1. Theme the supper
Flex your creative muscle and theme the kitchen supper party to create instant ambience. Choose a dress code, cook accordingly and make, buy or borrow kitchen décor accessories for your theme. This summer’s hottest trend is Eighties so go retro chic with your kitchen décor and kitchen recipes – bring on pineapples on a stick, meatballs and profiteroles.
2. Who to invite
Entertaining in your kitchen is more about gathering friends around the kitchen island or kitchen counter than showing off. Don’t get stuck in a rut with the same crowd; invite singles and couples, old friends and new.
3. Do the tedious jobs in advance
Being prepared will make yours a dream kitchen supper party. Lay the kitchen table, sort out the coffee tray, wipe down the kitchen worktops and plump up cushions before guests arrive.
4. Buy flowers or plants
Whether yours is a country kitchen or stainless kitchen, introduce greenery to the kitchen worktops and to any kitchen furniture. Fresh flowers are the ultimate in chic kitchen décor but flowering plants or potted herbs are easier to manage than cut flowers.
5. Kitchen recipes made easy
Celebrity chefs Jamie, Rick and Nigella have increased the popularity of the kitchen supper in lieu of formal dinner parties. Kitchen recipes should be quick, easy and delicious. Make a pie or bake a tart in the kitchen oven in advance that can be labeled and frozen in the freezer.
6. Hide kitchen equipment out of sight
Make guests feel at ease by clearing kitchen worktops and putting away kitchen equipment before they arrive – even if it means hiding dirty pans in the kitchen sink. Nobody wants to arrive to a chaotic room. A relaxed host and tidy space is the best kitchen recipe for a chic party.
7. Create a jazz playlist
Kitchen décor, kitchen lighting and music are the three essentials to creating a chic supper party mood. Good background music should be neither too fast, nor too slow.
8. Have aperitifs ready for guests’ arrival
Up the ante and serve Champagne – but instead of a formal Champagne flute, serve it on the rocks in a tumbler. It’s the ultimate drink for a chic kitchen supper party. Cater also for drivers, pregnant guests and the more sensible with a non-alcoholic cocktail.
9. Create moody kitchen lighting
To best show off your kitchen design, dim down your kitchen lighting and spark up candlelight or fairy lights. Buy a stash of scented candles – and keep a couple in a fridge overnight to make them burn longer if you keep them in a fridge overnight. Short on tea-light holders? Use shot glasses.
10. Time to really get the party started…
Make your kitchen supper party one to remember with a few party games. How about Trivial Pursuit for the intellects or Twister for the wilder bashes?
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