How to Get Your Living Space Party Ready
These clever organising and decorating hacks will see you through the holiday season and beyond
The invites are out and the hors d’oeuvres menu is sorted, so now you just need to organise your living room. Here’s how to prepare your space – and amp up its style – so it’s ready to party!
Protect light-coloured upholstery
Do you have a white rug and sofa? It might seem overly cautious, but it could be worth rolling up that rug and storing it in a cupboard on the big night, and treating your pristine sofas to a throw or two for protection.
A new throw can be an opportunity to introduce a cool print to your scheme. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on an expensive one, head to a fabric store and pick up a washable design in a standout pattern to tuck into your sofa.
Do you have a white rug and sofa? It might seem overly cautious, but it could be worth rolling up that rug and storing it in a cupboard on the big night, and treating your pristine sofas to a throw or two for protection.
A new throw can be an opportunity to introduce a cool print to your scheme. If you don’t want to spend a fortune on an expensive one, head to a fabric store and pick up a washable design in a standout pattern to tuck into your sofa.
Sort the seating
It’s always a good idea to make some areas ‘standing room only’ – by the bar or buffet table, for example. Having these areas forces people to mingle.
Of course, there has to be a good amount of places to sit, too. Stackable stools are party godsends. Outside of soiree season, they take up very little space, but unstack them and, in an instant, you have two or three more seats for your guests.
Or consider Moroccan-style pouffes, which up the style stakes of a room and are easy to move around. Throw in a few floor cushions for good measure – they’re ideal for accommodating unexpected guests.
After a statement chair? Browse the brilliant choices in the Houzz Shop
It’s always a good idea to make some areas ‘standing room only’ – by the bar or buffet table, for example. Having these areas forces people to mingle.
Of course, there has to be a good amount of places to sit, too. Stackable stools are party godsends. Outside of soiree season, they take up very little space, but unstack them and, in an instant, you have two or three more seats for your guests.
Or consider Moroccan-style pouffes, which up the style stakes of a room and are easy to move around. Throw in a few floor cushions for good measure – they’re ideal for accommodating unexpected guests.
After a statement chair? Browse the brilliant choices in the Houzz Shop
Dress it up
You’ll probably be putting on your most glittery, gorgeous outfit, so why not treat your living space to some fun dressing up, too? You don’t have to spend a fortune, and it can be quick and easy. A few paper stars like these add an instant celebratory vibe or hang a couple of colourful paper balls or fans.
You’ll probably be putting on your most glittery, gorgeous outfit, so why not treat your living space to some fun dressing up, too? You don’t have to spend a fortune, and it can be quick and easy. A few paper stars like these add an instant celebratory vibe or hang a couple of colourful paper balls or fans.
Prefer a decorative choice that you can keep up all year round? A wall hanging like this feather one fits the bill, as it’s fun and fabulous. A special mention has to go to the statement pendant light – it would definitely bring life (and light) to your party.
Want to explore more of this vibrant home? Take a tour around it
Want to explore more of this vibrant home? Take a tour around it
Let it shine
No party should be without a string of fairy lights. And, again, this is a décor option that can be used throughout the year. Battery-operated lights give you more flexibility, allowing you to decorate a mirror or framed picture that’s nowhere near an electrical socket.
The two main fairy light colours are warm white and cool white. The latter gives a more yellowy candlelight glow and suits most colour schemes. Cool white is a true white light that’s almost blue in tone.
Candles, particularly in a candelabra, will add atmosphere and drama, but if you’re worried about having lit candles dotted around the room, use LED lights instead. There are some very realistic pillar LED candles that have a deep inset for the ‘flame’, so no one will know they’re fake.
No party should be without a string of fairy lights. And, again, this is a décor option that can be used throughout the year. Battery-operated lights give you more flexibility, allowing you to decorate a mirror or framed picture that’s nowhere near an electrical socket.
The two main fairy light colours are warm white and cool white. The latter gives a more yellowy candlelight glow and suits most colour schemes. Cool white is a true white light that’s almost blue in tone.
Candles, particularly in a candelabra, will add atmosphere and drama, but if you’re worried about having lit candles dotted around the room, use LED lights instead. There are some very realistic pillar LED candles that have a deep inset for the ‘flame’, so no one will know they’re fake.
Make nesting tables your friends
We mentioned a buffet table earlier, but ideally you should have party food distributed throughout the room. Why? For one, it prevents a bottleneck of people hanging out at the buffet. Also, it means you won’t have to walk around and play hostess if people aren’t coming up to the table to get nibbles.
So spread out those nesting tables and position them near where people will be sitting or standing. Put finger foods on one, sweets on another and so on.
We mentioned a buffet table earlier, but ideally you should have party food distributed throughout the room. Why? For one, it prevents a bottleneck of people hanging out at the buffet. Also, it means you won’t have to walk around and play hostess if people aren’t coming up to the table to get nibbles.
So spread out those nesting tables and position them near where people will be sitting or standing. Put finger foods on one, sweets on another and so on.
Create a cocktail bar…
Keep things casual with a drinks station. Your guests can help themselves to what they want, which gives you more time to mingle. And if you’re too busy pre-party to search on eBay or at your local flea market for a drinks trolley like this one, a desk or console that you already have could also play the part.
Keep things casual with a drinks station. Your guests can help themselves to what they want, which gives you more time to mingle. And if you’re too busy pre-party to search on eBay or at your local flea market for a drinks trolley like this one, a desk or console that you already have could also play the part.
…or cocktail cabinet
If you host a lot of soirees, perhaps getting a custom-made ‘bar in an alcove’ that can be closed off when not in use might be for you. Brilliant, right? And a decorative detail like this neon sign will bring instant style kudos to your party.
Like to see more neon lighting? Check out these cool designs
If you host a lot of soirees, perhaps getting a custom-made ‘bar in an alcove’ that can be closed off when not in use might be for you. Brilliant, right? And a decorative detail like this neon sign will bring instant style kudos to your party.
Like to see more neon lighting? Check out these cool designs
Put a record on
OK, so most of us don’t have vinyl any more (or room for a collection like this), but a party wouldn’t be a party without music. It’s tempting to just plug in your phone and hit ‘shuffle’, but make it more personal by putting a playlist together. You’ll want at least three hours of music to avoid repeating songs and variety is key – mix mellow tunes with get-up-and-dance numbers. Now it’s time to truly get the party started.
What are your tips for getting your living space party ready? Let us know in the Comments section.
OK, so most of us don’t have vinyl any more (or room for a collection like this), but a party wouldn’t be a party without music. It’s tempting to just plug in your phone and hit ‘shuffle’, but make it more personal by putting a playlist together. You’ll want at least three hours of music to avoid repeating songs and variety is key – mix mellow tunes with get-up-and-dance numbers. Now it’s time to truly get the party started.
What are your tips for getting your living space party ready? Let us know in the Comments section.
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Not only do you need clear surfaces for guests to put down their drinks, a cluttered room is unstylish. And you don’t want any precious items getting knocked over when the dancing starts (more on that later).
Don’t clear everything away, though – it’s a good idea to keep one or two decorative objects out, otherwise your space could start to look like a minimalist cube. Just swap your best pieces for some under-a-fiver ceramic vases or decorative bowls, which can be picked up at most homes stores.
Time is tight when you’re prepping for a party, so instead of spending hours going through paperwork and the bits and bobs that are littering your space, opt for the ‘box method’. That’s when, in one fell swoop, you put all that nagging clutter in a box (or two, or three…).