativity. From picnics at the park to old-school pub-crawls, here are seven ways to throw a stellar summer fete—no backyard necessary.

Depending on where you live and your proximity to a popular summer travel destination (the Grand Canyon? Disney World? New York City?) you may find yourself deep in houseguest season. I don’t live in a particularly touristy city, but I host houseguests frequently, and I think it’s part of the fun of having a house with room to share. In fact, in just a few weeks my husband’s brother and sister-in-law will be piling in with their three kids for a sleepover.

“How was your day?” Every couple sharing an evening meal together has asked this question. It’s a fine question; you care about each other, after all, and are genuinely interested in what happened that day! But sometimes, especially for couples who’ve been together a long time, dinner conversations can settle into the same grooves night after night — work talk, complaining about the subway, what’s new with the kids.

There are many ways living in Germany has changed my life, but the greatest change came from a most unexpected source: a cheese box. How has a five-Euro plastic container made such a huge impact on my dinner habits and well-being? And what makes a cheese box so superior to a dedicated cheese drawer in your refrigerator? A cheese box is ingenious because you can fill it with cheese from the market and put it straight on your dinner table — that’s why.

The battle of charcoal versus gas grills is one for the ages — and the grilling enthusiasts in your life are sure to have strong opinions. But if you’re considering buying a grill for the first time or, perhaps thinking about making the switch from #teamgas to #teamcharcoal (or vice versa), what are the key factors you should consider? We’ve laid it all out here. There are a few reasons to opt for a charcoal grill, not least of which is cost.

With summer entertaining just around the corner, it’s time to refresh last year’s tired tumblers and worn-out tableware. Luckily, you don’t need to spend a ton to get a high-end, high-quality look. Forget the glassware and breakable pieces; this year it’s all about easy to serve, easy to care for melamine. With prints and quality this great, your guests will be coming back for seconds (and thirds!). Read on for our choice picks below.

Just like New Year’s Day is a benchmark for the mind, the start of summer is a benchmark for the soul. At some point in the calendar (Mother Nature waits not for the Summer Solstice), rain and blooms give way to hot, humid mornings. It’s around this time of year that you find yourself reaching more for shorts over jeans, and longing to introduce some simple pleasures in your day. A cool drink wet with condensation. A delicious waft of BBQ on the grill.

This might be the homebody in me talking, but I happen to think date night at home is better than date night out in nearly every way. The drinks are cheaper. The clothes are comfier. And, if you have the right game, it can be a really fun night for you and your love to get competitive and cuddly all at once. Based on recommendations from Amazon, Board Game Geek, Reddit’s /r/boardgames and my own experience, here are some of the best two-player games for couples to play on their own.

Feeling nostalgic for those Wonder Years neighborhood vibes, or the cozy camaraderie of Friends-esque living situations? Or maybe you just don’t know what to do about all those other people who also happen to live on your street.

Bless the houseguest who hops up after a great meal and beelines for the kitchen sink. Thank you for your service on the serving ware, but also for saving the rest of us from the awkward dance of feeling out which one of us guests was going to volunteer as tribute to the trifle dish. Somewhere in the course of home history, “doing the dishes” became synonymous with “being a good houseguest.

I’m not swayed by inner satisfaction or the captivating sparkle of a spotless countertop. No—my main motivation for cleaning my space is almost always making sure that the people who see it don’t think I’m gross. (Even if those people are just the UPS guy and my local Thai place’s delivery driver.

Get ready to party: Just in time for summer soirees, fine art photographer Gray Malin is bringing his beachy imagery to a new collaboration with digital card platform Paperless Post. The 15-piece collection, which launches today, is full of sunny inspiration and vacation vibes. “As someone who truly loves entertaining and special occasions, I am thrilled to partner with Paperless Post on a special collection of digital invitations,” Malin tells Apartment Therapy.

When my in-laws came over for Thanksgiving, we had a wonderful time together. Nothing like a visit from grandparents and three fun uncles to keep the kids happy and entertained while I prepared our feast. I was surprised, then, when our ’round-the-table conversation was devoid of the effervescent conversation I’m used to with my own (Italian) side of the family. I became acutely aware of the silence and then the inordinately loud sound of forks tinkling on plates.

Being invited to participate in any family’s tradition—religious or not—is an honor, and one that should be treated with a ton of gratitude and respect. But what should you be doing? With spring holidays just around the corner, here are some things to keep in mind if you’re going to your first Easter Mass or Passover Seder.

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, we didn’t expect much from paper plates and napkins, except that they (hopefully) held slices of pizza and cake. The days of sheer utility, however, are long gone. Disposable paper goods and plastic utensils that we not-so-secretly covet in a more permanent form can be found at multiple retailers.

When you’re ready to unwind at the end of the day, the only thing coming between you and a glass of wine is…your corkscrew. These little contraptions are typically an afterthought — we don’t expect them to be exciting or attractive, as long as they work. Yet a solid, high-quality wine opener is key to keeping you and your wine happy.

I’ve always been in love with the idea of hosting dinner parties. My mother used to host game nights at our house when I was a kid, and she’d also throw parties for milestones throughout the year. As a 20-something adult, I’ve loved venturing into the playful, well-appointed world of hosting. But working with a tight budget, mismatched flatware (I know we have another fork somewhere around here), and small spaces means the way you go about it looks a little differently.

Every year the impending arrival of the Super Bowl incites a parallel culinary sport: churning out lighter takes on wings, healthier spins on classic dips, and “fresh” appetizer ideas beginning (but not ending) with kale chips. But you know what? Just like Thanksgiving, there’s no call to go off-script with the Super Bowl. Just like you want marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, I want seven-layer dip and hot wings.

If you’re like me, then about half an hour before any house guests arrive you frantically run through the living and dining room, sweep any evidence of actually living in your home off of your surfaces, and jam all that crap into the nearest drawer/cabinet/closet to create the appearance of cleanliness. I would literally sweep clutter under a rug, if I could! Unfortunately, it would probably look lumpy under my flat-weave carpets.

No matter how familiar you are with your hosts, staying over makes you — by definition — a guest in someone else’s home. An extra person in someone else’s space. A gracious host will tell you to “make yourself at home,” but no matter how you choose to live at your own place, there are certain things you must do to be a good houseguest in somebody else’s. Specifically good guests always, always clean up after themselves.

It’s the time of year for spiked eggnog, mulled wine, and hot buttered rum. We’re all about celebrating the season with loved ones and specialty cocktails, but we want to avoid feeling hungover the next morning at all costs. If a party happens to get a little too merry, understanding why hangovers happen can help you feel more calm and in control the next day.

In a world of overflowing inboxes, communication is often instant, nearly constant, and usually “urgent.” And brief, if we’re lucky, because the daily struggle to get to inbox zero is all too real. Sure, you can get your flirt on via text or email, or send off a quick thank you or congratulations, but what happens when you want to communicate in a more personal, romantic, lengthy or memorable way?

Nothing is more fun during the holiday season than hosting friends and family for a gathering. But what happens when you love to entertain but don’t actually have a ton of room or even a proper coat closet to store everyone’s stuff? Fret not, friends—a cramped living space doesn’t have to be a problem. Here are five options to consider when deciding where to stow your guests’ things during your holiday festivities this season.

When you really need to go the extra mile, cleaning-wise.

Last week I asked a number of stylish, smart people who happen to live in teeny tiny homes to share their advice for hosting holiday dinners and gatherings. Their tip and lessons were enormously helpful! In this post, I asked them to tackle the subject of overnight guests — something I struggle to deal with in my small-ish one-bedroom apartment.

Don't worry, you can still get them on a wine budget.

Humans have competitions for all kinds of strange things: holding beer steins, racing lawn mowers, chasing a wheel of cheese down a hill. But these all seem positively mainstream compared to a competition that is held annually at the L.A. County Fair, where participants attempt to outdo each other in setting the table. But these aren’t just any tables. These are the most elaborate (and occasionally absurd) tablescapes you have ever seen.

One of the keys to being a good host? Anticipating your guests’ needs. When friends or family come to stay with you, you make sure they have clean sheets and towels and know where the bathroom and the garbage is — so you’ve got the basic important things covered. But there might be a few things that you’re forgetting to tell them (and for some of them, they might be too embarrassed to ask) that they should definitely know.

If you’re new to the hosting game, especially if you’re hosting your first Thanksgiving or another holiday dinner or party, it can be a little scary. You want to have fun, but you also want to make sure everything goes right. And you’re probably worried about following proper etiquette—which can be hard to do when it feels like it’s always changing.

For many small space dwellers, the thought of entertaining over the holidays—inviting friends and family into a teeny amount of square feet—is plain daunting. Don’t let the challenge of hosting in a small home get in the way of your dinner party dreams this holiday season, though. Not only is entertaining in a small space possible, it can be downright pleasant! And these real small-space dwellers share their tips, advice, and lessons learned.

The best part of Thanksgiving is not the centerpieces, fine china or napkin rings — it’s being together with loved ones and enjoying a long meal together. Whether you’re hosting a casual Friendsgiving or feeding a crowd, this is one holiday when using disposable tableware makes complete sense for a lot of folks and, best of all, no dishes! I’m kind of in love with these plastic wine glasses and plan to order some for my next party.

If you’re looking to add some joie de vivre and competitive spirit to your Friendsgiving in a way that says, “I like movies,” look no further than this Wes Anderson card game. This whimsical set features the quirky characters each of the writer and director’s cult classics. The game is designed by Belly Kids, which describes itself as a group that has “fun releasing books, prints, tapes and all sorts of odd accessories.

If you like someone enough to let them stay inside your home, chances are you like them enough to want them to have a nice time during their visit. Help that happen by making sure your guest room is a cozy and functional place to stay before the holidays get here! Guest rooms can easily turn into “junk” rooms the longer they sit unoccupied.

Most of us have those few die-hard house rules that no one dares contest. (Maybe it’s the way you put toilet paper on the roll or what gets put in the dishwasher versus hand washed.) But in a time of year when guests frequent our homes and a bustle of activity means that not everything will go your way, consider letting go a little bit and embracing a gracious spirit of hospitality that puts your visitors’ comfort ahead of your own.

As holiday party season quickly approaches, you may find yourself revisiting all of your party habits. Do you show up early, same bottle of wine in tow? Arrive late empty-handed but full of good cheer? Keep a series of excuses in a draft folder on your phone and just sit the whole thing out all together?

You know that mad-dash feeling you get when you find out a guest is coming over last-minute and you don’t have time to clean (you know, the one where you run around hiding things in closets and wiping down everything you pass by at warp speed)? Or when you have plenty of time to plan and get ready, do you spend way too much energy trying to get things exactly right for your guests? Yeah, me too—on both fronts. But as it turns out, not everyone is on the same page.

“Entertaining” is a big, scary word… especially if you feel like your home is in a constant state of “in progress,” and your skills in the kitchen can best be described as meh. But “having a few people over for a quiet night in”? That’s doable. A simple get-together doesn’t have to be boring, though.

For an introvert and homebody like me, it takes a lot of energy to get psyched enough to head out to a party. Mainly because I just know I’ll get stuck in a conversation about something I’d rather not talk about, probably with someone I’d rather not talk to. In those situations — where a once-pleasant conversation takes a turn for the worse and I need a fast out — I find it helps to heed the Boy Scout maxim and “be prepared.

The autumnal wind is blowing through and makes spiked cider that much more appealing. It’s also making me want to make my home a little cozier. So with cider on the brain (or in hand) and home decor to peruse, join me in picking out a DIY bar storage option for those extra holiday spirits! Let’s start with the simple brilliance Colie Christensen shares in her Apartment Therapy home tour. She simply added legs to a standard IKEA bookcase that perfectly fills a long wall space.

As I’ve gotten older, Halloween has become less about the candy and more about the party. Obviously, sweets (and spirits!) are still part of the equation. But these days, I’m more interested in creating a chic treats table or spooky dinner centerpiece than picking a costume. Might have lost some of you with that last statement, but maybe I can win you back with this party table inspo. Black-and-white is such a classic color combo, especially at Halloween.

Very few things compare to the simple pleasure of enjoying a nice glass of wine outside on a gorgeous summer evening. While you could head out to any bar with a nice outdoor space, you usually have to time your visits to avoid a throng of like-minded people. (For introverts, this possibility takes all the fun out of this activity.

We’ve all been there. It’s Friday night and after a long work week, you make it home just in time to remember that you’ve invited your friends over—gasp!—in an hour. Your sink is full of dirty dishes and you haven’t swept in days, so naturally, panic ensues. But before you pick up your phone to cancel or postpone, perhaps consider a new a plan of action.

Hosting a few friends for dinner shouldn’t be an anxiety-inducing experience. We’re all about scaling your party to match your enthusiasm, and not the other way around. But if you do want to boost your zeal for entertaining and start throwing bigger, better bashes… we have a few ideas. You can become a more confident host if you know a few organizing party tricks.

Whether you like country, rap, pop or rock—or you just need something to help you focus during the work day or unwind before bed—these playlists have you covered.

As the holidays quickly approach, getting your dinner table set (and styled) will certainly be on your to-do list. If you’re looking for a fresh twist on a time-old tradition, look no further. Sarah Ashley Schiear, of Salt House, shares her simple tips on decorating your tabletop from fork to plate — and more. And best of all? It’s affordable…sleek…and can be used any time and any season. (So no need to buy all new things you’ll only use once or twice a year).

Meeting new people should be a fun experience, but making small talk feels more like a chore than anything. Going to parties, seeing distant family over the holidays, talking to new people at bars—they all can become daunting and super emotionally draining after a while. Sometimes it’s so hard to know what to say, you just don’t want to say anything.

When it comes to doing gift exchanges, you know the standard options—Secret Santa and White Elephant exchanges are fun ways to celebrate the holidays with friends, coworkers and family, but you’ve probably done them dozens of times. If you’re in want of a more creative way to give gifts this year, here are a few ways you can liven things up a little, while still giving fun, thoughtful gifts to your friends and loved ones.

‘Tis the season to be merry—and host dinner parties, of course. It’s time to break out a couple of bottles (or boxes, no judgment here) of wine, about a metric ton of food and, well, the dishes to help you serve said culinary delights. Since most of us don’t host large dinner parties every day, this means some of the extra dinnerware used during the holidays isn’t in regular rotation.

If you’re intimidated by the lingering memories of friends or family member’s sophisticated, traditional Thanksgiving tables, take heart. The table setting in Rory and Chris’ LA wonderland is here to inspire and inform you. This holiday season (or any time of year) forget traditional holiday color palettes or minimal vibes. This here is your anatomy of a perfect table setting: a distracting explosion of the color, patterns and textures that you love.

When Amelia, who runs the design business Urban Cottage NYC, moved into her 490 square foot Hell’s Kitchen studio apartment, she was ready to live small. What she wasn’t willing to do was give up the feeling of having different rooms. “I still wanted to feel like I had a real dining room, where friends could hang out, or where I could write or sew or do projects while watching TV,” she writes. As you can see from her house tour, she totally aced the furniture placement.

Thanksgiving is a time when many people head back to their hometowns or travel to see their families and old friends, but that’s not always an option for everyone. Of course, some people enjoy spending the holidays alone. And, some others don’t like celebrating altogether for myriad reasons, but if you do and you find yourself without any plans for Thanksgiving, it can feel like a real challenge and it can get lonely.

Hosting Thanksgiving is no small undertaking, and if you’re lucky enough to be someone’s guest, you might want to repay their hospitality with a token of your appreciation. These seven gift ideas, ranging from affordable and handmade to as-fabulous-as-you-can-afford, go beyond the predictable wine, chocolates, plants, and candles. Treat your host to something that they’ll remember, and be sure to get yourself invited back next year.

We’re all familiar with Say What You’re Thankful For, Break The Wishbone, and Eat Way Too Much Pie, but these 10 new traditions might lively up your annual family feast—for many years to come. Encourage your guests to bring canned/boxed goods to donate to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. For every item they bring, they get one ticket for a raffle.