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Given how many reality shows about dinner parties we’ve had over the years, it would be fair to overthink your own. You may wonder if you’re pleasant enough, if you’ve spent enough money on the treats and refreshments when hosting, or if your house is clean enough. These are all good priorities to have, of course (although expensive doesn’t always mean better), but in some cases, you may overthink it.
For example, if you go to hand a wine glass to an attendee but realise it’s smudged, you can always hand-wash and dry it and return it to your guest. That’s hardly a huge faux-pas that will be talked about for centuries to come. We’d even suggest that if you’ve invited someone over for dinner, with the exception of your boss and their spouse, odds are you’re on informal, pleasant terms to begin with.
Becoming a better dinner host, then, ultimately depends on being more of yourself, while remaining friendly, open, and accommodating. That’s all you need. However, the following advice is sure to help in kind:
Arrange Your Furniture With Forethought
It’s wise to make sure your dining furniture at Shawcross is correctly positioned in the space. Keep in mind that guests would feel more comfortable mingling without having to squeeze past many obstacles or stand in cramped corners, where conversation would feel forced. For example, you could pull a chair away from the wall so people could chat in a cozy triangle rather than sitting in a rigid line like they’re at the dentist.
It’s wise to make sure your dining furniture at Shawcross is correctly positioned in the space. Keep in mind that guests would feel more comfortable mingling without having to squeeze past many obstacles or stand in cramped corners, where conversation would feel forced. For example, you could pull a chair away from the wall so people could chat in a cozy triangle rather than sitting in a rigid line like they’re at the dentist.
Moreover, the coffee table shouldn’t be so far from the sofa that people would have to perform acrobatics to reach their drinks, and you could clear a path to the bathroom that lets people get up and out of the room privately.. Small touches, such as having enough surface space for people to set down their glasses, can also help.
Always Have Refreshments Ready
Having something ready to offer guests the moment they arrive is a nice gesture, but having a few options available would show thoughtfulness. You could set out some nuts or crackers, or just ensure you have enough ice and mixers for drinks.
If you can, it’s good to have everything prepared before the first guest arrives so you’re not scrambling around the kitchen while people are settling in. Consider what could be prepared ahead of time and what might need last-minute attention. Your guests would feel more at ease seeing you relaxed and present rather than stressed about whether there’s enough food or if the wine needs to breathe longer.
Give Your Guests Their Space
Good hosts understand that hovering could make people feel self-conscious, even though the intention would come from wanting to be attentive. You want to find the balance between being available and giving people room to enjoy themselves, by stepping back after introductions are made and letting conversations come up organically rather than trying to orchestrate every interaction. It’s okay if things go their own way, remember, you’re the host and not the composer of everyone’s good time. It’s on your guests to be polite and contribute after all, you’re not there to dance around and entertain everyone, but give them the chance to enjoy a calm and pleasant night.
With this advice, we hope you can feel more naturally suited to the dinner host role!
Thank you for reading!
lyndsinreallife
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