This is the time of year when we start to come out of our state of winter hibernation. The sun is setting later in the day, the sunshine is more consistent and we all communally agree that it’s time to enter back into the world.
And with that comes our fresh desire to open our doors and have guests in our home again. The downside to the months of hibernation is that we may have been eyeing our home more critically with all that time spent indoors.
Are you ready to freshen up? Let’s look at how to do that while simultaneously setting the scene for entertaining.
DECORATING FOR ENTERTAINING
Since the focus is on decorating and not renovating we don’t have a blank slate. Decorating requires us to reimagine our current space and make room for a bigger vision of what could be. When we dream about decorating for entertaining our focus switches from family needs to the needs of a greater number of people. For example, how do we make our home a place where we have what we need to entertain as well as the ability to make others feel at home in our space? It’s not difficult but it needs to be front of mind in order for you to execute on it.
What Type of Entertainer Are You?
You might be dreaming of hosting lavish parties that include caterers and bottles of champagne but is that the reality of your situation?
There may have been a time when champagne was on regular rotation in your home. It’s possible to move from one phase to another based on the season of life. Just be realistic about what stage of life you’re in currently and try to make decorating decisions based on this current reality.
There’s no need to buy large white tablecloths and dozens of champagne flutes if you usually entertain your best friends and their young children. At least temporarily there may be a need to switch out the champagne flutes for colourful plastic cups for kids.
What Do You Need to Make This Entertaining Goal Achievable?
If you really want to invite all the kids and parents from your son’s baseball team over after games, what would help make that a reality for you? It could be a simple list that includes foldable chairs, dishware and cutlery for 20 people that only comes out when you entertain or a better sound system. Just start writing down the things that are a current obstacle to your dream.
Here are my best tips to help you get going.
1/ Clear Your Space
Regardless of what type of decorating you’re doing, this is always step one. Clearing the clutter from the spaces where your guests will be is a great start. This will not only make your home look more party ready but it also helps create the perception of a larger space.
Start by going through your space, room by room. Donate or trash anything that hasn’t been used in a long time and find a permanent home for anything you want to keep. Often we become so blind to the mess around us. Use this as the motivation you need to purge and organize your space. Even when you’re not entertaining you’ll feel more comfortable in your home.
2/ Multifunctional Pieces
When we’re redecorating our space we so often overlook our entertaining needs. We think about our day-to-day needs only. If you want to start to entertain more often consider that when you’re buying furniture.
How can the pieces we purchase do double duty and be used in multiple ways? For instance, an ottoman or bench purchased with intention can also become extra seating. Just be sure you consider this so that you know it has adequate support, is easy and light enough to move around your home and that the fabric is durable.
Are you unsure of whether your furniture needs to be replaced? Read this post to learn how I assess what’s good and what should go.
3/ Plan With Intention
Before you get excited and start hitting the stores it’s time to plan the aesthetics of your future get-togethers. You’ve decided what a typical day or night of entertaining would look like when it comes to the guest list but it’s time to focus on the colour scheme.
I think we’ve all been caught in the situation of having to pull together a mish mash of plates, glassware, cutlery and napkins because we didn’t plan ahead. Conversely, you may have that friend that always has enough white linen napkins regardless of how many people arrive. If you have the financial resources and space to store these pieces for entertaining it will make getting organized for future parties a breeze.
Start by considering which occasions you prefer to entertain? Do you always celebrate birthdays at your house? Do you love to host Christmas dinner? Think about the entire year and not just about the party you’re having next week. This will help you to stock your must-have items. The bonus is that when you plan for the entire year you can take advantage of off-season sale prices.
4/ Shop With Intention
Now with the shopping list in hand it’s time to hit the stores. I would suggest you start by doing some online research before you leave home. This will allow you to know what each store has and whether it’s worth stopping or passing. The sooner you start the better organized you’ll be for future entertaining.
Last minute runs to Homesense are fun but sometimes impractical. We may be able to scrounge up 8 of the same wine glasses but if you need larger quantities you’re better off in speciality stores.
5/ Bring in the Decor
One of my favourite parts of entertaining is being able to decorate my home with my favourite pieces. For you this might be bringing out all the candles from your pantry. It could be floral arrangements, balloons or just ensuring everyone is well fed with large platters of food.
Whatever makes you feel like it’s a special occasion is what you should use. If you have the space, I’d recommend keeping a few baskets or bins filled with decor that is only for entertaining. This will make it feel more special on those occasions when you pull it out.
I hope this helps you feel more comfortable planning your next get-together. Spring is an exciting time and preparing for some visits from family and friends just adds to the excitement of the season.
If you’re planning on decorating but need some help, reach out to me. I’d love to chat with you about your upcoming project.
