People Always Think My Mom Has It All Together — This Is Her Secret

I grew up in a fairly large family, so our gatherings were always big and full of activity. My family home is still the place where everyone gathers for holidays and monthly dinners, with my mom at the center. She sees hosting as no big deal — it’s something she’s done for years — but I’ve always admired how calm and organized she is when her house is full of people. Her secret? A hosting cabinet.

In my parents’ living room is an enormous buffet with multiple drawers and lit-up shelves full of serveware and family heirlooms. This buffet is my mom’s hub for entertaining and the key to her hosting success. It’s filled with my great-grandmother’s china, sterling silver utensils, table linens, and candles for every occasion. Everything she needs for something as simple as a dinner party or a book club gathering or more eventful like a Thanksgiving feast is tucked away in her hosting cabinet. Not only is it a beautiful way to display some of her most well-loved pieces, but the cabinet also serves as a system for effortless party prep, as everything is easily within reach.  

The cabinet is meticulously organized — there are drawers for tablecloths, cheese boards, serving trays, candles, and utensils. The larger pieces are on display, and it’s a mix of serveware for everyday entertaining to antique pieces only used for special occasions. My mom’s cabinet is like a hosting tool kit — everything you need for a party is always ready to go. No scrambling or overwhelm — it’s all in one place. 

I didn’t think of creating my own cabinet until after I hosted my first gathering of the year. I’ve made it my goal to host friends once a month in 2025 and, after gathering all the items I needed for an at-home coffee shop, I was left wondering where I should store leftover paper goods like napkins and cups. That’s when I remembered my mom’s hosting cabinet.

While my mom’s cabinet is huge, mine is scaled to fit my home and lifestyle, which is admittedly much smaller. My husband and I live in a small townhome, and my introverted self prefers intimate gatherings with friends, so my cabinet is filled with just the basics. I own an IKEA HAVSTA Glass-Door Cabinet that’s stocked with a set of dinner party plates, secondhand serveware I’ve started to collect, baskets for linens and paper goods, and a few of my own family heirlooms (like a set of my grandmother’s embroidered napkins). We had this cabinet for years before I turned into a hosting hub. My mom has even given it a nod of approval. 

To create your own hosting cabinet, decide the kinds of gatherings you would be hosting. Don’t be afraid to start with what you have — even a drawer or a shelf can work. If you’re looking for a glass-door cabinet like I have, this white sideboard with glass-paneled sliding doors from Wayfair is currently selling for $175 — which is more than half the price of my IKEA one. It features two interior shelves and is completely stackable, so you can create an entire wall unit if you wanted to.

Once you have your hosting cabinet or space ready, begin filling it with the basics: a tablecloth or runner, a serving platter and bowl, and a small set of serving utensils. Because hosting is meant to feel special, stock your cabinet with pieces you love. Incorporating items that hold meaning or feel beautiful will inspire you to host your friends more often. Your supplies can be so much more than just practical!

My mom and her cabinet have taught me that this hosting method is more than just organization and storage — it’s a way to make gatherings simple and thoughtful. Plus, it’s easy when everything is within reach.