Entertaining At Home

Entertaining at home is practically addicting. You always catch a little natural high getting ready to share your space with friends and family. But later that night as the clock winds forward, you’ll find yourself yawning in the kitchen wishing you could just straighten up a little and hit the sheets.

One of the greatest joys of the holiday season is hosting friends and family for feasting. But what happens when you love to entertain but don’t actually have a dining room, or even, say, a proper table to sit everyone at? Fret not, folks—a cramped living space is no excuse to cancel your festivities. There are plenty of ways to work around a small apartment and still pull off hosting Thanksgiving dinner like a pro.

As we’re heading into the season of potlucks, cookie exchanges, and cocktail parties, let’s remember that our friends and family are coming over to spend this special time with us, not to judge our homes. Even if we’d like everything to be “perfect,” we only need to tackle a few issues to make our homes welcoming and inviting.

Navigating a party doesn’t require a map—just a little bit of charm. And know this: If you’re not born with social finesse, it’s certainly something you can borrow. The next time you find yourself in a conversation that you need to dip out of—for a drink, a bathroom break, or just to take a breath—use one of these lines. We tapped a panel of entertaining experts in order to lend you some of their secrets for making a graceful exit from a tight circle.

Have you ever had a friend stay with you, only to immediately regret it because of their behavior? Maybe they ate all your food and didn’t offer to contribute, or maybe they were much better at making messes than they were at cleaning them up. On the other hand, have you ever wondered if maybe you’re not a good houseguest?

If you are hosting guests this holiday season, you’ve got plenty on your plate (pun intended) already. Why not do one quick sweep through Amazon right now to pick up any of the essentials that you might be missing for hosting a crowd? You’ll be done in no time, in one fell swoop, from the comfort of somewhere (anywhere!) far less stressy than the mall. It’ll be fewer stores to have to hit up IRL and there are deals to be had.

Ahh, Friendsgiving: The time to be thankful for the family you choose. The best part is, the traditional Thanksgiving rules need not apply here—and it’s a good thing, because you just don’t have room for all that fanfare. Forget the fussy table settings—who needs matching plates, anyway?—and take note of these seven simple guidelines to get your space ready before friends gather ’round the table. First things first: Decide where the table will go.

A “signature cocktail” sounds like the stuff of a fussy wedding reception, not a simple Sunday dinner party. But as a host at home, having a signature drink just means that you have a delicious and easy-to-mix recipe at the ready to whip up a tasty, boozy sip for anyone who needs it. So what will your signature drink be? It should be something that, first of all, you like to drink.

I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly committing to hosting the holidays or big events, while completely ignoring the fact that, when it comes to dinnerware, I’m extremely underprepared. Something just happens to me in that moment where I get swept away with the anticipation of a great evening surrounded by family and friends and I subconsciously fail to recognize that in no way, shape or form do I have twenty-plus matching settings of any kind of dinner, stem or flatware.

Natasha and Rob live in a tiny space — just 350 square feet. With so few feet to work with, if you don’t put a little work into your space planning, you’re not going to have a very functional environment. But this clever couple doesn’t just tolerate their small NYC home; they cook in it, relax in it and yes, even entertain in it.

Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, a small pre-bar-hopping cocktail hour or even ordering in some take out for a lazy sunday with friends, there’s a simple secret to making the most of the day: Have a snack on the table as soon as the first guest arrives. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate—even just a small bowl of chips or nuts will get the job done.

Throwing a party in a few hundred square feet is no easy feat, but it absolutely can—and should!—be done. By inviting people over one night for dinner or drinks, you’ll bear witness to one spectacular magic trick: As you fill your space with more and more people, you’ll find your tiny apartment feels bigger than ever. But before you do, it’s wise to make sure you have your space ready.

Based on nothing other than anecdotal evidence, I’ve formed this opinion that are there two types of party hosts: Those who create carefully curated audio ambiances for any event, and those who just hit play on whatever pre-made playlist or Pandora station seems to fit the occasion. Our panel of party experts have only served to validate my highly unscientific hypothesis.

Nobody wants to walk into a party empty-handed. And yet, equally as dreadful is the idea of being the umpteenth person to hand a bottle of wine to your creative and generous host. Well, I guess it’s not the worst thing in the world to have too much of… But what if, instead of wine, you had a different gift in your arsenal—one that was equal parts crowd-pleasing and unexpected—to hand off to your host or hostess? Wouldn’t you go for that unicorn every time? Me too.

Here is a short list of things you’re unlikely to hear at a party: “Let’s start a game of Monopoly.” “Oh I love discussing politics.” And of course, from the host: “I wish I spent more time in the kitchen and away from my guests.

Whether you’re the Martha of your friend group—whipping up a charcuterie board with all the finesse of a seasoned pro—or someone who thinks throwing a party feels just about as foreign as an original French copy of Je Sais Cuisiner, I know this is true: we all want to get better at entertaining.

The short answer? Yes—Millennials do make the worst houseguests, according to a recent study from HomeAdvisor. But the reality behind it is a little more nuanced than it seems. In the study, 2,000 people in the U.S. were asked to confess both their biggest pet peeves and their worst houseguest habits, from a list of 27 bad behaviors. Each generation—Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers—had a slightly different take on what bothered them most.

Do you want to invite friends over — maybe even have a dinner party — but you’ve been hesitating because you live in a studio apartment and your living room is also your dining room, kitchen, office and bedroom? Though it might feel a bit strange to have guests (good friends or acquaintances) milling about in your sleep space, I don’t think having a small home should be a road block for entertaining.

Going out on Halloween night is always a good time, but if you live in a neighborhood or apartment complex where kids go trick-or-treating on Halloween, sometimes it’s fun to stay home and pass out candy instead. And if you have kids or want to have some fun with your nieces and nephews, taking them around to go trick-or-treating can be a good time too, if you really get into the spirit.

Bar carts are a home trend that shows no sign of flagging, and for good reason: they’re pretty (a great way to impress your friends with your sophistication) and practical (a great way to keep your liquor collection from taking over your kitchen). Here, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorites—all at prices guaranteed not to break the bank. Mid-century magic. Small enough to fit into tight corners, this bar cart is perfect for a petite living room.

Whether you’re hosting a party, staying in for the night waiting for trick-or-treaters, or have just returned home from your own candy grab, you’ll probably have some downtime on Halloween night—the perfect opportunity to sit down in a small group and play a game. A spooky game.

Say you’re at a soiree with pink champagne cocktails and more guacamole than you know what to do with, and you find yourself yawning between all the mingling. Or maybe you’re standing in front of your bathroom mirror — applying the night’s lipstick — and it dawns on you that getting into a taxi cab and legging it across town is the last thing you want to be doing that night.

If you want to make fancy cocktails at home, you’re going to need the right tools. These sets of bar tools include everything you need to make delicious libations — and look good doing it. Understated gold and copper tones are current and classy. If you want something classic, check out this shiny set with a little mid-century flair. So shiny. So pretty. Priced and sold individually, the whole copper-plated stainless steel set will come in just under $60 ($59, technically).

Getting together with friends shouldn’t be a fussy affair. If all you have the time and energy to do is send out an email, then offer to host a potluck dinner at your place and get the gang together for a night. Being the potluck host doesn’t let you off the hook completely, but it’s a heck of a lot easier than cooking for a crowd. The first step to a potluck is sending out the (informal) invitations. And the modern way to do that is online.

To any of you who need a bit of a fire lit under them to fire up the stove this fall, here are a few tips for easing your way back into the kitchen.

Congratulations, you’ve made it to Friday. We have some ideas on how to make the most of your weekend without even leaving your backyard—by bringing the bar to you. If you’re counting down the minutes ’til 5 pm and your first sip of freedom, well, read on. Forget the bouncy castle, this inflatable delight is for the adults. No need to book a trip to Ireland or even head to your local watering hole, the Paddywagon Pub brings the craic directly to you.

Summertime is for living easy. It’s a time to enjoy the weather and each other, as much as we can. Given our increasingly busy and remote ways of living and working, however, getting together with friends can often feel like one more thing on the to-do list. One that requires time, attention and energy you’re not sure you have, instead of a fun and fulfilling experience you can’t wait to do more of.

Like getting out of bed without your knees cracking, making friends is something that gets tougher as you get older. But here’s the thing: Everybody’s out there looking for new friends. Yep, even that really cool, funny gal you met at the supermarket checkout. So how do you go from small talk about kale to your first friend date? It’s as easy as 1-2-3: One of you has got to plant the seed that it might be fun to meet outside of the checkout line.

Among such blessings as an in-law with a rent-controlled apartment and a friend with the same shoe size, you’re truly lucky to know a warm neighbor with an even warmer pool. Here’s a short guide to navigating this social minefield with grace—five basic rules that ensure you don’t blow it. You’re reading this because, at some point, your neighbor suggested that you could come over to use their pool this summer.

Hosting a summer bash can quickly get expensive, but one area where you really don’t need to splurge is on the decor. All of these ideas are created using colorful, affordable materials, such as paper, paint, yarn, and balloons, so you can craft big-impact decorations, without going over budget. Add fringe to paper honeycomb balls, suspend them from the ceiling, and you’ve got festive party balloons that will never deflate. Follow the how-to on the Shop Sweet Lulu Blog.

The summer is prime hosting season, but the reality is, many of us don’t have the luxury of owning a guest room to offer to friends and family when they pass through town. Yet even in a small space, there are simple ways to make overnight guests feel more comfortable and welcome in your home—even if they’re just crashing on the couch.

Although you’ve likely been sweating in tank tops for what seems like ages already, this week marked the official start of summer, which means this is the first weekend of the season. So let’s all get out there and celebrate with some activities that capture what summer is all about: Al fresco dining, soaking up the sun, and, yeah, maybe just a little bit of time inside to appreciate the invention of air conditioning.

These star-spangled, red-white-and-blue party decoration ideas will have your Fourth of July bash shooting off fireworks. Most of these simple projects don’t require any fancy supplies—bring on the sparklers, balloons, and dollar-store bandanas!—so you get the most bang for your buck. Mix up some non-toxic colored powder (hint: it’s cornstarch!) for your Fourth of July bash’s photo ops, following the recipe on A Beautiful Mess.

Nothing feels quite as rebellious as bringing something that doesn’t belong right through your front door. That’s why it’s so fun to have a tree in the living room at Christmas, or if you heed the advice in this post, set up a living room or bedroom outside for the night. Let’s get glamping! The recipe is really as simple as bringing some of your inside furniture outside to enjoy and feel defiantly luxurious for a night. Like camping, but a heck of a lot more fun.

Ahh summer. Can you smell it coming? Maybe just a little whiff? At the very least, spring is fragrant in the air, which means you should be finding any excuse to do everything imaginable outside. Step away from the treadmill and hit the pavement? Yes! Take your laptop on the patio (stoop?) and answer emails en plein air? Sure! Set up an air mattress on the parking lot lawn and nap for hours?

Warm weather certainly inspires a fair amount of lounging, but it’s also great for learning new skills. From building a modern cornhole set or raised garden bed to painting a bike, welcome mat, or outdoor rug, there are plenty of fun projects to tackle this summer that won’t cut into your lounge time too badly… How to Paint Your Own Bike, A Beautiful Mess How to Change a Bicycle Tire, Bicycling.

Dear Alice, When someone brings wine to a dinner party do you offer to open it up right away or is it considered a gift? I have some close friends that come over and we usually open it because they know we don’t know much about wine. But recently we had some new friends over and they did not tell us either way. I just want to be a good host. Thank you! Signed, Want to do the Right Thing Dear Right Thing, Most of us have been on both sides of this question, as a host and as a guest.

Nothing can instill fear in someone’s eyes like the agreement, over group text, that their apartment would become the meeting place before dinner tonight. Is the bathroom clean? Do I need to pick up some food? If you would rather the thought of unexpected guests to be a thing of joy rather than dread, you need to learn and live by the secrets of people who are always ready to host. Not weekend.

Like the wedding cake itself, a cake topper is something you definitely don’t need to throw a wedding. But here’s the thing: If you do it right (that is, cheaply and without a lot of hassle) a peppy little topper is the perfect way to accessorize your wedding cake – or a birthday cake or a cake for mom for mother’s day.

For the boho bride and her maids, here’s a laid-back brunch that’s overflowing with (plant) life, love and plenty of cozy textiles. Scroll through the incredible photos captured by Christina Forêt and read about how Megan Walsh, owner of Atomic Furnishing & Design in Asheville, NC, and the rest of the vendors designed the space. I was inspired by all of the free spirited bohemian brides that are not afraid of colorful patterns, textures and plants.

For the modern bride, this wedding day bridal brunch packs a one-two punch of colorful food and floral details with stunning mid-century modern furniture and accessories. Scroll through the incredible photos captured by Christina Forêt and read about how Megan Walsh, owner of Atomic Furnishing & Design in Asheville, NC, and the rest of the vendors designed the space.

When some bride out there in the wedding world puts together a small army of crazy talented vendors to create a picnic wedding or a BBQ wedding, there are bound to be some stellar ideas that come out of it. And you can absolutely steal–er, borrow–some of those ideas to really impress at your next get-together. Above from photographer Michaela Rae: What’s cooler than a cooler for serving drinks? A DIY beer bar made from wood and painted cinderblocks.

Confession: I work for a fabulous design publication, love my home, enjoy riveting conversations and have attractive, interesting friends—but I have been avoiding inviting people over to my home for as long as I can remember. This year, my one-word mantra is “connect,” so I’ve been looking for fun entertaining ideas that feel easy to do, fit in my small space and don’t cost a lot.

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but it’s also the throbbing, thumping center of every party. Whether or not you meant it to happen, your guests will gravitate to the kitchen every. single. time. So what’s a host to do? Make sure their kitchen is fitted with details that make it easy to entertain right inside the cookhouse. We’ve collected a dozen ideas for your renovation inspiration that will surely make your place the only place to hang.

I love an elegant theme party. It’s a chance to delight your friends with inspired decor and a clever menu to match. Who wouldn’t love an invite to that bash, right? Unfortunately, I feel like once springtime rolls around, people are less likely to sink their teeth into a hosting a proper party, instead favoring a casual get-together around the pool or patio table. But guess what? You can still throw together a bash that’s laid-back and on theme.

Was one of your resolutions this year to connect more? (That’s smart of you). Whether you’re new to a city, trying to find new friends or need to network more for your career, the task can seem Herculean if you know you won’t know many (or any) people at the event you want to attend.

Some of the best memories are made when friends gather from far and wide to celebrate together. Whether it’s a wedding, class reunion, music festival or bachelor(ette) weekend, the opportunity to commune together, sometimes in close quarters, is charged with excitement. If all goes well, everyone leaves riding high with that special buzz that comes from being reunited with dear friends.

Sarah of Salt House has a natural passion for hosting and gathering people around a table for a shared meal. We toured Sarah’s multipurpose and stylish Williamsburg apartment and saw that living in just over 600 square feet has not stopped her from hosting 20 seated guests for dinner! We asked her for some tips on how to create two distinct looks for winter-inspired table tops.

Valentine’s Day is like Black Friday to me. Places are crowded. There’s a lot of temptation to spend a ton of money all at once. In the case of either event, frankly, I’d rather stay at home and wait for it all to blow over. But a cozy night at home with your valentine can be pretty special if you take a few extra steps to make it more of an event than your regular weeknight dinners.

Weekends this time of year are all about staying in and enjoying a cozy night at home with your love, your cat and Channing Tatum dressed as Beyonce. Or, if you can muster just a tiny bit of resolve to get it together, you can whip up the world’s easiest dinner party for you and a few of your most delightful friends. This is supposed to be The Easiest Dinner Party Ever™, so don’t feel as though you need to break out the fine china or put together a centerpiece.

Don't let the holiday countdown stress you out–we're here to help you make the most of it!

Holiday entertaining is in full swing, and I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t do everything by myself. Gone are the days when I slaved over the styling, the shopping, the cooking and cleaning on my own: Lessons were learned during the Great Blender Explosion of 2011 and the Cannoli Stuffing Incident of 2008.

(Image credit: Kelli Foster) From The Kitchn → The Last-Minute, Gluten-Free, No-Bake, Stress-Free Dessert That’s Going to Be What You Bring to Every Party

It’s 2015. Why not shake up your holiday party traditions? After all, you can only eat so many snickerdoodles without craving something a little more fiercely festive. If you want your party to be the one that everyone is talking about the next day, we’ve got you covered. This year, instead of swapping cookies… …set up a shake swap.

We’re well and truly into Holiday Party Season now, which means a return to the age-old question, “What to bring as a host gift?” If you’re anything like me, you just rummage in your wine stash for a bottle of something nice enough to gift (probably given to you the last time you played host); but also like me, you might have loftier gift-giving aspirations. Here are three ideas for host gifts that aren’t wine, chocolates, or flowers.

It’s the spirit of the holidays–you want to give gifts to everyone: Family, co-workers, the friends you see every day. But sometimes because of budgets or the fact that everyone might not know each other all that well, a traditional present swap isn’t going to work out. In those cases, it’s fun to get a little creative and make a game of it. If you’re hosting a party, here are five ideas for getting a gift exchange together.

Have you heard of Eurogames before? It’s a subgenre of board games classified by two major features: their attention to design and theme, and focus on serious strategy. Competetive folks, take note: Put away the Scrabble set and try on one of these board games for size. Besides the great artwork and complex mechanics, another defining feature of Eurogames is that nobody is ever knocked out of the game (looking at you, Monopoly).

So you live in a studio. To save money, or perhaps live more simply. Or maybe even to afford to live in the neighborhood you love in your city. Whatever your reason for choosing to live in a studio, you might be thinking that entertaining — for the holidays or beyond — is out of the question. But you can entertain in a studio apartment; try these tips out in your small space.

If you’re lucky enough to have a guest room, chances are good that you’ll be hosting someone there this holiday season. Of course you want your guests to be comfortable, but even the most dedicated hosts sometimes forget a few things. Before your guests arrive, take a look at this checklist of six guest room must-haves to make their stay as enjoyable as possible. Blankets. Probably the biggest potential source of discomfort for your guests is your home’s temperature.

The first time I heard about a white elephant gift exchange (sometimes called Yankee Swap), I thought it sounded crazy. “Wait, you open a gift and then someone can take it from you?” I’ve always felt that the “winner” wasn’t the person who went home with the most sought after gift, but the person who brought the gift that everyone was vying for. And what’s the perfect white elephant gift?

Candles can get expensive, and there can be a somewhat disturbing synthetic aroma that lingers in the air long after the it’s been blown out. If you’re ready to cut ties with your favorite candle (or just take a break and mix it up a bit), check out these six ways to use natural fall scents to get your home smelling wonderful. The best way to get your home smelling wonderful? Bake something with apples—specifically, this Brown Butter Apple Loaf.

Want a game to play after Thanksgiving dinner but don’t know what to play? Are you maxed out when it comes to Monopoly? Bored stiff by Scrabble? All Apples to Apples-ed out? Well, here are seven games (for kids and adults) you can order for the family now to have ready for Thanksgiving. We bet there’s at least one new thing here for everyone—and that they are all a whole bunch of fun. 1. Looping Louie, Amazon, $38.

Thanksgiving is like the Super Bowl of dinner parties. And your best manners need to be on point if you want to be a welcome and gracious dinner guest. After all, it’s the best way to be invited back again next year. If you’d like to make a good impression this turkey day (I’m looking at you, recently cuffed significant others), here’s how to do it.

Whether you have one shared bathroom in your place or a half a dozen, when you’re hosting for the holidays you want to get those spaces ready for houseguests as soon as possible. We’ve put together a totally doable, slow-paced two-week plan that will have you clean, ready and–most importantly–relaxed. The time frames are just a guideline, of course. You can get these five steps done in any order and on any timeline before your guests arrive.

If you’d like to celebrate your close friends and show them how thankful you are for their presence in your life, you might be thinking about throwing a friendsgiving celebration. Don’t stress! Enjoy this new holiday tradition with these tips that will lead to a successful gathering. Thanksgiving has traditionally been about dinner with family, certain types of dishes and doing activities like watching football.

Taking the plunge and inviting guests to spend the night in your small space? Keep your sanity intact by sticking to these five rules of entertaining guests overnight in a small space. Perhaps even before you say “yes” to overnight guests, you should explore the sort of “rules” that would make entertaining overnight guests work for you. And you should double check with your guests to see if they work for them.

Q: My question to the readers is this: when you throw parties, do you give guests free rein to your bar collection (save, of course, for the very expensive/special stuff)? I want to be hospitable and give everyone access to whatever they like, but our liquor selection is vast and sometimes guests can feel overwhelmed or don’t understand the value of what they’re consuming.

The Halloween holiday inches ever more closely, and you might be looking for a way to supercharge the season with a classic activity that’s fun for all ages. Here are eight things you’ll want to have on hand to throw a great and successful Halloween pumpkin carving party. Carve pumpkins too early (and don’t do any tricks to make them last longer), and you’ll have rotted, deflated pumpkins by the time the big trick-or-treating night comes around.

If you are the sort of person who aspires to own a large number of champagne flutes, you are probably also the sort of person who enjoys entertaining at home. In that case, you’ll understand that the best glassware is the kind you don’t need to worry about: The kind where, if a friend who has enjoyed a little too much bubbly knocks one off the table, you can just clean it up and good-naturedly assure them it’s not a big deal.

If you feel like you’re getting invited out to your friends’ houses less and less, it might not be you — maybe it’s just a sign of the times. According to the New York Times, house parties are a thing of the past. They’ve identified statistics that seem to show that these days, people host gatherings at their homes less and less — but why? First, some dire numbers: the amount of high school seniors who have a never attended a party has climbed to 41.

Wine glasses are a lovely thing to have around, whether you’re enjoying a glass while watching your favorite TV show or hosting a dinner party for 12 people. But this kind of glassware can also be very delicate — I can’t count the number of times I’ve broken a glass while washing dishes, or just by setting one on the countertop a little too vigorously.

If you need something to watch between trick-or-treaters, or you just want a film to psych you up for the Halloween holiday, might we suggest one of these 10 flicks? Ranging from horror to family fun, here are the best Halloween films you should queue up right now.