insideKENT Magazine Issue 39 - June 2015 | Page 126
INTERIORS
how to host your
best dinner party yet...
BY LISAMARIE LAMB
THERE COMES A MOMENT IN EVERYONE’S (ADULT) LIFE WHEN THEY REALISE ONE THING: IT’S
TIME TO ARRANGE A DINNER PARTY. WHETHER IT’S A GOOD CHANCE TO GET FRIENDS
TOGETHER WHOM YOU HAVEN’T SEEN FOR AN AGE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE A
PROMOTION, HOUSE SALE, NEW BABY, EXCITING PROSPECT FOR THE FUTURE, OR JUST
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO TRY OUT YOUR HOSTING AND COOKING SKILLS, THERE'S A LOT OF
PLANNING INVOLVED.
Apart from the food – obviously an essential
component of any dinner party – the setting is
the most important aspect to get right. The interior
of your home, and perhaps most specifically your
dining room (and, to a lesser extent, your kitchen)
could make the difference between a good party
and a great one. And it doesn’t take much to
compliment your fabulous dishes with an equally
fabulous interior that means your dinner parties
are the ones that your friends and family are
clamouring to get an invitation to.
So how can you take your dinner party to the
next level? Here are just a few ideas…
Dining Table
This is the focal point of the room, and there’s
no getting away from the fact that your guests
are going to be taking notice of it. They will be
leaning on it, talking across it, and hopefully not
banging their knees on it. The height of the table
top, as well as how low it goes towards the floor
is important when choosing your table – it needs
to be a comfortable space for your guests to
use; the better it is, the longer they will stay and
enjoy their evening. A rustic, chunky table is a
great way to entice everyone to keep talking even
when the food is long gone.
Tablecloth
Covering your dining table in a tablecloth is a
great way of bringing everything together in one
cohesive design. It’s also an excellent way of
bringing a little of your personality to the party –
bright and funky, traditional and classic, whatever
works in your home will work on your table.
It’s all about organic this season, and the more
natural your tableware is, the better it will look.
Why not add a contrasting table runner to really
make the design pop?
Crockery
Once you’ve found the perfect tablecloth, you’ll
need something to go on it – and we mean
crockery. Eating from stunning plates really
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enhances the whole dining experience, and by
laying the crockery out before the food is served,
you’ll be giving your guests a cosy, yet designer
feel, especially if you layer plates and bowls. Big
is certainly beautiful when it comes to chunky
crockery.
Cutlery
The other essential is cutlery – unless you’re
planning on finger food, it’s a little mean to present
your guests with great looking and smelling food
but not give them the tools to eat it with. Don’t
forget, your guests are going to be using these
knives, forks, and spoons a lot, and they need
to be easy to handle. Give them something
elegant that they will enjoy interacting with, and
you’re halfway there. Wooden handles will give
your table that rustic touch.