4 Tips For Easy Entertaining

Is your favorite party the one you don’t have to host? The pressure and stress of cooking, cleaning, and decorating can suck the enjoyment right out of planning a soiree. Here are some tips to minimize stress and maximize fun, for you and your guests.

1. WORK WITH YOUR FLOORPLAN

Sure it might have looked great on Pinterest, but will it work in your home? Traditional floorplans can compartmentalize guests and large groups can quickly become fragmented, making smaller, intimate get-togethers more compatible with a traditional home layout. Open-concept homes, on the other hand, are perfect for gatherings of any size. Open, connected spaces allow for spreading and mingling, without becoming disjointed.

2. DIY DRINKS

Incorporating interactive elements will take a load off your shoulders, while getting guests instantly involved. Set up a bar area or a drink cart where party-goers can craft their own themed libations. If it’s winter, make hot toddies. In summer, you can go for mint juleps. If you’re having Mexican food, make margaritas. Maybe everyone brings ingredients and shares techniques for making their personal favorite cocktails. Guests will love learning new recipes, and, as host, you won’t have to head to the kitchen every time a glass is empty.

3. KEEP IT MOVING

A fun way to keep parties lively is to keep them in motion. Start with drinks and appetizers in the great room, or on the patio if the weather allows it. Move into the dining room for dinner. And finish off the festivities with a trip to the lower-level for games and conversation. Sometimes, all it takes to revitalize a celebration is a change of scenery.

4. THE HOST SETS THE TONE

Finally, and most importantly, remember that the host sets the tone for the evening. If you’re stressed out, guests will notice that, and it will shift the whole mood of the party for the worse. Everybody is there to have a good time. Even if a couple of things go wrong, a cheery and generous host will be what everyone remembers when they walk out the door.

So don’t let the stress of hosting put the kibosh on the real reason we get together with friends and family: fun.

Check out open-concept floorplans that are perfect for entertaining at one of Bielinski Homes’ model homes, or right here on our site.