The Opening Note

This week, I’ve found myself thinking about one of my favorite parts of summer: gathering friends and family together for a garden party.

I’ve also been inspired by how brilliantly Americans seem to host outdoor gatherings. There’s such a joyful, relaxed spirit to them – everyone brings something to share, whether it’s a favorite salad, a homemade dessert, or a signature drink, and the whole afternoon feels wonderfully communal. I love the idea that hosting and good garden party ideas don’t have to fall on one person; everyone pitches in, making it feel less formal, more fun, and far more memorable.

Growing up in Britain, I was always drawn to the charm of traditional summer garden parties too. The tabletop was never perfectly matched, flowers were clipped fresh from the garden, homemade cakes appeared on well-loved china, and guests almost always stayed longer than expected because nobody wanted the afternoon to end. Those gatherings felt relaxed, welcoming, and full of personality – and in many ways, they remind me of the same easy-going atmosphere I admire about American outdoor entertaining today.

There’s something magical about hosting outdoors. Perhaps it’s the slower pace of a warm afternoon, the way conversations drift long after dessert, or simply the pleasure of setting a table beneath the trees and letting the garden do most of the decorating. The best gatherings are rarely the most elaborate – they're the ones where everyone feels comfortable enough to settle in, pour another glass, and stay a little longer.

So this week, I’m sharing an edit of my favourite garden party themes and inspiration, from beautiful table settings and charming serveware to comfortable seating, fresh flowers, and all the little details that make summer entertaining feel effortless. Whether you're planning an elegant afternoon tea or a relaxed potluck with friends, these are the pieces I'd genuinely choose to create a gathering that's welcoming, beautiful, and above all, fun.

After all, the best garden parties aren't the ones where everything goes perfectly – they're the ones where everyone feels completely at home.

The Edit: Entertain in Style

In the Queue

Next week on The Very British Edit, I'm embracing the effortless charm of a European summer – and all the decorating inspiration that comes with it.

It seems as though so many people are returning from vacations across Europe with a fresh appreciation for the colors, textures, and relaxed style that make Mediterranean destinations so unforgettable. From the iconic blue-and-white palette of the Greek islands to the striped beach clubs of the Italian Riviera, charming sardine motifs from Portugal, and sun-faded linens found in the South of France, these are the little details that instantly transport you somewhere warmer.

I've always admired the way Europeans make everyday living feel like a celebration of the season. Long lunches stretch into the afternoon, outdoor tables are set with beautiful yet uncomplicated pieces, and even the smallest balcony feels inviting with woven textures, colorful ceramics, and plenty of greenery. There's an easy elegance to it all that feels just as appealing at home as it does on vacation.

The beauty of this look is that it's incredibly easy to recreate. A striped tablecloth, woven baskets, terracotta planters, olive branches, hand-painted dinnerware, colorful glassware, or a few blue-and-white accents can completely transform a space without feeling overly themed. It's less about recreating a destination and more about capturing that carefree vacation atmosphere.

I've been gathering my favorite European-inspired finds that work beautifully in everyday homes, whether you're refreshing a patio, styling a dining table, or adding a few seasonal touches indoors. Think Mediterranean stripes, rustic pottery, natural textures, playful sardine prints, lemon motifs, and all the little details that make a home feel bright, welcoming, and full of summer spirit.

Next week, I'll be sharing the pieces I'd genuinely buy to bring this timeless European style home, along with simple decorating ideas inspired by Greece, Italy, the French Riviera, and beyond.

The Very British Edit is a shoppable guide to beautiful living with a distinctly British twist. From heritage patterns to timeless decor inspirations, each edition blends personal insight, design expertise, and a love of craftsmanship. It is stylish, trustworthy, and endlessly inspiring.

Outdoor hosting is one of the best ways to enjoy the summertime. Whether it's brunch on the patio, an afternoon pool party, or a moonlit, al fresco dinner, nothing can ruin the mood of a day spent outdoors – well, except soaring temperatures. So how do you and your guests keep cool when hosting outside in the summer?

We spoke to hosting experts who shared their practical and creative approaches to staying cool and adding shade while spending time outside this season. Below, find their tips so you can enjoy hosting outdoors – no matter the temperature.

Whether you're prepping a small backyard for summer hosting or you're gearing up your large outdoor living room for an evening get-together, these six hosting tips can ensure a summer full of refreshingly cool outdoor parties.

1. Create Spots of Shade

It's always a good idea to have some shaded areas in your backyard. Even if you love soaking up the sun, some guests might prefer to relax in the shade. And on hot days, a shady zone can make your patio feel so much cooler.

Hosting expert Julianna McIntosh says that shaded areas are a must. 'I recommend using large umbrellas or pop-up tents to provide ample cover. Setting up comfortable seating areas under the shade with cozy cushions and fans can help guests stay cool and relaxed,’ she explains.

Things like outdoor umbrellas, small gazebos, and even tall plants can create shade in your outdoor space. And the more shading elements you have, the more outdoor space you'll be able to enjoy on a hot summer day.

2. Encourage a Flow Between Indoors and Out

If a shady space is not enough, you could combine indoor and outdoor hosting by starting the party inside and then transitioning outdoors once it's cool enough, author and entertainment expert Dawna Pitts recommends.

‘I live in very sunny Paradise Valley, Arizona, so oftentimes I hold the 'mingling hour' (the beginning forty-five minutes to an hour) inside, and then, after the sun has set enough, I love taking the party outside for comfortable dining without the sun beating down,’ she shares.

Keep exterior doors open so guests can quickly move from outside back in, and vice versa. Just make sure to use a screen door or a magnetic screen to keep unwanted pests from finding their way inside.

3. Plan a Summer Menu With Intention

A summer party calls for a seasonally appropriate menu and what you serve can make all the difference to keep guests cool. Rather than serving heavy, hot dishes and strong drinks, opt for light meals, seasonal accoutrements, and cold, refreshing cocktails.

According to luxury event planner Cassie LaMere, there are so many creative drinks to serve when hosting outdoors in the summertime. 'Serve beverages in mint julep cups with shaved ice that hold onto their cooling effect even in peak heat, or have glassware in a freezer so it presents frosted,' she suggests. It helps to set up an outdoor drink station, too, or at least a few chic ice buckets – this way, you don't have to run back inside to make another round.

As for the food, you can never go wrong with fish as the main course (grilled halibut is always a winner for an elevated but easy dish). That said, there are so many other summer foods that are worth serving at your party – like sliced fruit, melon and prosciutto platters, or cold pasta salads.

4. Incorporate Cooling Devices

Sometimes, shade is simply not enough to keep you cool while outside – especially when the summer heat surpasses 90 degrees. That's why it's a good idea to incorporate cooling units or devices into your backyard's design scheme.

If you have a covered porch, consider installing an outdoor ceiling fan to circulate air, and if you don't have a covered space, opt for a standing fan instead. If you live in a very hot climate, consider installing misters – or wire-like devices that can spray water around your patio to keep you and your guests extra cool and comfortable.

5. Use a Light Color Scheme

Light colors just make sense for outdoor summer hosting. These shades absorb less heat than darker colors do, and they can even trick your brain into feeling cooler, too.

According to our editor Jennifer Ebert, 'a lighter color scheme can completely transform how an outdoor space feels during the summer months.' She recommends utilizing a soft summer color palette of whites, warm neutrals, and pale natural tones to make patio seating areas feel fresh and more comfortable for summer hosting. 'Beyond the practical benefits, these airy hues also create a relaxed, timeless backdrop that enhances the feeling of being outdoors,' Jennifer continues.

Decor aside, you can even recommend that guests dress in light colors to help them feel even cooler as they enjoy time outside at your house.

6. Appeal to All of the Senses

Another way you can make your outdoor space feel cooler in the summer is by tapping into all of the senses. According to hosting expert Cassie LaMere, this is a key element in hosting a successful gathering. Since we've covered sight, taste, and touch, that leaves scent and sound.

'Saltwater or eucalyptus scents are refreshing and soothing,’ Cassie suggests in terms of scent. And while you can definitely buy a candle to emit a refreshing summer scent, consider planting fragrant summer flowers that will immerse your garden in cooling, fresh fragrances.

In terms of sound, Cassie suggests playing peaceful music to set the mood. 'Keep the playlist soothing with ocean waves or yacht rock; both will transport you to on-the-water instant chill vibes,' she says.

Hosting an outdoor event in the summer doesn't have to be a sweltering ordeal. Keeping you and your guests cool is simple when you follow these six tips – no matter what the mercury reads. With thoughtful preparation and creative touches, your outdoor summer party is sure to be a success.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s a fact that every food looks better on a stylish surface. Fruit reads farmers’ market scattered across marble, while grocery store croissants might as well have been overnighted from a boulangerie. When it’s one hundred degrees and counting, a great serving platter makes you look like the host with the most – without actually requiring the most of you at all.

Each dish tastes brighter: a simple tomato Caprese pops against chocolate-on-cream splatterware. Cross-cut sandwiches are suddenly country club caliber haloed by a hand-painted flock of birds. Serving oysters? GreenRow makes a platter for that. Even a casual Tuesday-night barbecue feels fancy when the burger buns are piled high atop the American design classic that is Mackenzie-Childs’ Courtly Check.

For cut watermelon, ambitious lobster boils, and everything in between, shop 20 serving platters that make every summer table setting sing.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

The Cut is all about Homes & Gardens helping you invest in pieces that feel current now, but won’t date as trends shift. Finds that elevate a room today and still feel right years from now. Whether it’s a sculptural accent chair or a chic pendant light, our editors will curate an edit that balances style, longevity, and quality. Consider this your shortcut to smart, beautiful shopping.

Contrary to popular belief, summer hosting isn't limited to the porch and the patio. If you're like me, and you're constantly telling friends and family to ‘just stay the weekend’, then hosting becomes a whole-house affair – and it requires more than laying fresh sheets on the bed in your guest bedroom.

Lucky for us, Anthropologie has just released an entire collection centered around at-home hosting. Cleverly named 'Suite Dreams', this range is brimming with hosting essentials that'll make your visitors feel like they've just checked into a 5-star resort.

Blending the French B&B aesthetic with Anthropologie’s signature whimsical flair, the collection gives classic hosting necessities a chic yet playful twist. Think soap canisters and trinket dishes painted with winged jaguars, checker-printed serving trays that look whimsical yet resort-worthy, and even decorative luggage racks that bring at-home hospitality to a new, design-led level.

My favorite features of the collection are undoubtedly the trinkets that, though small, do so much to make guest spaces look and feel thoughtfully designed. From the room key-shaped bottle opener to the hotel-inspired door hangers, these little touches go a long way in elevating guest bedrooms. But if the space needs more than that, fret not. This collection also boasts so much more, including assortment of bedsheets (like the highly-rated Maeve Organic Cotton Percale Sheet Set) and even bedroom furniture (the Tasha Lacquer Armoire is such a chic pick).

So, if hosting is your love language and you're eager to make your guests feel like they've entered a boutique hotel when they stay the weekend at your house, then Anthropologie's Suite Dreams Collection is what you need to shop. Find my top picks from the collection below.

Shop Anthropologie's Suite Dreams Collection

With Anthropologie's Suite Dreams Collection, your guest suite is sure to feel like it belongs in a 5-star retreat – so much so that your visitors may never want to leave the room.

But if there's one thing that'll make them eager to venture elsewhere, it's an outdoor party – and we have the perfect outdoor hosting checklist that'll help you plan for the occasion.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

In Manhattan, the chicest people you know probably aren’t playing poker – they’re playing backgammon. Thanks in part to private members’ clubs like 7 Spring, where strategy salons, elaborate dinners, and cocktail-fueled tournaments have turned the rainy day diversion into social currency, the game has taken on a kind of luxurious legitimacy. Naturally, the board itself has become a must-have piece of coffee table decor.

Between the dice cups, doubling cube, checkers, and carrying case, there’s plenty of room for indulgence. Leather, mother-of-pearl, mahogany, and custom monogrammed inlays give these boards a handbag-rivaling appeal. If you've ever wondered what the Hermès Kelly Pochette of backgammon looks like, Geoffrey Parker has the answer. The brand, which introduced its first leather-clad set in 1961, still sets the standard with tonal acrylic hybrids that cost about the same. Meanwhile, newer names like Jonathan Adler and MaisonGames are loosening things up with animal prints, tortoiseshell finishes, and turquoise leather that feels distinctly Côte d’Azur-coded (which works out nicely, as many of these boards are designed to travel, too).

And even if backgammon remains more of a sometimes sport than a daily ritual, the glamour of the 5,000-year-old pastime still holds. We’re particularly fond of Verve Culture’s retro-inspired $45 set, while Anthropologie’s $59 version doubles as both a serving board and a secondary stage for checkers.

Call it a two-timing coffee table trend, a chic conversation starter, or simply insurance against an uninspired evening. Shop 16 sets for endlessly entertaining gatherings ahead.

The Cut is all about Homes & Gardens helping you invest in pieces that feel current now, but won’t date as trends shift. Finds that elevate a room today and still feel right years from now. Whether it’s a sculptural accent chair or a chic pendant light, our editors will curate an edit that balances style, longevity, and quality. Consider this your shortcut to smart, beautiful shopping.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Most tablescapes are assembled with the same features – a grounding tablecloth, plates and cutlery, glassware, and a decorative centerpiece. But the best tablescapes include an additional element – a set of chic napkins.

And no, we aren't talking the disposable paper variety: for an elegant table, you want cloth. Made from cotton, linen, specialty fabrics, or blends, cloth napkins take ordinary tablescapes from good to great. They're proof that you, as a host, are willing to go the extra mile to create a scene that's layered, considered, and thoughtfully designed.

The beauty of cloth napkins is that there are endless variations of them – floral, fringed, embroidered – so you're certain to find a set that matches your personal style. There are even cloth napkins that tap into this summer's top table decor trends, including Anthropologie's Bistro Tile Napkins that channel Italian summer energy and Williams Sonoma's Embroidered Gingham Napkins that look as coastal chic as can be. And since all cloth napkins are washable, you can use them again and again, for every dinner party you host this summer and for summers to come.

Ahead, find 24 picks that'll make your table setting look and feel complete this summer.

The Cut is all about Homes & Gardens helping you invest in pieces that feel current now, but won’t date as trends shift. Finds that elevate a room today and still feel right years from now. Whether it’s a sculptural accent chair or a chic pendant light, our editors will curate an edit that balances style, longevity, and quality. Consider this your shortcut to smart, beautiful shopping.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

While the best outdoor gatherings look and feel effortless, the best hosts know that the key is in the preparation. Putting in the legwork early means that your summer get-togethers will involve far less stress ahead of the event, making for a happier and more relaxed host on the day.

We've asked the experts for their top outdoor entertaining tips, from setup to cleanup – think seating layouts, shade and lighting, tableware, decor and drinks stations – for the most seamless and stylish patio hosting setup.

We have you covered with summer garden party decor and an essential outdoor entertaining checklist, as well as editor-approved buys to help you shop the best outdoor dining ideas for creating a memorable and magical event.

1. Start With a Layout That Allows Space and Flow

Ensuring that the layout of your outdoor space works for the number of guests and style of event is a crucial factor for backyard hosting. Creating 'micro-zones' that encourage guests to mingle and gather, allowing for flow between spaces to prevent overcrowding, and providing plenty of seating, lighting, and shade will all contribute to a smoothly run event.

Ensure There's Ample and Flexible Seating

While your outdoor living room ideas might work perfectly for your household day-to-day, when it comes to hosting, you'll need to consider more flexible seating arrangements that can be moved or adapted to suit the guest list.

'Flexibility is key in designing for entertaining, both indoors and out,' agrees Aly Morford, co-founder & principal designer at Pure Salt Interiors. 'Modular seating, like ottomans and stools, are a great way to flex with your party’s size while still keeping a curated and low-profile look when not in use.'

Make sure there are plenty of outdoor side tables for guests to put their glasses on and that furniture is lightweight and easy to move, or that you provide some elegant occasional pieces, like these Folding French rattan-style chairs from Wayfair.

Create Clearly-Defined Zones

'The biggest mistake people make with outdoor entertaining spaces is treating the yard as one undifferentiated room,' says Rebekah Zaveloff, founder of Imparfait Design Studio. 'Zoning is about giving each activity its own sense of place.'

Creating a three-zone outdoor hosting setup for dining, lounging, and late nights is the perfect way to do this. Rebekah adds, 'At our home in Michigan (pictured above), we have a pizza oven positioned close to the dining area – when you're pulling a pizza out and bringing it straight to the table, you want that energy, that heat, that theater all happening in the same breath. But the fire pit is somewhere else entirely. That's a slower, more contemplative space for lingering after dinner. Those zones need to feel different because they invite different kinds of connection.'

It's also important to pay attention to the 'flow' between those zones. 'People often overlook the in-between – the planting pockets, the moments of greenery that you move from one zone to the next,' says Rebekah. 'Those transitions matter enormously. They signal to your body: this is a new space now, shift your pace. Good outdoor design choreographs how people move through it.'

Provide Shade and Lighting

A purpose-built structure, like a pergola, not only provides shade to keep guests cool and protected from the midday sun but can make for a really atmospheric feel by night, too.

Outdoor lighting, such as the statement pendant light shown above, can be fitted to the crossbeams and combined with string lights and lanterns for a cozy glow. A semi-permanent structure can also be useful for attaching outdoor fans, heaters or speakers (for ambient background music) to, while the wiring can be hidden in the frame. And, if positioned close to the house, there's no need for an external power source.

2. Build a Hosting-Ready Outdoor Dining Setup

When it comes to styling an elegant summer table there are a few additional things worth considering for outdoor entertaining. First of all, it's worth investing in some outdoor-specific tableware to keep your best plates and glasses for indoor use. Colorful and washable linens will help to create a styled tablescape, while practical elements, such as substantial serveware, table weights and outdoor-safe candles, can be balanced with personal touches, for a functional yet elegant setup.

Switch to Stylish, Durable Tableware to Prevent Breakage

Outdoor-safe tableware is far more sophisticated today than the plastic and paper picnicware of old. Think vintage china-inspired melamine, scalloped edges, acrylic glasses that emulate cut crystal. Birch Lane's Cabana stripe dinner plates (pictured above) are the perfect example and come in four colors, so you can mix it up if you wish.

Melamine is a good choice for plates and bowls as it's lightweight, practically unbreakable, and comes in an array of colors and designs to suit your event. Bamboo is another great option, which is a sustainable tableware choice.

When it comes to outdoor glassware, opting for shatter-proof acrylic will take away any stress about breakages – nobody wants to be sweeping up broken glass when hosting – but don't scrimp on style either. Colored glassware is everywhere right now, and the best acrylic drinkware is just as effective, from tumblers and flutes to jugs.

Layer Linens for a Curated Look

Tablecloths aren't just for indoors; outdoor table linens can add a really chic look to your alfresco entertaining setup. And one way to make them look purposefully styled is by layering. This means starting with a tablecloth base and building on the look with linen napkins, a table runner and other details in a complementary colorway or pattern. For example, a yellow and white striped linen tablecloth (Summerill & Bishop) would pair beautifully with these Marigold block print napkins (Wayfair).

Mary-Kathryn McConaghy from Curated Events explains: 'Layering linens allows us to create visual depth and dimension without adding complexity to the experience. By introducing a secondary textile, pattern, or color through a runner or overlay, the table begins to feel more alive, more intentional, and more reflective of the overall event story.' She adds: 'Those subtle, complementary elements help guide the eye and transform a tabletop from a functional surface into part of the sensory memory of your gathering.'

Style an Outdoor Centerpiece That Feels Informal and Effortless

You can get really creative when it comes to outdoor table centerpieces. Think candles or lanterns, fruit and floral displays that incorporate edible decor and vintage decor pieces that bring a touch of whimsical garden style to the table.

Curated Events' Mary-Kathryn shares: 'The most compelling outdoor tablescapes engage more than one sense. Centerpieces with a combination of florals, fruit, candlelight, and layered textures create a feeling of natural abundance without overwhelming the table.'

'In this setting (pictured above), the grapes soften the formality of the floral design while introducing movement, color, and an element of seasonality. The goal is never decoration for decoration's sake – it's creating an environment that feels inviting, effortless, and thoughtfully considered from every seat at the table.'

Mix Up Your Serveware For Alfresco Ease

The lovely thing about entertaining outdoors is that you don't need to be as formal or rigid with your choice of serveware. Switch up traditional platters for vintage trays, rustic boards, or repurpose unexpected collected pieces.

Founder of Creative Event Catering Company, Lauren Lombardi says: When entertaining outdoors, I love selecting serveware that feels both beautiful and functional. One of my favorite approaches is to present food on trays and platters that are ready to move seamlessly from kitchen to table. Rustic wooden boards, vintage platters, woven baskets for bread, and collected ceramic pieces add warmth and character while encouraging a relaxed style of entertaining.'

'I am always drawn to pieces that feel collected rather than perfectly matched. Antique platters, weathered bowls, and heirloom-inspired serving pieces bring a sense of charm and authenticity to the table. They help create an atmosphere that feels inviting, effortless, and personal.'

Work in Some Personal Touches

A couple of thoughtful personal touches go a long way and can make your gathering (and your guests) feel extra special. They needn't take a great deal of time, effort, or expense either. A simple handwritten placecard popped in a holder, like these gold strawberry placecard holders from Tuckernuck (pictured above), creates a really elegant look.

You could also place hand-written menu cards on the tables, propped up on some tabletop easels (Amazon), pop some fresh herbs into napkin rings, or try making your own floral napkin posy using seasonal florals straight from the garden.

Personalizing glasses with name labels like these wine glass charms from Amazon, which you can write straight on to, will both help guests to keep hold of their own drinks and reduce glass usage throughout your event, so that you don't run out.

3. Don't Forget Lighting to Add Evening Ambiance

If you're hosting a late afternoon or evening event, lighting is absolutely crucial and can instantly transform a bright and breezy daytime setting into a warm and atmospheric one. Opting for multiple light sources, from string lights to table lights and pathway lighting, is one way to plan outdoor lighting like a designer – it helps to reinforce entertaining zones to create a layered and intimate scheme that works on all levels. Outdoor solar lights are ideal for entertaining as they don't have unsightly or hazardous wires. Dimmable bulbs and warm temperatures all add to ambiance.

Create an Atmosphere With Candles and Lanterns

Candlelight is unbeatable when it comes to creating an inviting and magical atmosphere, thanks to its natural warmth and hypnotic glow. However, there are safety implications of using open flames in an outdoor arrangement. A gust of wind could cause loose florals or linens to catch light and quickly become problematic.

Instead, opt for tealights in glass votives, or solar-powered flameless candles, like these real wax LED pillar candles from Amazon, which can be equally effective and are often easily managed with a remote control. Mix them up for different heights. Lanterns can also be used on tables or hung on nearby trees or hooks for added interest.

Make it Magical With Festoon and String Lights

Overhead lighting, whether string lights or festoon lighting, can bring a wonderful aura to an outdoor dining area, particularly if the lights are nestled among branches and greenery. Courtney Allison, stylist, founder of French Country Cottage, says, 'I love to layer lighting when entertaining. From candles and moody lights on the table to zig-zagged strands of lights above, it is all about creating a magic-filled ambiance for a gathering.'

Festoon lighting makes a great choice for relaxed outdoor gatherings as it brings a rustic, homespun touch that feels casually thrown together rather than styled to perfection. Claire Bassett agrees: 'Festoon lighting is my go-to – it’s super versatile, can be draped or wrapped around sheds, greenhouses, fences or trees to add comfort and warmth in the evening.' She adds a practical tip: 'The color of the cabling is important to consider – black can provide a strong contrast, while white cabling gives a lighter, softer feel when combined with the glow of the bulbs.'

'String lights are equally as impactful – they tend to be smaller than festoon lighting and are therefore better for smaller spaces, or for lighting nooks and crannies. I like to wrap string LEDs around objects or plants, such as trees or foliage, as this can act as a nicely lit backdrop.'

Lead the Way With Pathway Lighting

If your outdoor entertaining area is sprawling with different zones and lacking in built-in lighting, you can easily add definition and ambiance with LED or solar pathway lighting. From clusters dotted among floral borders (like the Anthropologie Solar Dandelion Stake Lighting, pictured above), to hanging lanterns on stakes, there's such a variety to choose from.

Claire Bassett suggests, 'LED candle lanterns can be situated on the pathway leading into the garden, at the entrance to greenhouses or sheds, with various sizes creating more of a theatrical entrance or scattered throughout steps and paved spaces at different levels on the floor for a more interesting look.'

While pathway lighting is beautiful, it's also a practical choice to guide your guests around your entertaining space safely. You can make it really easy for yourself by opting for solar powered lights which come on automatically when it gets dark.

Opt For Rechargeable Table Lighting

You can easily capture that romantic and intimate European courtyard aesthetic with some thoughtfully positioned table lights. While overhead lighting brings a warm glow, portable table lights will provide directional lighting for guests to see what they're eating and aid easy conversation.

Opt for chic rechargeable touch lights (like this Cading Cordless Outdoor Table Lamp from Lulu & Georgia – pictured above) which will mean that you won't have to contend with wires in among the plates, and that they can be seamlessly worked into your tablescape, bringing height and interest. Warm color temperature bulbs will ensure the light isn't overly harsh or unnatural, and dimmable settings will allow you and your guests to tailor the brightness to suit them.

4. Set Up a Self-Serve Drinks Station

Setting up an outdoor drinks station is a wonderful way to take the pressure off the host and to encourage guests to interact in a natural way. Rose Duong, of The Wickwood Inn, in Michigan, says, 'I love outdoor self-serve bars for so many reasons. They give guests autonomy to choose whatever they like, whether that’s lots of ice or an extra olive. They free the host to mingle and actually enjoy themselves at their own party. And, maybe most important, they offer a reason for guests to prompt conversation with people they may not know, and acclimate to their surroundings at their own pace.'

Find Stylish Ways to Keep Drinks Cool

While regular ice buckets will do the job, you can create a stylish talking point by being more creative with your choice of vessel when entertaining outdoors. Lauren Lombardi says, 'Some of the most charming entertaining details come from reimagining everyday objects. Rather than traditional beverage tubs, I often use antique bowls, terracotta pots, vintage enamel sinks, stoneware crocks, or galvanized vessels filled with ice to chill wine and beverages.'

These might be items found around your garden – a stone trough, for example – or picked up at local antique stores or estate sales. 'These unexpected pieces add personality and visual interest while serving a practical purpose,' adds Lauren. 'I especially love using terracotta pots as wine coolers. They feel natural and relaxed, complement outdoor settings beautifully, and create a collected, garden-inspired look.'

Elevate Soft Drinks With Thoughtful Details

As the host, you'll likely have your wine, beer, and cocktails covered, but don't forget the soft drinks for non-drinkers and drivers, as well as for keeping your guests hydrated in the heat. Think colorful thirst quenchers, like fresh lemonade and fragrant mocktails with pots of pick-your-own herbs to garnish with.

Courtney Murray, co-owner of luxury party rentals and event design company, Spoon + Salt, recommends: 'Prepare garnishes ahead of time. Slice citrus fruit, herbs, and other garnishes before guests arrive. Display them in small footed bowls for elevated presentation.' It's well worth investing in something like this glass footed drinks dispenser (Williams Sonoma) for showing off your beautiful beverages.

Rose Duong adds, 'An event’s color palette, setting, and theme can all provide inspiration for a signature mocktail. If it’s in a garden, for example, you can incorporate elderflower and fresh herbs. The idea is to heighten the guest experience by providing a beverage that looks and tastes delicious, and tells a story.'

Add Accessories for a Thoughtful Flourish

You can really hone in on a theme with bar accessories, from elegant garnish picks and colorful coasters and napkins, to chic bar tools, like bejeweled bottle openers.

Founder of eponymous home style store Joanna Buchanan says, 'An outdoor bar should create a sensory overload with color, pattern and whimsy. Start with a colorful tray (like the large ombre capiz trays from Joanna Buchanan), then create interest with cocktail napkins, coasters, cocktail picks and a dazzling bottle opener. I really like using natural or coastal themes as they mimic what's going on around you and really amp up the vibe of the party.'

Offer DIY Garnishes to Encourage Interaction

'A garnish station is one of the easiest ways to elevate cocktails while encouraging guests to interact and personalize their drinks,' says Lauren Lombardi. 'I love arranging seasonal garnishes on a tray with delicate and curated bowls of fresh strawberries, edible flowers, citrus wheels, and herbs, such as mint and basil. Not only does it add beautiful color to the table, but it also transforms a simple cocktail into a memorable experience.'

A set of these mini berry serving bowls from Target is ideal for small soft fruits, while you can add potted herbs, or vintage jars and bottles for flavored sugars and syrups, as well as mini vases for edible flowers.

'One of my favorite garnishes is chamomile. It brings a soft, romantic element to entertaining, with its gentle flavor and daisy-like blooms. Guests enjoy creating their own combinations, and the presentation becomes part of the decor,' adds Lauren.

5. Put Guest Comfort First

The best gatherings are those that bring a natural ease, where guests don't have to ask for anything, but this concept of 'invisible hosting' does take a little forethought and planning ahead. Check the weather forecast to ensure you have cover for all eventualities (shade, cooling and warmth), consider ways to prevent outdoor pests from ruining your event, and create a comfortable setting that brings a quiet luxury to your outdoor space, encouraging relaxed conversation and a reason to linger.

Add Coziness With Cushions and Blankets

Comfort is key if you want to create an environment where guests want to settle in. Extra outdoor throw pillows will ensure hard outdoor furniture is easier on the back, while leaving blankets out for wrapping up in as the sun goes down will be welcome additions to your backyard hosting setup.

Leigh Lincoln, co-founder and principal designer at Pure Salt Interiors, explains, 'High-quality, outdoor-grade furniture mixed with soft accents like throws and accent pillows make for a functional space that allows you and your guests to relax and stay awhile.'

Cushioned outdoor furniture that you can sink into, like these wicker swivel outdoor lounge chairs from Pottery Barn, invites your guests to get cozy and embrace the comforting environment.

Keep Bugs at Bay

There's nothing worse at an outdoor gathering than an invasion of unwanted bugs. But there are plenty of ways that you can keep them at bay without compromising on style.

These screened food domes from West Elm are chic, yet practical, while these fly fans from Amazon are battery-powered and will keep bugs away without having to cover food, so that your guests can easily reach for dishes.

As dusk arrives, biting insects can spoil the party spirit, so consider providing some natural bug spray (like Murphy's Lemon and Eucalyptus Bug Spray from Target) in discreet baskets, away from the food areas, for guests to help themselves to. Hanging some elegant citronella-scented candles like these ombre lanterns from Anthropologie brings ambiance and fragrance as well as protection.

Be Prepared For Changes in Weather

You can manage every element of your party from the food to the decor, but one thing you can't control is the weather. You can prepare for it, though. Providing a covered space that offers a cooling oasis during the hottest part of the day, and protection against wind and rain should you have an unexpected downpour, will pay dividends if the elements are against you.

'Designing a shaded space for outdoor entertaining adds longevity to your hosting throughout the season,' says Aly Morford. 'We love an integrated shade, like a draped pergola, for both its function and form. It adds a layer of texture and softness while providing a cool atmosphere – bonus points if it’s retractable.' This freestanding pergola with retractable canopy from Lowe's is under $300, making it an affordable addition to your backyard.

'And never underestimate the effect of greenery in your outdoor spaces – trees and other large foliage help keep things cool, and offer natural shade as they mature,' Aly adds.

6. Do the Prep for Food Service and Cleanup

It's easy to feel overwhelmed if you're hosting a lot of people, but the key is in the prep – if you've put in the work before the guests arrive, you'll be able to actually enjoy the party when it comes. That includes ensuring food is all but ready (bar the final touches, or a quick warm-up in the oven), drinks are chilled and mixed, the grill is clean and tools accessible, and plates and glassware are ready-to-go.

'The secret to enjoying your own party is doing the work before anyone arrives,' says Joseph Marini, event designer and author of Mastering the Art of Entertaining (SparkPress/Simon & Schuster). 'A host who’s still mixing drinks and plating food when the doorbell rings spends the gathering in the kitchen instead of with their guests. A little preparation buys you the thing you actually want, which is to be present.'

Finally, having a plan for dirty dishes, glassware, and trash as you go along (putting out accessible and stylish trash cans for guests to use, for example), will cut your cleanup time dramatically so you won't feel burnt out at the end of the night.

Set the Stage Before Guests Arrive

'Entertaining well comes down to a pre-preparation plan, from staging your hosting space to organizing your kitchen. Every staged area, whether the kitchen or a buffet table, needs room to work,' says Joseph.

Consider extra surface space, whether that means temporarily clearing a kitchen sideboard or investing in a couple of portable tables that can be used indoors or out, like this slim rectangular folding table from Lowe's.

'Even a small kitchen can be zoned ahead of time: one area for cold prep, one for staging hot food, and one for clearing dirties. If counter space is tight, keep restaurant-style bus tubs or deep bins on the floor so you can clear dirty dishes straight into them, and deal with them after the party,' adds Joseph.

Keep Drinks Well Stocked and Food Fresh

After all the hard work prepping delicious food for your guests, the last thing you'll want is for it to go cold before serving or spoil in the heat. 'Oven space is usually the bottleneck, so a restaurant-style chafing dish is always in my arsenal for keeping food warm behind the scenes,' shares Joseph.

'For cold food, keep an oversized cooler on hand and line the bottom with 6 to 8 inches of ice. I use round deli containers in quart and pint sizes for salads, dips, and the like, and tuck them right into the ice. Here’s the trick: number each lid, then number the platter or dish it will go into at serving time, so you’re never pulling containers out to guess what’s inside.' You might also want to keep a separate large coolbox outside, ready to top up the drinks station when needed, so you don't have to keep running to the fridge indoors for refills.

'Building a menu that can be served entirely at room temperature is another good way to take the pressure off,' adds Joseph. 'I also set out food on larger platters, so I’m not constantly refreshing them.'

Get the Grill Zone Ready

If you're planning on cooking on one of the best grills, the last thing you want is to open the lid and find it's not been cleaned properly from the last use, so allow plenty of time to clean your grill before you need to get the food sizzling.

Making sure that all of your grilling tools and accessories, such as aprons, charcoal (if using), spare gas cans, and dishes to serve into once the food is cooked (plus aluminum foil for keeping it warm), are close at hand will help things go smoothly. And, placing a folding table will provide extra space for tools and dishes so that you won't be fumbling around for space when the food is ready to come off the grill.

It's also worth investing in a steam grill cleaning brush for a quick and easy post-cook clean, and a small, but stylish trash can like this mint green galvanized steel lidded bucket will be so useful for disposing of meat wrappers, used foil, and kitchen towels, and save on cleanup time afterwards.

7. Consider The Final Details For an Effortless Atmosphere

Often, the more you force it, the less relaxed your event will feel, so don't fixate on trying to make things perfect. Atmosphere is everything when it comes to hosting. 'Perfection is the fastest way to ruin a party. Guests can feel a host who is performing rather than present,' warns Bryan Graybill, interior designer and seasoned host. 'I’d rather have a slightly crumpled linen cloth and a host who’s actually sitting down than a flawless table and someone hovering in the kitchen. Atmosphere is generosity; perfection is anxiety with good lighting.'

But the good news is that you can help to create an atmosphere by taking the pressure off, keeping a flexible and relaxed schedule, and adding memorable touches that engage the senses from lighting to scent and music to fresh flowers. You can also bring natural ease with elements such as fire pits to gather around, self-serve drinks, and informal sharing platters rather than plated food.

Consider All of the Senses

Good atmosphere engages all of the senses, from scent to sound. Choosing the right playlist can really set the tone for your gathering – and make sure it's not so loud that it hinders conversation. Remote-controlled speakers give you flexibility to adjust the volume from afar and ensure they're placed at a slight distance from key gathering zones.

Easy floral displays can bring a natural feel to your event – place them on the main table as well as on drinks stations and side tables – and can mirror the garden and bring color and scent. Build on the olfactory element with scented candles in garden-inspired fragrances like Jo Malone's Green Tomato Vine Candle, and opt for natural textiles and textures in table linens, cushions and blankets for tactility.

'I layer a table the way I layer a room – scent, texture, light, sound, all working quietly together,' says Bryan. 'Flowers cut from the garden that morning, never anything that looks flown in. Candles low and plentiful rather than one grand gesture. Real linen, because the hand remembers what the eye forgets. And music is the architecture of the evening – set it at the volume of a good rumor: present enough that no one fears a silence, quiet enough that no one raises their voice.'

Linger Longer With a Fire Pit

Providing a comfortable and inviting area where your guests can make themselves at home and keep warm as the evening chill starts to bite will make sure they linger, and can often end up being the best part of the party.

There's nothing like the natural glow of fire to entice guests and while a gas option might be easy, you can't beat a wood-burning fire like this Lidded Rectangle Fire Pit from Anthropologie (pictured above) with its wonderfully rust-hued patina. 'A fire pit does half my work for me,' says Bryan. 'People arrange themselves around flame the way they have for ten thousand years; no seating plan required.'

Add low-slung seating, blankets for comfort and you might even want to offer self-serve s'mores to cook over the open flame for a sweet treat. This DIY S'mores Kit from Williams Sonoma will save you the effort at the end of the night.

Keep the Schedule Relaxed

Be guided by your guests rather than sticking to a rigid timetable – it will take the pressure off and make for a far more relaxed atmosphere. Daytime events should gently move into evening without ceremony, allowing guests to come and go.

'Keep the schedule loose,' suggests Bryan. 'The best evenings have one fixed point – dinner – and everything else is allowed to drift.' And if the majority of the work is done in advance, you should be able to attend your own party stress-free. 'The host’s job is to design the gathering, then disappear into it,' adds Bryan.

Providing self-serve food that guests can keep going back to throughout the evening, rather than sitting down to a formal dinner, will keep things flexible and manage expectations. 'Sharing plates over plated courses, always,' advises Bryan. 'Passing a dish is the oldest form of conversation. The goal is for guests to feel they’ve discovered the evening rather than attended it.'

The Often-Forgotten Outdoor Essentials That Hosts Swear By

You've sorted the food, drinks, and styling touches, but there are a few not-so-glamorous but equally essential items that hosts wouldn't be without for any gathering. Make this your last-minute checklist to ensure your event goes without a hitch.

• Extension cords, power strips, and chargers: essential for any electric lighting or music that needs to be connected to an indoor power outlet. This green power strip from Target will blend in with the garden planting. If you have rechargeable lights or speakers, ensure they are fully charged in advance.
• Matches or lighters: Keep a packet on standby near your candles, grill (if it's a charcoal one), and the wood-burning fire pit. The last thing you'll want is to be hunting down a single pack of matches all evening.
• Extra candles: tealights look beautiful, but they don't last long, so stock up on a 100-pack of tealights from Amazon, and stash them away for top-ups.
• Hand towels: Have plenty on standby for spills, barbecue grease and sticky fingers.
• Bathroom essentials: even though you're hosting outdoors, your guests will be using the bathroom, so make sure it's clean and well stocked with hand soap, toilet paper, and clean towels
• Spare serving utensils: This 9-piece serving set from Walmart will have you covered if serving spoons or tongs get mixed up or misplaced.
• Tablecloth weights: Ensure that your linens stay put if there's a gust of wind. Natural shells or smooth pebbles work wonderfully as weights, or choose something that clips onto your tablecloth, like these white bird tablecloth weights from Amazon.

Successful outdoor entertaining isn’t about perfection – it’s about thoughtful preparation, comfort, and atmosphere, designed to create a memorable experience for your guests and to allow for a relaxed hosting experience for you. For more inspiration, these garden party themes will have you covered, from rustic and natural to cool coastal.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

The Fourth of July is one of the best holidays of the year. Between the parades, the backyard barbecues, the family parties, and of course, the fireworks, there's no shortage of lively celebration. But before all of the festivities and fun comes the hard part: the prep.

Like any other holiday celebration, Fourth of July parties require lots of planning and preparation. You'll want to consider everything from Fourth of July decor for the front porch to patriotic touches for the inside of your home. Even little details, like flag-inspired cocktail picks or red, white, and blue bud vases, can go a long way in making your house look extra festive. And since The Fourth is a summer holiday, you can't forget about the backyard – decorate it to theme and bring out your favorite yard games to encourage play and celebration all day long.

With so much to prepare for ahead of America's 250th birthday, I thought I'd help you out by assembling a hosting checklist – a comprehensive guide to everything you need to plan a successful Fourth of July party at home. With these recommendations in mind, your holiday party will be the talk of the town.

1. Exterior Decorations

One of the best and easiest ways to decorate your home for the Fourth of July is by putting up exterior decor – that is, flags, banners, wreaths, and yard signs. These details can instantly elevate your home's curb appeal with holiday flair.

Pleated fan flags are my personal favorite form of exterior decor. They're easy to hang from porches, railings, or fences, and if your yard doesn't have a flagpole, they act as a suitable alternative to the traditional American flag. I have my eye on this variation from Michaels – with its deep maroon color, it can add some heritage charm to your front porch this Fourth of July.

I’m a firm believer that less is more when it comes to exterior decorations. Subtle red, white, and blue touches mixed with your standard yard decor and existing greenery will create an elegant scene that you can keep up through Labor Day.

2. Interior Accessories

Though many Fourth of July celebrations are spent outside, there's no harm in refreshing your interior spaces with some patriotic touches to tap into the holiday spirit. Small details like decorative pillows, vases, and blankets can make your home look on-theme for the Fourth without going over the top.

Growing up, I remember that each summer, my mother would swap a few of the generic pillows on our couch for festive alternatives. These pillows didn't scream Fourth of July, instead, they tapped into the iconic color scheme and the stars and stripes motif to add some old-school, Americana elegance to our home. Even though these pillows were meant as holiday decor, in my eyes, they became summer decor staples that just so happened to make our house look festive. Any interior decor in America's color scheme can have the same effect in your home.

3. Tableware

Whatever type of feast you're planning – a backyard barbecue, a park picnic, a chic dinner party – you'll need Fourth of July tableware that taps into the theme.

Plates are the obvious essential, but instead of buying plain paper plates, consider Table Two Studio's American-inspired paper collection that looks even better than ceramic alternatives. Paper plates (along with non-breakable melamine dinnerware) are ideal for outdoor entertainment, but if you're hosting inside, consider something a bit more formal to set the scene, like Lenox's Gingham Dinner Plates.

While there are so many additional elements of Fourth of July table decor, another detail that I find important is the table linens. These ground the scene – whether you're setting the table for dining or lining it with trays for serving. Though these linens sit in the background, they're the quiet workhorses that pull the entire arrangement together.

4. Lawn Games

The Fourth of July is a summer holiday, which means any parties or gatherings that you're hosting will most likely take place outside. In between the meals, the chatter, and the fireworks, it helps to have some playful yard games to keep guests occupied.

Croquet is a classic choice, and a classy choice, I'll admit – perfect for those who plan to host elevated garden parties for the holiday. Other favorites include pickleball and bocce ball – two yard games that can just as easily be played on a sandy beach. And of course, there's cornhole – perhaps the most American game of them all. It wouldn't be the Fourth of July without a competitive cornhole tournament taking place amidst the hot dog eating and the beer drinking (both of which are equally as competitive, might I add).

Whatever your outdoor game of choice may be, keep it on hand during your July Fourth fête for anyone eager to take part in some friendly competition.

5. Entertainment Extras

After the exterior decor, the interior decor, the tableware, and the yard games, your Fourth of July party prep is nearly done. However, it's always a good idea to include some extra party details to ensure a successful celebration.

A cooler is an essential detail – especially if you plan on hosting your Fourth of July party outside. This way, neither you nor your guests will have to run back inside for another drink. A model like Wayfair's Cart Cooler with its deep interior and wheeled design is a perfect choice.

Secondary details like decorative string lights, patriotic pool floats, and festive cocktail picks might not be on your must-buy list, but truth be told, it's little touches like these that can make your Fourth of July party come together.

The Fourth of July is nearly here. Keep this list in mind to ensure a successful and well-styled holiday celebration.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Nothing sets the scene for a Fourth of July party quite like festive decor. And I don't just mean flags, banners, and lawn signs; I'm talking about the table decor – the plates, the bowls, the napkins, and the platters that ground the scene with patriotic appeal.

This holiday is just as much a celebration of independence as it is an excuse to indulge in the most delicious summer foods – barbecues, cookouts, picnics, or seafood boils to mark the occasion. And a well-styled table creates a stunning backdrop for all of these festive feasts, bringing the entire holiday celebration together.

Fourth of July decoration can get rather kitschy, and I am partial to flags and bunting around the porch, but on the table, I find that simplicity yields the best look. Use the iconic red, white, and blue color scheme as a starting point, and invite subtle pops of patriotic flair here and there. You can even incorporate silver serveware or rattan table decorations to add visual interest and variety to the scene. Ultimately, the key is to choose table decorations that tap into the holiday theme but remain timeless by design – this way, you can reuse them for events well past the Fourth of July and for summers to come.

Whatever type of Fourth of July feast you're planning – a picnic in the park, a backyard barbecue, or an evening dinner under the fireworks – this festive table decor will ensure the scene is as stylishly on-theme as can be.

The Round is Homes & Gardens' collection of the must-have pieces shaping styles, trends, and ideas. It brings together thoughtfully curated products that express a single moment – offering readers inspiring ways to style their homes through seasonal themes, emerging looks, and everyday pieces.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

We've all been there – the summer party outside, the ceramic dinnerware left on precarious surfaces, the unfortunate but inevitable shattering. It's not that you weren't extra careful; it's just that delicate materials, patio slabs, and maybe a few cocktails don't mix well.

Outdoor-friendly tableware becomes the obvious alternative to avoid this disaster, but in the past these hardwearing dishes have leaned more campside that chic. However, 2026 has been the summer for shatterproof tableware as stylish as their ceramic counterparts, and Drew Barrymore's 12-Piece Dinnerware Set from Walmart is the latest launch to prove outdoor dinnerware can be every bit as aesthetic as indoor.

This dinner set is bold, lively, and perfectly on-trend for summer tablescapes. Plus, it's just as design-oriented as the collectable plates and platters you only take out for special occasions. The only differences are that this set is completely safe for outdoor use and it's a bargain find, at less than $30.

An accidental drop to the floor means nothing to these melamine dishes from Drew's Beautiful Line at Walmart. In fact, they're made to withstand the impact without showing signs of wear. You can bring them to picnics in your local park, use them for outdoor dinner parties, and even trust them in the hands of uncareful children.

And this set isn't all function and no form. The green and blue color scheme is bang on trend for summer 2026, and the sardine is the motif of the season. Layer it with a gingham green tablecloth, rattan placemats, and some simple white linen napkins for a table that feels fun yet elegant.

Along with this 12-piece dinnerware set, Drew has released additional summer table decor details and hosting accessories that can complete the look. This Sardine Serving Bowl, for instance, is the perfect dish for a large summer salad, and this Sardine Oval Platter is the ideal tray for serving dessert after dinner. The Rattan Drink Basket and the Rattan Tray act as the perfect complementary details – bringing a touch of texture to the scene while tapping into the same color scheme as the plates and bowls themselves.

Together, these tableware details can create a tablescape that's fresh, inviting, stylish, and outdoor-safe. But if you're looking for more decor to complete the scene, find everything I'd style alongside Drew Barrymore's 12-Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set, below.

How To Style Drew Barrymore's Dinnerware Set

Shop More Outdoor Dinnerware

Need more outdoor-safe dinnerware options? Here are additional melamine-made styles that are perfect for outdoor use and look just as chic as Drew Barrymore's sardine dinnerware set.

Drew Barrymore's 12-Piece Melamine Dinnerware Set will help you make sure that outdoor hosting is just as thoughtful, considered, and design-driven as indoor hosting. Not only that, but with their melamine materiality, these dinnerware sets eliminate the fear of shattering your favorite ceramics.

But before the dinnerware sets and tablescaping can even happen, you need to make sure your outdoor dining room is up to par. Lucky for you, we have tons of ideas to create a space that's fit for entertaining and endlessly inviting, too.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

The World Cup is officially here. If you can't make it to the stadium to support your favorite team, then hosting an at-home World Cup watch party is the next best thing – that is, as long as it's decked out with the best decor.

Of course, I don't expect you to inundate your house with blow-up soccer ball balloons or turf-inspired tablecloths to honor the occasion. Instead, it's important to choose decor with longevity – that is, decor that can work for a World Cup watch party, but be used in other contexts, too. Like these green wine glasses from Pottery Barn or this black and white speckled serving platter from Hudson Grace, sometimes it helps to decorate with colors that remind you of the event – and for a soccer tournament, that's green, black, and white. You can even draw inspiration from your team's colors (go USA!) to tastefully set the scene for your World Cup watch party.

Though I do think it's best for your World Cup party decor to lean more timeless in style, that's not to say you can't invite themed decor into the mix. In fact, I think you should. Mount an international flag banner behind your TV (like this one from Etsy), use soccer ball-inspired paper plates for eating (these from Meri Meri minimize dishwashing), and keep a cup of cocktail picks with soccer ball charms on your bar cart. When tapping into a theme, simplicity is key. Don't overdo it and be sure to balance it out with neutral, complementary decor. This way, your World Cup party will look like an elevated affair rather than a child's birthday party.

There are tons of matches left to be played until the World Cup final on July 19th, which means there's so much time for hosting watch parties and decorating your house with the best World Cup-inspired decor. So below, shop everything you need to create a dream starting lineup of chic watch party decor.

The Round is Homes & Gardens' collection of the must-have pieces shaping styles, trends, and ideas. It brings together thoughtfully curated products that express a single moment – offering readers inspiring ways to style their homes through seasonal themes, emerging looks, and everyday pieces.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

The arrival of Memorial Day weekend is usually seen as the official start of the summer, but it also means all the best sales are about to begin.

It's the best time to stock up on everything you need for the season ahead – new outdoor furniture, a fancy grill, chic pool floats, and of course, beautiful pieces to help you host. And Magnolia's Memorial Day Sale is filled with Joanna Gaines-approved pieces to get your table looking perfectly rustic.

From adorable berry bowls that look straight out of a farmhouse kitchen to an array of servware that will make even the most low-effort meals feel special, Joanna Gaines' country-inspired collection makes hosting summer soirees feel nothing but easy. And with a 20% discount, what's not to love?

Shop Magnolia's Summer Hosting Essentials

Get ready for a summer of alfresco living with Magnolia's charming picks designed to ease all kinds of hosting, from intimate drinks to birthday blow-outs.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

As the weather brings longer, warmer days that stretch late into the evenings, our way of living naturally becomes more transitional between indoors and out. But, far more than just a backyard, or a single-use patio, our outdoor spaces can be transformed into multi-functional extensions of our homes, where we can dine, entertain, and relax with friends and loved ones.

The key to achieving this successfully lies in creating intentional outdoor hosting zones. From outdoor living room ideas to outdoor dining ideas and magical spaces to spend an alfresco aperitivo hour, these defined, but evolving areas, will invite guests to naturally flow easily from one to the other, as the day progresses into the evening.

With these expert styling tips and tricks, you can master this 3-zone outdoor hosting concept, whatever size or shape your space, for seamless hosting throughout the summer months and beyond.

Zone One: The Dining Space – The Heart of Hosting

Sharing a meal is the perfect way to spark conversation and conviviality, so the heart of your outdoor entertaining space should be the dining 'room'. As such, it should feel comfortable enough to encourage a relaxed atmosphere, but also be thoughtfully styled, to show your guests that you've really made the effort to help them feel special and welcomed.

Choose a Sheltered Spot for Shade and Protection

A back porch or purpose-built pergola offers the perfect ready-made shade from the sun and protection from the elements for your dining area. This beautiful sunset view is enhanced by the natural unpainted wood of the pergola and dining furniture, while the floral arrangement echoes the vibrant colors of the sunset beyond, for a naturalistic and elevated evening atmosphere.

Founder of Well by Design, Lauren Sullivan, explains: 'We preferred the dining area underneath the covered porch here for the ability to use the space throughout the warmer months – even during intense sun or summer rain – while still feeling completely connected to the surrounding landscape. I also think having a more sheltered dining area makes people naturally want to linger a little longer at the table.'

If you don't have a porch or pergola, you can opt for a stylish outdoor umbrella, which will allow you to be more flexible with where you set up your dining zone.

Opt for a Statement Dining Table and Relaxed Seating

A dining table can make a statement outdoors as well as indoors, and this one is a lovely example of how to be creative and achieve that indoor/outdoor feel. This pretty tiled tabletop looks striking, will withstand the elements, and is easy to wipe clean, negating the need for tablecloths or placemats.

Jamie Robb, Creative Director at Marlborough Tiles, explains: 'A beautifully tiled surface brings depth, texture, and individuality to a piece like a dining table, transforming something purely practical into a focal point. Whether using plain glaze colors or hand painted patterns, tiles allow you to create a table that feels entirely bespoke – full of character, artistry, and permanence. Beyond aesthetics, it’s also an incredibly durable choice; a well-tiled table is designed to be lived with, enjoyed daily, and admired for years to come.'

Meanwhile, the deep basket chairs with soft cushioned seating are proof that you can dine in comfort outdoors. If your guests are comfortable, they will feel more relaxed, and your event will take on more of an informal atmosphere, inspiring lively conversation and the chance to sit back and relax after the plates have been cleared away. The pretty floral cushions tap into the rustic country look here, whilst the lacy greenery on the tables and colored glassware add extra layers of texture and hue.

Create a Layered Tablescape Inspired by the Garden

When it comes to spring tablescaping ideas, Founder of eponymous lifestyle store Joanna Buchanan explains, 'I take inspiration from my garden and love to layer colors, patterns and textures. I definitely don't see minimal tables as being effective outside. It needs to be a full-blown statement.'

In this example, Joanna has leaned into the colors and textures of the garden, with sky blue, floral block-printed linens, and napkin rings embellished with bejewelled bees and butterflies. 'They are simply the perfect accessory for outdoor entertaining and a wonderful conversation starter,' she adds.

And there's one non-negotiable in Joanna's book. 'You have to have fresh flowers on the table – simply cut from what is around you for a seamless effect.'

Finally, if you're hosting a day-to-evening event, 'don't forget candles,' says Joanna. 'It's always magical to eat by candlelight outdoors.'

Ensure Proximity to the Kitchen Space

It may sound simple, but ensuring your dining area is located within easy reach of where you'll be serving food from will make your job as a host so much easier. If your guests are seated at the far end of the yard, even if it feels like the perfect spot, you'll have a long way to bring dishes back and forth and risk food being spilled or getting cold.

You may have a fully functional outdoor kitchen setup, or one of the best grills in the backyard, but if you're going to be prepping your food in your indoor kitchen, you'll ideally want your guests sitting as close as possible. A kitchen hatch for passing dishes through, as shown in the above image, or simply some French doors opening onto your dining terrace are perfect solutions.

'We prioritize indoor/outdoor living in all of our designs, but a functional connection to the kitchen is paramount for easy and enjoyable outdoor living. If a full doorway from the kitchen to the backyard isn't possible for the design, we love a pass-through kitchen window – this becomes a design feature with bar seating, unique materials, and increased livability for both the interior and for outdoor entertaining,' explains Leigh Lincoln, Co-Founder and Principal Designer at Pure Salt Interiors.

Shop the Outdoor Dining Edit

Zone Two: The Lounge – Relaxed, Social, and Flexible

Outdoor living room ideas should cover all bases, from morning coffee to pre-dinner drinks and late afternoon relaxing. Comfort is, of course, key, so ditch the more structural furniture and turn to softer silhouettes and textures, with modular or easy-to-move options, allowing you the flexibility to change the flow of the space depending on the form your gathering takes, or your number of guests.

Bring in Elevated Yet Comfortable Seating

This serene, neutral space incorporates natural materials, like wooden furniture and a rattan pendant light (perfect for changing the atmosphere after dark), with white upholstery for a clean and minimal finish. The wide chairs and deep cushions beckon guests to get comfortable, whilst still feeling elegant.

'Given the scale of the outdoor areas of this property, it was important to thoughtfully program each space with its own purpose and atmosphere. This more formal outdoor lounge sits adjacent to the great room, with firmer, more upright seating designed to better suit evening entertaining,' says interior designer Gianpiero Gaglione.

This intimate, yet elevated seating arrangement is the ideal breakout area for enjoying a pre-dinner aperitif while your guests warm up for the evening ahead.

Add Outdoor Rugs and Soft Textiles to Anchor the Space

If there's no clear structure, whether a pergola, patio or low-walled area, to set up your lounging zone in, create your own. This is the perfect way to use an outdoor rug, as it will instantly define an area around which to arrange your furniture, and it will give you total flexibility over where you want your guests to sit.

This alfresco French cottage range from McGee & Co has an elegant countryside feel, thanks to the rattan, but is softened with plenty of throw cushions in mix-and-match striped and gingham patterns and a soft palette of greens and blues. The striped rug brings a sense of order and timelessness, while anchoring the space that is also beautifully framed by the boughs of the trees above.

Use Low Tables for Drinks and Candles

A key differentiator between dining and relaxing areas, is the table height. Outdoor coffee tables work wonderfully as part of an outdoor lounge area, alongside lower slung, deep seating, and they are the perfect level for placing candles, drinks and snacks on without obstructing the eyeline.

Interior designer, Wendy Glaister, adds: 'Part of the allure of a beautiful outdoor space is the romance of an evening filled with candles and a cozy fire. I like to find interesting tables to set around my seating areas for visual interest.'

Lower tables are an excuse to get creative with outdoor candle ideas. 'Outdoor, battery-operated candles come on with just a click of a remote and suddenly the space is alive with quiet, flattering light,' says Wendy. 'A drink in a sparkling glass reflects the candlelight and voila! A romantic getaway has been created in your own backyard.'

Soften Zone Borders with Delicate Planting

The idea of creating hosting zones isn't to add hard, physical borders to separate different areas of the backyard, but to incorporate subtle definition with visual tricks. One of the loveliest ways to achieve this is with delicate planting. In the above example, a low concrete wall is softened with wispy grasses that bring movement and texture.

The best ornamental grasses for privacy make the perfect choice, as they'll not only offer a quiet space away from onlooking neighbors, or the hubbub of the more lively areas of your gathering, but also protect guests from the wind.

You can achieve a similar effect with climbing plants over a pergola for a natural canopy, or a simple, low floral border. It's about hinting at these different spaces without defining them too rigidly.

Shop the Outdoor Lounge Edit

Zone Three: The Late-Night Space – Atmosphere and After-Hours Appeal

As night falls and the last of the plates have been cleared, you'll likely want to usher your guests to a softer seating area to enjoy an after-dinner drink or two. Think casual clusters of seating around a cozy firepit, baskets of blankets for wrapping up in, and even a bar cart on hand for effortless refills. The addition of twinkling string lights and candles will create a warm and inviting atmosphere, bringing a natural ease and elegance to the end of your evening.

Add a Fire Pit for an Evening Glow

There's something about fire that is so magical and mesmerizing and a firepit is a wonderful way to draw your guests away from the table to sit in comfort and enjoy the beauty of an open flame. This square firepit from Wayfair is light for maneuverability, but you could go for more of a statement piece or a permanent fixture, such as an in-built outdoor fireplace.

In a real wood, (not gas-powered), firepit you could add scented wood or colored fire sticks (like these from Anthropologie) for a full sensory experience. Alternatively have some S'mores ingredients on standby for a sweet after-dinner treat.

Make it Magical with Ambient Lighting

As dusk falls, clever outdoor lighting ideas can take the look and feel of your entertaining space from day to night with an ethereal ease. You could opt for candlelight, position string lights in trees or around fixed structures, or go for more permanent garden lighting solutions, such as garden uplighters, as shown above, for a beautiful and magical effect.

'Garden uplighting transforms an outdoor space into an experience,' explains Jessica Bennett, Creative Director of Alice Lane Interior Design. 'It casts a soft glow through layered landscaping and highlights architectural beauty, while creating an atmosphere that invites guests to linger after sunset. It’s the perfect backdrop for evening parties and candlelit conversations.'

Curate More Intimate Seating Clusters by Night

Getting cozy and hunkering down for quieter and more relaxed moments, by the warmth of a fire, with a nightcap in hand, is the perfect way to conclude an evening gathering. This might involve creating a focal point to center seating around, allowing for more flexible and casual seating arrangements, providing comforting touches such as throw pillows and blankets to snuggle up in, and adjusting lighting for more intimacy.

Dee Dee Lear, Founder and Principal Designer at Delaney's Design created the above space and explains: 'When designing outdoor spaces for use after dark, we take great care in considering clearances, sightlines and, of course, lighting. In this cozy outdoor space, the topography required small retaining walls to create a flat surface for the firepit and gathering area, which offered an opportunity for additional seating and a place to install downlighting.'

'The choice of a circular design with dimmable downlighting and inconspicuous, flexible seating blends with the landscape and enhances the natural aesthetic. We created an intimate and quaint gathering space that feels both effortless and organic.'

Set up a Designated Drinks Station for a Magical Cocktail Hour

Creating a designated area for drinks will not only ease your load as the host – because guests can help themselves – but help to encourage guests to move from one zone to the next as the evening progresses. As the sun goes down, the addition of some pretty lighting, like these lace lanterns from Anthropologie will bring the space to life.

Whilst it can be lovely to wheel out a stylish outdoor bar cart, it's not the only way to create a stylish drinks station. You can easily curate your own using a side table, dressed with an elegant tray and some summer cocktail essentials.

Alternatively, get creative and stack boxes or wooden crates at different levels to provide surfaces for cocktail garnishes, ice buckets, napkins and stirrers. Drape string lights around your bar area or suspend LED lanterns from low-hanging branches above for an ethereal look. You could even lead your guests from the dining table to the after-dinner drinks area by lighting the garden path.

Shop the Outdoor Evening Edit

Bringing It All Together: How to Create Flow and Cohesion

The key to successful zoning is in creating a cohesive look in terms of color palette, materials and finishes. If you combine a dining area with a rustic aesthetic with a living space that is colorful and contemporary, it will jar and feel thrown together as opposed to intentional. This cohesion is also important when it comes to the flow of your outdoor hosting spaces. Guests should be able to easily move from one space to another throughout the course of your event, from dinner to dusk, and visually defining hosting areas with clear pathways and visual connection will ensure that this happens naturally.

Ensure Visual Continuity With the Palette and Materials

Creating continuity isn't just about the connection of your outdoor spaces but also with the overall aesthetic of your home. In the above example, a minimalist yet comfortable palette of off-white, natural wood, and rattan connects the three hosting zones beautifully, whilst each still has its own clearly defined purpose.

Designer Gianpiero Gaglione explains: 'The garden wraps around this LA home, which is designed in an L-shaped configuration, allowing nearly every room to maintain a strong visual and physical connection to the outdoors. Large double doors throughout further blur the boundary between inside and out, creating a seamless flow across the property.'

'For the exterior spaces, we intentionally kept the palette cohesive, opting for crisp whites and fresh, understated tones throughout. A bar anchors one side of the garden alongside an adjacent dining area, whilst a firepit with relaxed lounge seating creates a more intimate gathering space nearby.'

Create Zones Without Rigid Separation

One of the most important things to remember with the 3-zone hosting concept is to ensure freedom to flow between areas easily and naturally. As well as creating soft borders with planting, another subtle visual trick is to use contrasting flooring surfaces to create differentiation. In the above example, slate flagstones demarcate the lounge area, whilst red brick paving indicates the move into the dining zone. This is a far more fluid solution than adding walls and physical structures, which could make your outdoor space feel smaller and more disjointed.

Designer Sally Wilkinson explains 'For this client's outdoor spaces, we wanted a clear distinction between the lounging and dining areas without making the terrace feel overly formal or disconnected. The shift in flooring material subtly defines each zone, while the consistent palette ensures the space to still feel cohesive and relaxed. We wanted the spaces to feel less prescribed and unfold more naturally within the setting.'

Make Zones Multi-Functional in Smaller Spaces

Even if you don't have an expansive outdoor space, there are plenty of ways to prepare a small backyard for summer hosting. One way to achieve this is by overlapping zones or giving them a multi-functional purpose.

Brittny Smith, Founder of Homesmith Design, says, 'You don’t need a large backyard to create a space that works for entertaining, you just need to be intentional about how each area functions. On this patio, the bar, dining, and lounge zones are layered so they can overlap. The bar works for drinks but also doubles as a casual dining area, while the lounge anchors the space for conversation. That flexibility allows the space to feel more generous than it actually is and keeps everything connected when you’re hosting.'

This free-flowing feeling is also achieved through subtle repetition of material, color and pattern, whilst the covered structure makes this a functional all-weather space.

Consider Seasonal Adaptability

As wonderful as it is to enjoy hosting outdoors when the weather is at its best, it's a shame not to be able to make use of your patio space all year round. Considering all-weather solutions is a good idea if you want to make your hosting zones as flexible as possible. To achieve this, you will naturally need some cover to keep the area dry, but other home comforts, such as heating and indoor-style lighting can help, too. And, by installing a blank structural canvas, you'll have the freedom to ring the changes with decor as the seasons come and go.

'Adding heaters and speakers to a canopy setup can completely change how the space feels and how often it gets used,' explains Pamela Lastiri, Founder and Principal of Pamela Lastiri Interior Design Studio. 'We intentionally kept our structure fairly restrained, so it could evolve. It’s much easier to rotate furniture, textiles, and styling seasonally than to commit to bold colors or patterns within the structure itself.'

A well-designed patio isn’t just beautiful – it’s thoughtfully zoned. By creating distinct yet connected areas for dining, lounging, and late-night gatherings, any outdoor space can feel elevated, functional, and effortlessly sociable. For more ideas on how to spruce up your patio, take a look at Editor, Jen Ebert's Very British Edit – a guide to creating a well-designed outdoor space for spring.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Memorial Day is one of the highlights of summer. It's a day for burgers on the grill, bare feet in the grass, and long afternoons spent with friends and family, ideally somewhere near the water, as fireworks and festivities await after sunset.

Whether you’re hosting indoors, outdoors, or bouncing between the two, your summer decor should be just as Nancy Meyers-ready as the scene itself.

It starts with the curb appeal: old-timey patriotic bunting and woven urn planters overflowing with fresh white hydrangeas. Indoors, there are striped cotton linens trimmed with tiny bows from Gohar World and woven beverage tubs already stocked with ice-cold bubbly water and beer. Outside, half-moon fringed umbrellas create a more clever kind of shade, letting even the tiniest backyards indulge in the full festive fête.

The Round is Homes & Gardens' collection of the must-have pieces shaping styles, trends, and ideas. It brings together thoughtfully curated products that express a single moment – offering readers inspiring ways to style their homes through seasonal themes, emerging looks, and everyday pieces.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

There are few things worse than a lukewarm drink on a hot summer’s day, and it’s certainly not something you want to serve guests when hosting in the heat.

That’s where a convenient countertop ice maker, such as the Euhomy Ice Maker from Amazon, comes in to save the day.

This unexpected summer hosting essential can produce a small batch of ice in as little as six minutes, drastically cutting freeze time and saving you from last-minute store runs while guests are left waiting for their drinks to chill.

Running out of ice is one of the simplest summer hosting mistakes you can avoid, all with the help of an ice maker. This portable, counter-sized appliance is the best way to stay cool when hosting outside in summer.

With a 1.2L water tank and a powerful compressor, the machine can hold 1.3lbs of ice at a time, with nine cubes (the perfect amount for one glass) taking only six minutes.

It's whisper quiet, too, which is more than you can say for most plug-in appliances. It is no louder than the average refrigerator hum, so you can plug it in and forget about it as you converse with your friends and family.

Hosting keeps me busy at the best of times, so I love that the Euhomy has a self-cleaning function too. With one button, the machine will run automatically for half an hour to flush out the system, all without hands-on scrubbing.

As I gear up for hosting pizza parties with my best pizza oven and ice cream socials in my yard this sunny season, this unexpected essential might be my saving grace.

What Else to Shop

Our experts have revealed more secrets to smarter hosting in 2026 to help set you up for the summer season.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Nothing says summer like a good old soiree, whether it's a formal alfresco dinner or an intimate early evening apéritif in the late sunshine, and beautiful thrifted treasures will help to bring a timeless, lived-in charm to your outdoor set-up – no matter the occasion.

Nailing summer outdoor dining ideas starts with investing in good-quality thrifted outdoor decor pieces. Don't get us wrong, there's plenty of chic new outdoor furniture and tableware to shop (I've had my eye on Serena & Lily's stylish Riveria dining set for quite some time), but nothing beats decorating with vintage when it comes to elevating your hosting game.

From luxurious silver platters to romantic table linens, we asked interior designers for their go-to thrifted picks to bring an outdoor get-together to life. 'When it comes to hosting summer gatherings, thrifted pieces are honestly where the magic happens because they give a tablescape that layered, collected-over-time feeling that brand-new items just can’t replicate,' explains interior designer Jennifer Hunter. 'It’s less about matching and more about building a tablescape.'

1. Outdoor Furniture

Vintage furniture is the first step towards an effortlessly chic backyard that feels just as considered as your home's interior. Whether it's a pair of rattan loungers to aid late-night conversations or a wrought-iron bistro set for brunch with friends, thrifted outdoor furniture is perfect for gardens in need of a little elegance.

Interior designer, Shani Core, sourced a second-hand dining set (pictured above). She explains, 'Here we took a high-low approach and found the vintage Brown Jordan dining set at a local Palm Beach resale shop. It was in terrible condition, so we had everything powder-coated in fresh white.'

Paired with vintage ceramics, colorful tableware, and fresh blooms, the look comes to life. 'The antique turquoise planter centerpiece was a thrifted find, and when combined with a fabulous floral arrangement and beautiful china, you would never know!' says Shani. 'When you start with a great quality foundation such as this vintage Brown Jordan dining set, it’s simple to style a beautiful summer table.'

2. Pitchers & Vases

It's not just outdoor seating that can make or break your outdoor dining area. 'Vintage pitchers are a favorite of mine during the summer months,' says hosting and vintage expert Rachel Leonard Kennedy. 'They’re beautiful for serving lemonade or iced tea, but they also double as casual floral arrangements filled with grocery store flowers or greenery clipped from the yard.'

Interior designer, Jennifer Hunter designed her dining table (pictured above) around one large centerpiece, scattering Summer table decor around a central floral arrangement. She explains, 'The goal is to make each piece feel as if it landed there naturally. I like to build table settings organically, starting with a central piece and letting everything evolve outward from there. I’ll anchor the table with something found, like a vintage pitcher, and often repurpose it as a vase filled with loose, seasonal stems.'

3. Tableware

'Some of the most charming hosting pieces are the ones with a little history behind them,' says Rachel. 'I almost always thrift serving platters, woven baskets, vintage glassware, linen napkins, candle holders, and small ceramic bowls when preparing for summer gatherings.'

'Vintage glassware mixed with simple everyday dishes creates that collected-over-time look that feels both elegant and relaxed,' adds Rachel. 'I especially love collecting mismatched pieces because they make guests feel relaxed. A perfectly uniform table can sometimes feel intimidating, but mixed textures and collected items create an atmosphere that says, “Come as you are.”

Jennifer's approach is similar. 'I layer in smaller pieces like candlesticks, little bowls, mismatched vessels, tucking them in rather than spacing them out too perfectly,' she says. 'It should feel collected, not arranged. I also like to pull in items from around my home to give the table a lived-in quality. It could be a small dish from the kitchen, a stack of plates, or an object that wasn’t originally meant for entertaining. Those unexpected elements are what make the table feel personal and a bit undone in the best way.'

4. Good Linen

Easy to overlook, you may be surprised to hear that thrift stores are often stocked with all sorts of outdoor table linens that make outdoor dining feel all the more special and inviting.

'I love layering woven textures with softer elements like linen napkins or slightly wrinkled tablecloths because it keeps the space feeling approachable,' says Jennifer. 'When styling thrifted hosting pieces, I focus less on perfection and more on creating a table that feels lived-in and welcoming. Summer gatherings should feel effortless, never overly staged.'

'For summer specifically, I tend to keep the color palette natural and sun-washed; creams, soft blues, faded greens, warm wood tones, and touches of citrus or fresh herbs scattered throughout the table,' says Rachel.

5. Bar Carts

Whether it's an ornate metal antique or a beachy wicker style, a beautiful bar cart can elevate your outdoor hosting set-up with an unexpected, luxurious feel – they're ideal for indoor-outdoor summer hosting.

'A rattan bar cart is the perfect vehicle for so many thrifted entertaining essentials,' explains Shani. Referring to the project above, she says, 'A vintage ice bucket holds champagne while a thrifted bowl holds citrus. The round upholstered ottoman on wheels was also a thrifted find.'

Smaller side tables and stools can double up as drinks stations, too. 'We set up a thrifted green garden stool as a side table to hold a cold drink, and we re-purposed a thrifted blue and white Murano glass carafe as a vase holding monstera leaves from the garden,' says Shani. 'I’m always on the lookout for garden stools to be used as extra seating or side tables, small planters or cups to hold cut citrus for drinks and herbs as shown on the ottoman, and any opportunity to bring a little color to a vibrant summer tablescape!'

Vintage-Inspired Essentials For Summer Hosting

'New items can sometimes feel overly coordinated or sterile, while vintage and secondhand finds bring warmth, texture, and character into a space,' says Rachel. 'They tell a story before the meal is even served. At the end of the day, the most beautiful summer gatherings aren’t the ones where everything matches perfectly. They’re the ones where people feel comfortable lingering a little longer at the table.'

Be sure to also explore our piece on the 7 things interior designers say you should always try to thrift.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Of course, nothing compares to beautiful, long-lasting tableware, but for casual backyard BBQs, birthday parties, or those supposedly ‘intimate' family gatherings that mysteriously balloon into a 17-person affair, absolutely no one wants to spend the night handwashing dishes.

We've curated an edit of the chicest paper plates available right now to elevate your summer table with a beautiful (yet low-maintenance) look. A few names currently saving our summertime sanity include Table Two Studio, whose designs tap the retro cabbageware revival, alongside clever Etsy makers channeling the energy of a certain iconic Italian homewares house – all of whom have somehow managed to make paper plates look wonderfully luxurious.

We don’t usually encourage deceiving your guests, but for disposable outdoor tableware this delicious, we’re willing to look the other way.

The Cut is all about Homes & Gardens helping you invest in pieces that feel current now, but won’t date as trends shift. Finds that elevate a room today and still feel right years from now. Whether it’s a sculptural accent chair or a chic pendant light, our editors will curate an edit that balances style, longevity, and quality. Consider this your shortcut to smart, beautiful shopping.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

I’ve already had endless fun experimenting with the Ninja SLUSHi, so imagine my surprise when a late-night launch introduced me to the new Ninja SLUSHi Twist, a two-in-one machine designed to swirl together dual flavors.

Built with the same technology as the Ninja SLUSHi Max – including rapid freezing, support for higher-alcohol mixes, and generous capacity – the dual-canister Twist feels like the ultimate party upgrade for memorable summer entertaining.

The internet quickly agreed that this is the best Ninja appliance for summer, with the machine shockingly selling out in only two hours, according to Ninja's socials. The good news? A restock is already on the way, and you can sign up for alerts through Ninja’s website – this is one release you won’t want to miss the second time around.

This new machine is the answer Ninja fans have been searching for, as until now, creative followers have been cleverly pairing two standard Ninja SLUSHi machines to recreate the classic ICEE-style mixes of our childhoods. the Ninja SLUSHi Twist helps you to effortlessly combine two flavors in a single system, with no mess and no fuss.

The dual canisters can be used independently or together to blend any combination of slush, opening up near-endless flavor possibilities. A manual rotating base also lets you swirl the drinks for a visually striking, layered presentation.

Using the SlushAssist function integrated in the Ninja SLUSHi Max I recently reviewed, the Dual SlushAssist™ Technology senses ingredients in each vessel and auto-adjusts temperatures, so both drinks come out perfect, every time. No ice or blenders required.

Perhaps my favorite potential use for the SLUSHi Twist is the ability to make two different drinks to suit everyone at a party. One side can be used for a fruit slush and the other for milkshakes, for instance.

Alternatively, at a family gathering, one side could be used for child-friendly juice while the other serves an adult-friendly alcoholic slush (just be sure to label which is which to avoid any serious summer hosting mistakes). It’s the perfect upgrade for regular hosts looking to impress.

Signing up for stock updates is simple. Simply add your email for notifications on the Ninja SLUSHi Twist page to know when the next drop hits.

What Else to Shop

If you do not want to wait for the restock or wish to set up your station now ahead of delivery, we have rounded up a few of the next-best machines and fun accessories to prepare your home for summer slushes.

All prices correct at time of publication.

If you are getting excited for summer, consider some chef-approved ice cream social ideas to help your party planning along.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

It’s the season when we throw caution to the wind: cracking open crustaceans with our bare hands, sipping skinny margaritas barefoot in the grass, probably singing along to ‘Summer of ’69’ a solid 20 decibels too loud.

You could call summer a little uncivilized, or you could call it heaven. The difference is really in the accoutrements. Manhandling a lemon for your crab legs feels infinitely chicer with a swan-shaped Gohar World squeezer in hand, while a canned cocktail tastes crisper pulled from the ‘champagne cold’ interior of a FIELDBAR Drinks Box. Big breeze threatening the tablescape? There are Art Nouveau-style tablecloth weights for that now, too.

These four months of the year feel a little less buttoned-up, and a whole lot less basic. Follow suit with 24 unexpected summer hosting essentials you’ll wonder how you ever lived without.

The Round is Homes & Gardens' collection of the must-have pieces shaping styles, trends, and ideas. It brings together thoughtfully curated products that express a single moment – offering readers inspiring ways to style their homes through seasonal themes, emerging looks, and everyday pieces.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

One gust of wind and all hell breaks loose. Your still-in-progress tablescape, not yet anchored by heavy vases or plates, is suddenly in a precarious position. Salt cellars capsize. Floral napkins take flight. All four sides of your new ikat tablecloth start swaying like they’re lost at sea. But you have a trick up your sleeve.

Tablecloth weights. A whole set, actually – one for each side of your teak wood table. It’s not exactly standard outdoor dining fare, but then again, you’re not a standard host. You’re a prepared one. So you clip on a few friends: a quartet of surrealist, hand-painted lobsters from Anthropologie, cheekily foreshadowing the course to come. Or perhaps silver Art Nouveau–style seashells from H&M Home, because your table – like your fashion-minded guest list, already en route – knows how to accessorize.

Outdoor entertaining means making peace with Mother Nature. She’ll do her thing. With these 12 summer table-saving pieces, you’ll do yours.

The Cut is all about Homes & Gardens helping you invest in pieces that feel current now, but won’t date as trends shift. Finds that elevate a room today and still feel right years from now. Whether it’s a sculptural accent chair or a chic pendant light, our editors will curate an edit that balances style, longevity, and quality. Consider this your shortcut to smart, beautiful shopping.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Backyard badminton, anyone? Bowling? A bonfire? Or maybe a cheeky 4 p.m. cocktail, served six at a time? Joanna Gaines’s new summer 2026 collection for Target covers every expected (and entirely unexpected) activity one might hope to partake in this season, with a level of chicness that makes lawn games finally feel like a luxury.

In this leisure-loving new lineup, there's no shortage of ways to stay occupied. Joanna brings her signature nostalgia to familiar pastimes, from punchily striped croquet mallets to movie-screening kits that recreate the magic of the big screen in your own backyard. Even the humble picnic, long overdue for a refresh, returns in warm beige gingham, newly revived with an effervescent orange carrying handle.

Across the lawn and onto the patio, Joanna’s decided it’s party time. She’s reimagined at-home bartending with a sensibility so analog it somehow lands as avant-garde. The metal-and-wood drink caddy is perhaps the best example: not unlike something a milkman might carry, only now meant for margaritas.

Basically, Joanna is making sure we're booked and busy through Labor Day. Shop nine entertaining-ready summer essentials you didn’t know you needed.

You already know multi-hyphenate designer and tastemaker Joanna Gaines doesn’t do just one thing at a time. If you liked this Target lineup, don’t miss what she’s doing at Magnolia, with a new slew of charming, room-reviving finds that look as though they were plucked from the vintage store of dreams.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

The Opening Note

This week on The Very British Edit, I’m turning my attention to one of my favourite moments of the year: Easter – and, more specifically, what I’m shopping to make it feel special at home.

By the time Easter arrives, everything has shifted. The light lingers a little longer, the air feels softer, and the garden begins to stir back to life. It’s that gentle seasonal change that always inspires how I shop for the occasion.

I find myself drawn to pieces that reflect spring – fresh linens, simple ceramics, and those small details that quietly elevate an Easter table without feeling overdone. It’s less about following trends and more about choosing things that feel right for the season and the way you want to gather.

Hosting an Easter party has become something of a ritual for me, and I’ve learned that a few well-chosen pieces can completely shape the atmosphere. I always start with the Easter table. A beautiful tablecloth, a set of glassware you don’t use every day, or a new serving piece can instantly make things feel considered without any fuss. This is where I naturally lean into a few Easter decorating ideas – but in a way that feels subtle and lived-in rather than styled for show.

The same goes for the food. I tend to return to a small collection of Easter recipes (this grilled lamb with carrot pilaf is a personal favorite) – dishes that are seasonal, straightforward, and designed for sharing. Over time, I’ve found that having a handful of reliable favorites takes the pressure off and allows you to actually enjoy the day.

What I love most about Easter is how effortless it can feel when you get the balance right. It’s not about doing more, it’s about choosing well – shopping thoughtfully, cooking food that nourishes you, and creating memories with the people you love most of all.

In this week’s edit, I’ll be sharing exactly what I’m shopping this season to pull together an Easter home. It’s all about keeping things simple, seasonal, and genuinely enjoyable to host.

The Edit: Easter Decor

In the Spotlight: Burleigh

My adoration for the heritage pottery brand Burleigh has been passed down through generations. It was always there, woven into my family life. My parents had it, my grandparents, too, and so some of my earliest memories of a well-laid table are tied to those familiar pieces.

It’s one of those brands that stays with you. You grow up with it, and then, almost without thinking, you find yourself coming back to it for your own home.

Founded in 1851 in Stoke-on-Trent, Burleigh has been handcrafting earthenware for generations and still operates today from Middleport Pottery. That sense of continuity is part of what makes it so special. In a world that moves quickly, there’s something incredibly grounding about a brand that has stayed true to its roots – still using traditional techniques, still making each piece by hand, and still producing everything in the UK.

What I’ve always loved most is the craftsmanship. Burleigh’s signature tissue-transfer decorating is done entirely by hand, a slow and highly skilled process that gives each piece its own character. No two are ever completely identical, which only adds to their charm. Patterns like Blue Asiatic Pheasants feel timeless – instantly recognisable, but never overdone. They carry their history lightly, in a way that feels relevant rather than nostalgic.

Burleigh has never been about saving things for special occasions. It’s meant to be used. There’s a comfort in that – plates, cups, and teapots that are part of everyday life yet still make the table feel considered. That balance of practicality and beauty is something I’ve come to appreciate more and more over time.

It’s also been lovely to see Burleigh reach a wider audience in recent years. For a long time, it felt like a very British secret, something you mostly encountered here. Now, with its growing presence in the United States, it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves internationally – while still holding onto everything that makes it distinct.

At this time of year, especially, when the light shifts and we start to gather again, I find myself naturally reaching for it. A simple table, something homemade, a pot of tea shared slowly – Burleigh just fits into those moments so effortlessly.

That’s what keeps me coming back to it. It’s not about trends or reinvention. It’s about familiarity, craftsmanship, and pieces that carry meaning. The kind of things that quietly become part of your life – and, if you’re lucky, get passed down through it too.

In the Queue

Next week on The Very British Edit, I’m focusing on a part of the home that’s easy to overlook, but makes all the difference, especially in spring: the entryway.

I’ve come to think of the entryway as more than just a practical spot. It sets the tone. A few small changes – a lighter touch with materials, a vase of something seasonal (daffodils, tulips, or lilies), a bit of space to let the light in – can completely change how it feels to walk through the door. Nothing complicated, just thoughtful.

What I like most is how simple it can be. You don’t need to redo everything. Just a few considered updates can make the whole house feel lighter, calmer, and more in tune with the season.

Next week, I’ll share how I refresh my own entryway for spring – the pieces I rely on and the small shifts that make it feel quietly put together and ready for the months ahead.

The Very British Edit is a shoppable guide to beautiful living with a distinctly British twist. From heritage patterns to timeless decor inspirations, each edition blends personal insight, design expertise, and a love of craftsmanship. It is stylish, trustworthy, and endlessly inspiring.

What is the first thing you notice when you sit down at a table – the color of your plate, perhaps, the pattern of the tablecloth, or maybe the weight of stainless steel cutlery? If so, your brain is picking up on the psychology of dinnerware, a surprisingly powerful concept that both nutritionists and interior designers are paying more and more attention to.

After learning just how much dinnerware and table decorations can impact our perception of food, how it tastes, and even how much of it we end up eating, how I host my next dinner party (and the way I serve up my weekday meals) will definitely change. 'This is an area where nutrition science overlaps with psychology and design, which helps explain why presentation matters so much, explains Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, a nutrition and wellness expert and co-author of Sugar Shock.

This goes well beyond just how individual place settings look, though. 'Sitting down for a meal is a sensory experience in more ways than one,' says interior designer Melissa Lacy Welker. 'Touch, taste, smell, and even sound all influence how we perceive a moment at the table.' Keen to discover why it’s always worth using the good china? Nutrition experts and interior design masterminds share their serving suggestions.

1. Play With Pattern

'There’s something profoundly human about gathering around a table, and the quality of that experience isn’t just about what’s served, it’s how it’s presented,' believes Alex Alonso, founder of Miami-based interior design studio Mr Alex Tate. 'With tablescaping, you can introduce patterns that create a sense of calm, softness, and warmth.'

With spring tablescaping ideas setting a precedent, botanical motifs, floral prints, and wildlife designs are particularly effective, as they bring the outdoors in. 'These can create a whimsical mood,' explains Alex. 'Natural patterns often mimic movement, life, and growth, which stimulates the senses without distracting from the meal.'

'Organic designs often feel comforting and familiar,' agrees Lindsay Malone, MS, RD, LD, a clinical dietitian from Case Western Reserve University. 'That can translate into a more relaxed eating experience, which supports digestion.'

'There’s a reason they say we eat with our eyes,' explains nutritionist Samantha Cassetty. 'Patterns influence the emotional tone of a meal, shaping mood and signaling a more special eating experience. A beautifully patterned plate or serving dish can make an everyday meal more memorable, which supports a mindful eating experience.'

2. Introduce Touch Points

The feel of a plate, the clink of a glass, and the finish of flatware are all impacted by texture and material. While our eyes can appreciate the look of a dish and take in the beauty of a champagne flute, the feel of these elements in our hands and on our skin impacts how we perceive quality and intentionality.

'The materials you use on the table often signal the ambiance you wish to create,' confirms homeware designer Rebecca Udall. 'Natural textures always create a relaxed, welcoming feel, from the drape of linen to wooden-handled cutlery, while cooler materials like silver and stainless steel lend themselves better to more formal dining.'

'Texture directly enhances our perception of food,' agrees Samantha Cassetty. 'Eating on fine china, for example, elevates the dining experience and makes a meal feel more sophisticated. These little touches can really make a difference.'

3. Choose a Considered Palette

From the shade of a serving bowl to the tint of a tumbler, color impacts not only how a table looks but how much food the people sitting around it end up consuming. Warmer shades, including yellow, orange and some reds, are often associated with increased feelings of hunger, while cooler ones may, due to their calming qualities, reduce appetite.

'Color shapes our expectation of food before we even take a bite,' explains nutrition expert Samantha Cassetty. 'It can meaningfully shape how food tastes to us, how much we enjoy it, and how satisfied we feel afterward. High contrast between your food and plate, such as colorful vegetables on a white dish, can make food look more vibrant and appealing. This may also help people better perceive individual portion sizes, which can make it easier to avoid overeating.'

The pink plates in this dining room, for example, are a conscious choice. 'The table’s palette feels connected to the room’s surroundings rather than competing with it, allowing mealtimes to become more immersive,' explains San Francisco-based designer Marea Clark. 'This restraint allows us to be more playful with the floral displays and accents to set a confident tone.'

This leans into the impact wider surroundings can have on your dining experience. 'From a digestion and health standpoint, the environment we eat in truly matters,' explains dietitian Lindsay Malone. 'Creating a pleasant, intentional atmosphere around meals, whether that’s setting a table, using favorite dishes, or sitting down in a designated eating space, can help signal the body that it’s time to slow down and eat mindfully.'

4. Experiment With Size and Scale

'After considering your color palette, scale becomes everything,' believes Firmdale’s creative director Kit Kemp, who created this dining space at New York’s Whitby Hotel above. 'Each place setting should feel intimate without ever being cramped.'

'Plates that are too large can make servings look smaller,' explains food and wellness expert Samantha Cassetty. 'Appropriately-sized plates help to make portions feel more satisfying and intentional.'

That said, don’t be afraid to downsize. 'Smaller, beautiful plates can also make a balanced meal look abundant and satisfying, naturally supporting portion control without feeling restrictive,' instructs nutrition expert Lindsay Malone. 'When food looks more appealing like this, we tend to enjoy it more, chew more slowly, and feel more satisfied, often with less.'

It’s not just the size of your plate that matters. Other elements on the table also influence how a meal is experienced. Keep any floral arrangements cut low to encourage conversation around the table, and position taller candlesticks in between place settings (rather than directly in front of them) for a sense of visual rhythm.

5. Consider Weight and Heft

Closely connected to texture and material, the weight of your dinnerware can affect your food and drink experience. 'The weight and feel of your tablescape absolutely impacts mood,' explains Atlanta-based interior designer Melissa Lacy Welker.

'Heavier pieces tend to feel comforting and generous in the hand, while lighter ones often feel ceremonial and more refined,' she says. 'Compare the feel of lightweight crystal, which always feels elevated, to chunkier recycled glass, which feels relaxed, modern, and unfussy.'

'Heavier cutlery and glassware tend to feel more substantial,' agrees dietitian Lindsay Malone. 'This can help to slow the pace of eating, increasing dietary awareness. On the other hand, lighter, delicate pieces can feel special and refined. Both can change how you perceive a meal, even if the food and drink is the same.'

Want your guests to feel replete at the end of a meal? 'Research suggests that when you serve food in heavier containers, it’s also perceived as more satisfying than the same items served in lighter ones,' reveals nutritionist Samantha Cassetty. 'This added sense of heft can enhance enjoyment and help you feel fuller.'

The psychology of dinnerware proves that the look of the plates we dish food onto, the glasses we fill, and the cutlery we hold in our hands is just one element of our overall dining experience. Color and pattern are important factors, yes, but so too is the texture, weight, and size of your dinnerware.

It’s clear, then, that choosing dinnerware and setting a table isn’t just about creating a pretty moment for hosting, it can change how we perceive dishes, taste their flavors, and even how much we enjoy them. Feeling inspired? Explore the table decor trends for 2026 and discover our pick of seasonal recipes to serve up.

One-Pan Wisdom

When I was a little girl, my grandmother’s lasagna felt like an event before it even hit the table. You smelled it first – hours of slow heat building in the house, curling up the stairs, threading its way into every room. And then you saw it: a pan so heavy it seemed to require ceremony. But the real thrill – the part I still remember as vividly as anything – was the treasure hunt hidden inside each slice.

My grandmother tucked mini meatballs into the layers like little jewels. I would take my fork and quietly excavate, eyes flicking to my brothers’ plates to see if they’d been luckier than me. Did he get two? Did I only get one? It was pure childhood math, performed with total seriousness.

That memory is one reason I dedicated an entire chapter in my book Mother Sauce: Italian American Family Recipes and the Story of the Women Who Created Them (Artisan Books) to what I call 'Layered and Baked. To me, these dishes embody the unmistakable allure of home cooking.

Sure, sautéed onions smell wonderful, but they’re a quick flash of perfume. The oven is different. The oven is a slow build: the kind of scent that you can smell in an apartment building the moment you step off the elevator. It’s pervasive in the best way, like the house is quietly telling you, come in, stay a while.

That aroma became a sort of homing device for me when my boys turned into teenagers – the age when they start orbiting away from you, pulled by the promise of independence and pizza with friends. I noticed that even when they were halfway out the door, a long-cooking dish had a way of stopping them in their tracks. 'See you later,' they’d say – then pause. 'Wait… when is that going to be ready?'

The Delicious Precursor to Casseroles

It’s funny to me that we talk about casseroles as this very American mid-century idea –the bubbling dish, the apron, the oven door shut with a hip. But Italian American kitchens had their own version long before the 1960s put a name to it. Baked ziti and lasagna are, in many ways, the precursors to the American casserole: make-ahead meals that feed a crowd, travel well, reheat beautifully, and stretch ingredients into something greater than the sum of their parts.

And this way of cooking goes back even further. In Italy, when cucina povera was at the forefront because resources were limited and ingenuity was essential, not every home had an oven. Families would assemble dishes and take them to a communal oven, often at a bakery. I always say it was like a car wash: people coming in and out with their pans, queued up to get their baking done. That communal practice cemented something lasting: layered dishes as a practical, communal, deeply human way to cook.

Kitchen Shortcuts That Have Stood the Test of Time

After years of working on my brand Mad Hungry in Martha Stewart’s test kitchen, I became ruthless about steps and ingredients that don’t pull their weight. Home cooking isn’t restaurant cooking. In a restaurant, every cutlet has to be perfect, one at a time, on demand. At home, a meal needs to be delicious and fit into your life.

That’s why I’m always delighted to realize my Italian American ancestors were doing this kind of smart editing long before I gave it a name. Take the recipe for Chicken Parmesan, which I adapted from my grandmother’s. So many recipes insist on the full 'standard breading procedure' (dredge in flour, dip in egg, coat in breadcrumbs) – an assembly line that can make sense for a standalone cutlet, but becomes excessive when the cutlet is going to be baked under Sunday Sauce and cheese.

In my family, the women simply mixed the breadcrumbs with cheese and seasoning and pressed it directly into the cutlet. Straight to the point. Less mess and same satisfying result.

Modernising Traditional Methods

The Italian Oven Fries in this selection are also deceptively simple, and they come straight from the brilliance of another woman in my family: my mother.

My mother was not Italian; she was Scotch-English on one side of her life, and then married into a very Italian household where, in those days, you were expected to cook like your Italian mother-in-law did. She was also an artist, and she had the creativity to take traditional Italian flavors and translate them into a modern, practical form.

She took the seasoning spirit of baked artichokes – Romano, garlic, herbs – and applied it to potatoes. She used the oven instead of frying because she was feeding a crowd and trying to live her life. Those fries became iconic in our family, the kind of thing you forget until you make them again, and everyone loses their mind.

My mom and I went head-to-head for years about the 'dried Italian seasoning.' I’m not a fan of most pre-mixed herb blend – I’d rather list herbs individually in my recipes. But she loved that old-school grocery store mix – a very 1960s staple – and eventually, she won.

Lasagne With Mini Meatballs

And the famous Lasagna with Mini Meatballs from my childhood? Those little meatballs are labor-intensive – there’s no way around it – but they’re also the entire reason the dish lives so vividly in my mind. I like to cook them in sauce, so they stay tender and porous, almost 'naked,' so they can absorb and meld with everything else.

What all of the layered and baked dishes in my book have in common is the magic that happens in the oven. In a well-made lasagna, or chicken Parmesan, or a layered vegetable bake, liquids mingle and then evaporate. Sugars concentrate. Edges caramelize. The top becomes crisp, the middle stays soft and yielding, and the bottom turns crunchy in the most glorious way. Nothing is one-note. It’s bubbling, and melting, and rising, and crisping all at once. It’s the kind of food you never forget.

Ingredients (serves 12)

• For the tomato sauce:
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Two 28-ounce (800 g) cans whole tomatoes, lightly pulsed in a blender
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 sprigs fresh basil (optional)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• For the meatballs (See recipe on Lucinda's Sunday Sauce column, and roll into about ½ inch in diameter)
• 1 pound (455 g) dried lasagna noodles
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1¼ cups (285 g) ricotta cheese, drained if not thick
• 1 pound (455 g) mozzarella, grated
• 1 cup (100 g) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Method

• For the tomato sauce:
• Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and swirl in the olive oil.
• Add the garlic and pepper flakes and stir constantly for about 30 seconds, just long enough to release the garlic’s fragrance and transform it slightly from its raw state; don’t let it cook to golden.
• Raise the heat to high and stir in the tomatoes and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
• In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the basil sprig, if using, then remove it before serving. Swirl in the butter
• For the meatballs (See recipe on Lucinda's Sunday Sauce column, and roll into about ½ inch in diameter)
• For the lasagne:
• Bring the tomato sauce to a boil in a large pot. One by one, stir the raw meatballs into the sauce and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it generously (you will have to cook the noodles in batches unless you have an extra-large pot). Fill a large bowl with cold water and stir in a glug of olive oil.
• If using dried noodles, cook according to the package instructions and transfer to the bowl of water. Remove the noodles from the cold water and pat dry. Lay them flat on a baking sheet, separated by parchment paper or plastic wrap.
• Combine the ricotta, ½ cup (225 g) of the grated mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, the parsley, egg, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl and stir together.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 cup (245 g) of the tomato sauce over the bottom of an oiled 9-by-13-inch (23 by 33 cm) baking dish. Overlap one quarter of the noodles over the sauce to cover the pan bottom.
• Spread a third of the cooked meatballs over the noodles and spoon over another 1 cup (225 g) sauce. Overlap another quarter of the noodles on top. Dollop all the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles and flatten it with the back of a spoon to make an even layer. Overlap another quarter of noodles on top.
• Spread over the second third of meatballs and 1 cup (225 g) sauce. Cover with the remaining noodles. Pour 2 cups (450 g) of the sauce to cover. Scatter the remaining meatballs on top. Scatter the remaining mozzarella over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the lasagna is bubbling all over and lightly golden on top. Let rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes before slicing. Serve with plenty of grated cheese and the remaining tomato sauce at the table.

A Cook's Legacy is our six-part series with award-winning cookbook author, Lucinda Scala Quinn, exploring the family, food, and cultural memory that inspired her latest cookbook, Mother Sauce, through her beloved culinary voice.

We can all conjure up a vision of how to style a Super Bowl party: guests would dig into comfort foods, alternately cheering for (then screaming at) the TV. Friends and family of all ages would gather in cozy conviviality.

As interior designer, Krista Watterworth Alterman, founder of South Florida’s Krista + Home, says: ‘The most beautiful Super Bowl gatherings should be like the best dinner parties – just with better lighting and louder cheering.’

The Super Bowl is always one of the best nights in the social calendar and, dare we say, even more enjoyable to watch when your team isn’t playing, so you can truly unwind. Unlike a more formal sit-down dinner or themed gathering, the practical elements of hosting a Super Bowl watch party include ensuring comfort, ease, and entertainment, both on and off the screen.

From the importance of zoning to the serving essentials you'll need on the day, we chatted to interior designers and hosting pros for their top tips on how to host a game day party that feels elevated yet relaxed. (And for more hosting how-tos from your favorite tastemakers, check out our How I Host series.)

We asked the experts for their tips on what to serve, how to cater to guests of all ages, ways to minimize time in the kitchen so you can enjoy the event, as well as their favorite styling and decor ideas for Super Bowl parties.

1. Set the Theme With Considered Materials and Textures

While it can be tempting to embrace a 'football-themed everything' styling concept for your Super Bowl party, going too literal can feel kitschy and impersonal.

Instead, follow Houston-based interior designer Kara Childress's advice, and use texture to tell the story by layering serveware in different materials: wooden boards, ceramic bowls, raffia trays, silver and chromatic touches.

‘For the table, I tend to lean into heritage rather than novelty,’ says Kara, whose Super Bowl parties always feature plenty of personal details, since her husband played in the NFL for 12 years.

Alongside ‘elevated comfort’ dishes (miniature pulled pork sliders, a chili recipe 'with all the fixings', homemade mac and cheese), Kara decorates her aged oak breakfast table with old football ephemera (pendants, programs, medals, pigskin footballs), using vintage silver trophies as sculptural centerpieces and a 'palette pulled subtly from the teams playing instead of obvious logos.'

No silver trophies? No problem: Ralph Lauren’s Art Deco-inspired Thorpe stainless steel serving bowls, feel timeless but modern, and pair beautifully with wood, stone, and ceramic serveware.

‘The goal is for the story to feel collected and authentic rather than overtly themed,' Kara says.

2. Comfy and Flexible Seating is a Non-Negotiable

Styling a Super Bowl party means ensuring every person has a great view of the action on the screen, as well as a comfy place to sit. For Krista + Home's Krista Watterworth Alterman, this means 'furniture has to earn its keep.'

'Super Bowl hosting has become its own kind of design test,' Krista says of the balance she strikes between luxury design clients (including homes for professional NFL and MLB athletes), and accommodating her teens when entertaining.

'Teen boys don’t hover politely. They sprawl, migrate, snack constantly, and care deeply about the screen, the sound (ensure your tech is up-to-date – our Home Tech Editor recently raved about the Samsung Surround Sound System for bringing the atmosphere of the stadium home), and whether they can actually see the game from wherever they’ve landed. That reality has made me even more intentional about performance fabrics, and ottomans always win.' (Williams Sonoma's Laguna Coffee Table Ottoman is a seat-and-table-in-one).

Multi-tasking furniture pieces and thoughtful spatial organization can also help facilitate large gatherings in smaller spaces.

3. Try Zoning to Minimize Chaos and Maximise Flow

Super Bowl hosting is more fluid than a sit-down dinner. But for it to feel effortless on the night, advance planning is required to create designated areas, encouraging guests to move through, or stop and chat.

'Layout is everything. Sightlines matter. And the best parties are the ones where guests naturally gather without being told where to sit. That’s where my obsession with zoning, floating furniture, and layered seating really comes from,' says Krista.

One easy way to achieve this is by creating multiple nibble areas, instead of sticking all the edible stuff in one corner.

'Zone the space with one area for watching, one for lounging, one for games, and one for food, which helps with flow, reduces crowding, and keeps guests happy,' advises interior designer, Linda Hayslett, of LH. Designs.

'Ditch the one sad snack table and spread the food out across side tables, consoles, and ottomans because they all count. This keeps people moving and prevents the inevitable crowd huddle around the chips,' adds Linda.

4. Choose Hard-working Serveware

The key to enjoying your Super Bowl soirée is to prep in advance, but also minimize mess and hassle on the day by investing in stove-to-table essentials, like the best cast iron cocottes and casserole dishes.

'For Super Bowl, everyone does tons of dips. I love to do recipes in cast iron dishes: corn dip, Buffalo chicken dip, layered hummus dip,' says Alexandra Kamper, owner of Fort Lauderdale-based, Kamper's Kitchen, which specializes in charcuterie boards and grazing tables.

'With cast iron, take it out of the oven piping hot, put a trivet below so it doesn't burn whatever you've got on the table, and serve right there with the spoon. It looks fun when it's in the dish, and stays super hot, too.'

You don't need to spend a lot on the rest of your servingware essentials: Alexandra buys disposable cocktail napkins, plates, ramekins, bowls, and bamboo tongs from Amazon.

And instead of worrying about forks and knives, it's toothpicks and skewers that work best with bite-sized Super Bowl foods. Beyond picking up cheese and olives, use these to make colorful caprese skewers, or to dip soft pretzel bites into a cheese fondue.

5. Serve Crowd-Pleasing Dishes

‘I try to always do a mix of food that's going to be pleasing to adults, but also food for kids. The Super Bowl is the perfect time for that, because it's all fun finger foods,' says Rachel Mansfield, whose newest cookbook, More, Please! Feel-Good Meals for Busy Families and Their Picky Eaters, launches in August 2026.

Super Bowl palate-pleasers include a Mexican chicken enchilada skillet with cut-up tortilla strips, Greek seven-layer dip with hummus, Greek yogurt, za'atar, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta cheese, and easy-bake muffin tray ideas like taco cups.

Just because you're serving dips doesn't mean you can't include a few healthier swaps on the night, like subbing out tortilla chips for sweet potatoes. Cut the sweet potatoes in very thin rounds, using a mandolin, then layer them on a sheet pan and bake.

'Let those bake for a few minutes, then add all the nacho toppings. It's a good way to lighten things up. Kids really like sweet potato chips because they get crunchy, and they're a little sweet,' says Rachel.

6. Pre-Prep Charcuterie Boards To Minimize Cooking

Introducing a charcuterie table spread is one way to ensure that when it comes to game night, you don't have to miss any of the action when you're running back and forth between the kitchen. (Super Bowl kick-off is 6:30pm ET, by the way.)

'You can do all that prep the day before, then it's unwrapping things and making them look pretty on the day of,' explains Alexandra, of Kamper's Kitchen. Get platters and boards ready ahead of time, and use Post-Its to delegate which items go where. Don't forget to elevate some dishes for multi-dimensional styling.

The secret to charcuterie board styling is all about natural elements: Alexandra likes to elevate basic crudités, like celery and blue cheese, by adding in inviting-looking French carrots or tomatoes on the vine. (It's also useful to offer lighter fare to contrast with all those heavy dips and comfort dishes.) Finish off by adding some foliage or herbs.

Faux greenery works, too: artificial grass turf (Walmart), nods to the football theme without going overboard.

7. Take Things Outdoors

If February weather is in your favor, prep an outdoor viewing area with cushions, rugs, side tables, mood lighting, and a fire pit for instant atmosphere, advises LH. Designs' Linda Hayslett. (S'mores can also be a fun group activity during halftime.)

'Let the indoors and outdoors blur by keeping doors open and styles consistent, so the whole house feels like one seamless hosting moment. This will help with the flow of people wanting to move around and not create a bottleneck,' she says.

Serveware that works both indoors and out, in materials like stone and melamine, feels effortless but still chic. Lulu and Georgia's Madelle recycled melamine serveware oval platter, $44, is dishwasher-safe, durable, and transports snacks from inside to outside.

8. Arrange Some Off-Screen Entertainment

As nail-biting as the football might be, the key to Super Bowl party hosting success is to provide entertainment beyond the television.

'To keep our guests entertained, I prefer subtle games that invite conversation without overpowering the gathering,' says Kara. 'A simple betting card predicting quarter scores, MVP, or first touchdown adds a sense of anticipation and lighthearted competition.'

If you're hosting younger kids, games and activities can help stave off boredom – and tantrums.

'Super Bowl bingo, coloring mini footballs, coloring a tablecloth... there are so many things you can do to get the kids engaged more in different activities,' says Rachel.

You might also want to think about putting up a table tennis table or darts board in another room to provide a livelier 'play' area away from the action of the game on TV.

Bring Your Super Bowl Party To Life With These Buys

Now you've got your snacks, serveware, and styling for your Super Bowl party all planned out, you're probably after some solid cookware for crowd-pleasing dishes. Find out why IKEA's limited-edition $50 Dutch oven is our cooking hero, this winter - perfect for dig-in dishes than can go straight from oven to table.

If entertaining friends and family without getting stressed about perfectly curated tablescapes and spotless surfaces sounds near-impossible, it’s time you tried out ‘scruffy hospitality.’ No, this isn't a new table decor trend for 2026, but a way to incorporate more relaxed hosting into your socializing throughout 2026 and beyond.

First coined in 2014 by Knoxville, Tennessee-based Anglican priest, the Rev. Jack King, the phrase ‘scruffy hospitality’ refers to a more laidback approach to hosting, one centered on authenticity and human connection, not impeccably tidy rooms and immaculately prepped dishes. (See also: ‘Crappy Dinner Parties’, another version of scruffy hospitality which encourages no cleaning before guests arrive, simple dishes, and zero apologizing for any mess or chaos.)

Scruffy hospitality isn’t merely a hosting style, it’s a life philosophy we can all heartily embrace, as an antidote to the excess of holiday feasting and formality. And if you’re after entertaining ideas that feel easy, not stress-inducing, here's how to give it a try.

Intentionally Lower Expectations

Scruffy hospitality begins with a mindset shift, not a whole-house tidy-up – that would be missing the point entirely.

The first step in embracing this hosting philosophy is to lower expectations, so don’t put pressure on yourself to be the ‘host with the most,’ and work on silencing your inner critic.

‘Scruffy hospitality can be good practice for avoiding perfectionist tendencies generally. Practicing not being perfect with your friends and the people who care about you can make it easier to give yourself grace on the job or in other areas of life, too,’ says Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab podcast, Dr. Laurie Santos.

She recommends telling invitees that the theme of your engagement is ‘scruffy hospitality,’ which will, in turn, make everyone feel more relaxed from the get-go.

‘Social connection is one of the most effective ways to boost happiness, and scruffy hospitality is an attitude that helps us achieve more connection,’ Dr Santos says. ‘If we wait until we have the perfect house or dinner party theme, we'll wind up missing out on opportunities to hang out with the people we care about. Under this view, you can reframe hosting as a happiness gift to yourself, so that future-you will feel more connected.’

Clear the Clutter, Stylishly

Challenge yourself to push against perfection and allow the authenticity of your daily home life to tell its story.

‘Focus on the visit and not the visuals,’ is how New York City-based designer Amelia Nicholas, founder of Urban Cottage NYC, encourages hosts to embrace scruffy hospitality. This is especially true if you’re living with pets, children, and abandoned artistic projects scattered across surfaces.

‘Your guests know you have children, pets, projects. If you're worried about extra toys or books lying around, have a few extra, large-scale baskets that you can quickly sort into and tuck away. Once your guests have gone, you can close the loop by returning those items back to the spaces they belong,’ she says. These Mbare millet grass storage baskets at Lulu & Georgia will stash everything from toys to towels, and look like sculptural pieces.

Keep the Light Low and the Atmosphere Ambient

Lighting always sets the mood. Since one goal of scruffy hospitality is to encourage intimacy, authenticity, and deep conversation, dim the lights and imbue your space with a warm glow by lighting your best candles. Use tapers or go for scented candles to further ease into relaxation mode.

‘Layer your lighting by turning off harsh overheads and letting candlelight, table lamps, and floor lamps set the mood. It instantly makes a space feel warmer, more inviting, and effortlessly cozy,’ says Jessica Nicastro Alpert, principal designer of Jessica Nicastro Design.

Clusters of candles also encourage guests to curl up, picnic-style, on sofas while snacking on light bites served on disposable-but-insanely-chic My Drap napkins.

‘In a world where life feels increasingly casual, we’re trading the fine china and formal courses for candles, yummy snacks or apps, and real conversation,’ says creative director and principal designer of Maryland-based Folding Chair Design, Jennifer Walter, who considers scruffy hospitality a ‘quiet rebellion’ against perfection.

‘Hosting today isn’t about impressing; it’s about inviting. A quick tidy, a few intentional touches like candles and fabric napkins, and the door opens to friends exactly as we are. The focus shifts from curated tables where everything has a place, to meaningful moments that provide warmth and connection,’ Jennifer adds.

Simplify your hosting gig with Pottery Barn’s Radiance Flameless Candles for a cozy atmosphere without any matches, or mess to clean up afterwards.

Embrace the Japanese Art of Wabi-Sabi

Your furniture and decor always serve a practical purpose when entertaining, but scruffy hospitality calls for authenticity. Don’t be afraid to offer guests a glimpse of your interests and history through your styling.

‘Choose pieces that are meant to be lived with, not protected. Leather, patinated metals, natural materials, along with meaningful accessories which tell your personal story,’ advises Joyce Huston, lead design expert at Decorilla.

Joyce explains that the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi – ‘a little imperfect, collected, and lived-in – is at the heart of scruffy hospitality.’

Use it to inform, and simplify, your entertaining ethos: ‘Choose one common thread to keep, like all ceramic pieces, all scalloped edges, or one color family, then mix patterns and shapes. It looks intentional, starts conversation, and makes each setting feel personal,’ she says.

An eye-catching centerpiece, like Seletti’s Kintsugi Carafe from 2 Modern, offers a quiet meditation (and celebration) of the beauty in fixing what’s broken.

Make Existing Pieces Work Harder

If you’ve already mastered how to create a hosting closet to keep all of your hosting essentials tidy, resist the temptation to buy additional accessories each time you invite people over.

Instead, ‘hack your home decors,’ advises Marjorie Artieres, partner and creative director at Pinch Food Design.

‘Turn your favorite vase into a breadstick holder, flip a beautiful ceramic bowl into a riser. Use stacks of bamboo steamer baskets for bar snacks. These personal objects add a unique flair, sophistication, and instantly make your spread feel more artful and cohesive in your home,’ she says. East Fork’s handcrafted ceramic vases double as stylish servingware for cheese straws or fruit kebabs.

Use Brown Paper Tablecloths for Grazing

A grazing table spread is well-suited to scruffy hospitality. Simplify it even further by focusing on one or two key ingredients, advises textile designer Shanan Campanaro, founder of Eskayel, whose recent vegetarian-themed spreads involved a ‘crostini bar’ featuring little toasts with ‘tons of toppings’ and a ‘Greek disco’ party with grapes, olives, feta, pita and stuffed grape leaves, all laid out in the center of the table for easy access.

Shanan used Kraft paper as a tablecloth, labeling each element with a Sharpie pen: a simple, charming, unexpected, and participatory touch that guests loved.

‘How can we get creative, fun, and memorable without breaking the bank or spending unnecessary funds on hiring somebody to do something that feels standard and repetitive anyway?’ she says of her hosting philosophy. ‘I love brown paper as a tablecloth because you can burn candles on it and the wax doesn't get on the table, just the paper.’

Clusters of fresh fruit (whole lemons, blood oranges) and clipped herbs like rosemary and sage complete the table, adding welcome color and scent.

Ditch the Dining Room

A more relaxed setting helps cultivate authenticity and a laid-back feel. Try changing where you center your soirée by moving to an eat-in kitchen, instead of a more formal dining room, or by making another room the star of the show.

Decorilla’s Joyce Huston suggests using the coffee table as a ‘help yourself’ spot for guests. ‘Instead of running back and forth to the kitchen, keep your stuff within arm’s reach of where all the action is. Put out a tray on the coffee table with napkins, a couple of small bowls, snacks, and a simple drink setup. That keeps everyone together and makes hosting so much easier, too.’ Serena & Lily’s Hawthorne Platter, and Chip and Dip Bowl make stylish hosting effortless.

Serve Easy Dishes Unapologetically

Scruffy hospitality isn’t about showing off your Cordon Bleu culinary skills; it’s about what’s tasty, easy, and comforting.

Urban Cottage NYC’s Amelia Nicholas says having a ‘library of serving pieces makes hosting informal gatherings a breeze’ (things like charcuterie boards, bowls of varying sizes), and recommends keeping your pantry prepped and organizing your freezer ahead of time.

‘Basic frozen pizza bases can be fancied up with fresh basil and other toppings. Focusing on one low-stress dish allows you to continue connecting while cooking. And then your guests can help customize for themselves,’ she says.

Slow Down and Keep it Simple

Ditch the usual hosting strategy of aiming for perfection across all areas, advises food designer, stylist, and chef, Mariana Velásquez, of Casa Velásquez Hostingware, who believes the antidote to Christmas chaos is ‘permission to slow down, to set a table that wears its fingerprints.’

The easiest way to lean into this simpler aesthetic? Do less: ‘Make one thing well. A soup, a roast chicken, a pot of beans – something steady and familiar.’ Same goes for drinks: Mariana recommends serving tea, water, or wine.

Resist the temptation to hurry people out so you can get everything tidy again: ‘Let the evening unfold. No menu, no performance. No rush to clear, no rush to end. Trust that ease reads as generosity,’ she says.

If cooking feels overly ambitious, you can even suggest guests choose their own dinner, suggests Dr. Santos, by encouraging them to ‘bring whatever you're planning to eat tonight and come eat it over at my place.’ Not only will they be able to eat what they enjoy, contributing to a sense of ease and calm, but you won’t need to worry about failing to plan for someone’s dietary restrictions, either.

Scruffy Hospitality Essentials

If you like the idea of scruffy hospitality, this hosting tray hack is a great way to make impromptu hosting even easier – just stack it up with the essentials, so you're ready to go when guests arrive.

New Year table decor ideas are the perfect way to transform an ordinary dining setting into a magical space for merriment and celebration. New Year's dinner parties can be a wonderful opportunity to get creative and explore a variety of fun styling themes. The first thing to think about when it comes to New Year decorating ideas for entertaining is the tone and formality of the event. Whether you're planning an intimate gathering to see in 2026 or a wild and whimsical celebration, these New Year table decor ideas are guaranteed to inspire.

Bring Freshness With Florals

Christmas table decor ideas might be all about using foliage, berries, and even seasonal fruits to add natural warmth, but New Year is all about rejuvenation, and calls for more refreshing and uplifting displays, which can be achieved with florals and indoor plants, from potted bulbs to vases of blooms and mini posies.

1. Switch Up Your Centerpieces

Set your New Year table decor apart from the traditional pine and holly-based Christmas centerpieces by adding fresher green tones, blousy flowers, and lighter, feathery foliage. That's not to say that you can't utilize some of your leftover festive foliage, such as pine and eucalyptus in your display – just switch out the berries for a bit of sparkle and some fresh flowers instead.

Things like delicate white Statice Tatarica, create a sophisticated and elegant look, while colorful Helichrysum is a bolder and more vibrant choice. For this New Year centerpiece (pictured) floral designer Philippa Craddock has used pine and eucalyptus as a base, but added wax flowers and skimmia for a fresh feel, along with potted white cyclamen. With its delicate blush tones, the skimmia works beautifully with the dusky pink dinnerware (try the Oneida Organic Dinnerware from Macy's) and taper candles.

2. Incorporate Potted Bulbs

A lovely New Year table decor idea is using potted bulbs – they will bring a wonderfully fresh, hopeful feel to the dining table and remind guests that spring is on the way.

The great thing about using bulbs is that they can be potted up in advance and brought into the house a week or so before, where the warmth will bring them into flower. Before you start, check out our guide on how to force bulbs.

Opt for the best hyacinth varieties and narcissi bulbs – place them in rustic terracotta pots like these Cordelia planters from McGee & Co for an organic look, or silver plant pots, dotted amongst mercury glass votives like these from Pottery Barn for a bit of sparkle. Amaryllis bulbs also work well for a more dramatic and sculptural effect.

3. Create a Napkin Posy

Homes & Gardens' Head of Gardens, Rachel, created this beautiful napkin micro posy, which is a great idea to add fresh florals to your tablescape if you're limited on space for a bigger centerpiece. Rachel says, 'I love using fresh herbs in my napkin micro posies, as they carry scent and link beautifully to the dining table setting'.

For this design, she used eucalyptus with rosemary and lemon thyme, but says 'you could think about bay, sage, lemon cypress, lavender and boxwood', along with a single 'focal flower – I love a contrasting shade that will stand out on the table, and has a flat back,' she adds. 'Anemone or camellia would work well, or witch hazel and primrose for accent flowers.'

Tie with some pretty ribbon or slot into a simple napkin ring, and pair with a textured linen napkin like these linen napkins from H&M Home.

Add Plenty of Sparkle

If you can't add some sparkle at New Year, when can you? These ideas from mixing metallic accessories to adding twinkling candlelight or an elegant bar cart, will bring a glamorous touch to your New Year table decor ideas.

4. Mix Metallics For an Opulent Look

Gone are the days of sticking to a single metallic tone. Embrace mixing it up for your New Year table decor ideas for an elegant and contemporary twist.

'For a modern take on NYE glam, I love embracing the art of mixing silver and gold,' says entertaining expert and founder of eponymous lifestyle store, Kim Seybert.'Think gilded placemats paired with crystal accents and shimmering details, to create a table that feels rich and effortlessly chic.'

Keep the rest of the table neutral – think crisp white linens and delicate dinnerware to allow the metallics to really sing. 'The contrast of silver and gold brings sophistication to the table and reflects candlelight beautifully, adding instant drama to the table,' adds Kim.

5. Add Glamor With a Bar Cart

Having a console or side table in the dining room is handy for easing the pressure off the dining table as it can be used as a serving station for food or for storing bulky items like large ice buckets for wine and Champagne. Alternatively, if you're wondering how to host a cocktail party, a bar cart is the perfect addition. As well as bringing an elegant and Mad Men-esque vibe, bar carts are usually on castors, so they can be moved to wherever you need them, whether that's near the table for easy top-ups or another area that you'd like to direct your guests to before or after the meal.

'A thoughtfully stocked bar cart, complete with spirits, mixers, glassware, and garnishes can be prepared in advance, allowing you to focus on food, conversation, and enjoying your own party,' says Natalie Migliarini Netflix's Drink Masters mixologist and author of Beautiful Booze: Stylish Cocktails to Make at Home. 'Imagine a fun digestif cart being rolled out after the meal is done, complete with liquers to be sipped while keeping the conversation going.'

To create a New Year-inspired bar cart, decorate your cart with a metallic garland and an elegant tablecloth or platter for an opulent feel that ties in with the rest of your decor.

6. Create Atmosphere With Layered Candlelight

If there's one thing no New Year's table should be without it's candles, according to the experts. Nabela Noor, designer and founder of Nabela Noor Home, says 'candlelight is non-negotiable for New Year’s hosting. I use varying heights of taper candles and silver or brass candleholders (like these trumpet candle holders from Pottery Barn) to create a sense of movement. Dim the lights, let the candles do the work, and your tablescape will illuminate the evening.'

Vary the heights and styles of your candles - try some twisted tapers combined with classic pillar candles (these signature wax pillar candles from West Elm come in a range of sizes) and tealights in votives for a beautifully layered and magical effect. You could stick to a white or cream color scheme with clear glass holders – why not re-purpose unused cut glassware or pretty jars – or bring in colorful candles for a bolder look.

Embrace Maximalism

From brave color palettes to edible decor, parties are no place for minimalism. These expert ideas – from weaving in jewel tones to incorporating edible decor – will encourage you to let your creativity flow and be as bold as you dare.

7. Create a Bold Base

'New Year’s Eve is the occasion to go all out; the evening is all about looking to the future with positivity, so it's the perfect opportunity to add plenty of color and drama.' says Sam Hood, co-founder and chief creative officer at Amara. 'Use bright flowers interspersed with candlesticks at different heights, and why not add different colored candles (like these Meri Meri Multi Block Color Table Candles) too for that extra layer of flamboyant glamor?'

And you can throw out the rulebook when it comes to matching – mix pattern, color and texture for a vibrant look that feels fun and exciting.

'I love a table full of mismatched whimsy, says Joanna Buchanan, designer and founder of eponymous lifestyle store. 'Go bold and have some fun – there's a lot to celebrate.'

8. Make it Jewel-toned

Jewel-toned maximalism embraces beautifully rich hues with a hint of glam and sparkle. 'Dress your table like it’s the main event. This NYE I am all about introducing color to my table with opulent jewel tones and maximalist layers. Rich hues like ruby, emerald, and sapphire, to add warmth and personality while still feeling refined and luxurious, says Kim Seybert.

Look to bold tablecloths and napkins in complementary tones and patterns, then layer it up with luxe dinnerware and elegant gold flatware. 'I like to balance these dramatic colors with intricate beaded placemats, sculptural details, and light-catching elements that elevate the entire setting,' Kim adds.

9. Use Ingredients as Unexpected Decor

For an unconventional yet undeniably maximalist idea, pile up heaps of seasonal fruit, or even vegetables, and rustic breads along the center of your table to add theater and intrigue.

Nabela Noor says 'I love incorporating seasonal fruit as decor that transitions into dessert. Pears, grapes, and pomegranates instantly add romance and richness to a table. After dinner, I turn them into a functional dessert moment with melting chocolate or cheese so guests can dip and enjoy. It’s beautiful, budget-friendly, and reduces waste.'

Luxury event planner, Billy Folchetti, agrees: 'Food is not just for eating, it can also be used as decor. Use ingredients from your recipes to make your holiday table look lush and delicious. Think about seasonings, fruits, veggies, cheeses, grapes, displayed in a way that guests won't know whether they're the centerpiece or the main course.'

If you're serving seafood recipes Billy suggests slicing up some lemons and scattering them with herbs to create a 'visually stunning but also functional serving area.'

Now that your New Year table decor ideas are sorted, you may want to look ahead to what's going to be big in tablescaping for the year ahead. Our expert guide to the tableware trends for 2026 is packed with ideas and inspiration to put you in the know.

When it comes to dinnerware, I'm usually inclined to play it safe with versatile pieces that I can use every day. But, that's not to say I don't come across an eye-catching piece from time to time that inspires me to be a little more out there, and to mix it up with my existing decor and the odd conversation starter in the form of some maximalist dinnerware.

I was recently inspired by events planner Rebecca Gardner, talked about throwing a wild and whimsical party for our Entertaining, Styled feature this month. She has a refreshing 'anything goes' ethos when it comes to choosing table decor, and a knack for using the most unexpected colors – 'chartreuse is a twisted color... but you can mix it with pretty much anything you have and make it fresh,' she says.

I've leaned into Rebecca's maximalist aesthetic with this bold selection of dinnerware, which features clashing colors, unique prints, luxe touches, and even unusual silhouettes, to bring a riotous and fun feel to the table, whether you're hosting a wild party or a dinner for two.

The Cut is all about Homes & Gardens helping you invest in pieces that feel current now, but won’t date as trends shift. Finds that elevate a room today and still feel right years from now. Whether it’s a sculptural accent chair or a chic pendant light, our editors will curate an edit that balances style, longevity, and quality. Consider this your shortcut to smart, beautiful shopping.

If you're home for the holidays, you're likely entertaining friends, family, and possibly neighbors and new acquaintances. Whichever it is, consulting our Christmas hosting guide is an invaluable resource to ensure success.

Creating a convivial space is an art form – and knowing how to make a good first impression, will leave your guests with lasting memories – whether they are joining you for a cocktail party, coming for Christmas day lunch, or staying for several nights.

From welcoming visitors into the home, to bidding them a fond farewell, interior designers and etiquette experts recommend how to host over the holidays with grace and aplomb.

1. Set the Right Tone From the Outset

You don't get a second chance to make a good first impression – so the saying goes. A warm welcome and lasting memories start before you even open the front door. So ensure the outside is tidy, pathways are clear (and well-lit if it's dark) and exterior decorations are still looking festive. Etiquette expert, Myka Meier likes to take this a few steps further.

'I have something I call my Five Senses Hosting tip, which is when guests first arrive you want to hit all five senses,' says Myka Meier, founder, Beaumont Etiquette. 'So they have a warm greeting, smell something delightful, hear music, see the seasonal decor – from the wreath on the front door to the decor in the hallway – and they are offered something delicious, as this sets the tone – these little courtesies make a home feel instantly inviting.'

2. Lean into Nature With a Welcoming Entrance

'I love creating an entrance that instantly puts people at ease – firstly soft lighting and a tidy, clear space to take coats or umbrellas,' says Myka. '

'If your home requires shoes to be removed, provide booties or brand-new socks as an elegant alternative,' adds Jackie Vernon Thompson, etiquette expert and founder, From The Inside-Out School of Etiquette. 'And most importantly, communicate this requirement before the event to avoid any awkwardness at the door.

'One of the most essential elements in creating a truly welcoming holiday environment is establishing an atmosphere that feels warm, relaxed, and inviting – an ambiance that encourages your guests to maneuver freely and comfortably within the designated gathering space.'

Interior designer, Nina Lichtenstein, founder, Nina's Home Design agrees. 'A true welcome begins in the body, not the foyer. I use biophilic cues such as natural materials, curved lines, and soft flickering light to calm the nervous system the moment guests enter,' she explains.

'It's less about decoration and more about creating physiological ease. The gentle flicker of candlelight mirrors the fractal patterns found in nature and can subconsciously reduce stress. That's the kind of first impression that lasts long after dinner is over.'

3. Scent Sensitively

Many of us like to scent our homes with the best home fragrances, especially at Christmas or when hosting. Wafts of orange, cinnamon, and clove can feel festive. Yet powerful perfumes can cause discomfort. So be mindful not to go overboard. A few scented natural wax candles, or a diffuser with a subtle aroma in the hallway or as part of a display in the sitting room should suffice.

'Enhancing the ambiance with a mild, pleasant fragrance can elevate the experience,' says Jackie. 'However, be mindful of sensitivities and allergies. The fragrance should never be overpowering – your intention is to delight your guests, never to overwhelm them or cause discomfort.'

This scented candle from Urban Outfitters comes with a lid, so it's easy to extinguish when your room is sufficiently fragranced.

4. Create a 'Moment of Wonder'

However you celebrate the holidays, decorating the home is part of the fun, and a festive setting is something your guests will appreciate. Whether you opt for Christmas tree ideas with baubles and lights, garlands and wreaths, or something less traditional, Nina recommends creating an eye-catching focal point or 'a moment of wonder'.

'Every guest should have one visual element that makes them pause,' says Nina. 'It might be an oversized botanical arrangement gathered from your garden, a sculptural mirror that catches the glow of the tree, or a meaningful piece of art framed in soft light. That touch of surprise activates curiosity and delight, which neuroscientists connect directly to positive emotion and memory.'

'I love setting the tone right at the entryway – it’s the first moment guests experience, so it should feel intentional and inviting,' says interior designer, Mary Paton, founder, Mary Paton Design. 'During the holidays, I put a beautifully styled Christmas tree in the foyer. It’s an immediate signal that the home is festive, warm, and ready to celebrate.' Take a look at our piece on tabletop Christmas trees if you're short on space.

5. Prepare the Guest Facilities

It goes without saying that your powder room should be spotlessly clean, adequately stocked and prepared for visitors. Etiquette experts recommend some extra touches too.

'Upon their arrival, discreetly inform your guests of the restroom location. This small courtesy saves them from having to ask in front of others, preserving their comfort and dignity,' advises Jackie.

'A combination of fresh hand towels (like these West Elm Hand Towels) and easily accessible paper options, along with extra toilet paper placed in plain sight, helps guests feel comfortable without having to search or ask,' says etiquette instructor, Sydney Dunn. 'A light, neutralizing spray (like this Fresh Wave odor removing spray from Amazon) and a package of wet wipes are often appreciated too.'

Full hand soap and hand lotion dispensers are non-negotiable when you have a house full. This Hinoki hand care set from Bloomingdales is elegant and gently scented.

6. Add Sociable Seating Spaces

It's no accident that people congregate in the kitchen at parties. It's usually where the host is and often the food, too. If you want to encourage this, ensure there are barstools for guests to perch on, and places they can rest their glasses and plates. Alternatively, create a comfortable space where you would like people to gather.

'Begin by imagining where people will naturally gather,' says Sydney. 'Create cozy, conversational spaces with warm lighting and seating that encourages easy interaction. Avoid placing a single chair by itself; instead, arrange seats in soft curves or clusters that foster natural conversation.'

'Keep surfaces clear nearby for drinks so guests aren’t left juggling plates or cups. Soft background music can gently fill quieter moments, and a cleared kitchen counter helps guests feel welcome rather than in the way.'

'Offer light refreshments, even if a meal will follow,' adds Jackie. 'Canapes will ensure guests feel cared for and never hungry while they wait.'

This Costa Nova Oval Pearl serving platter from Anthroplogie is elegantly understated and great for serving nibbles before the main event.

7. Offer Considered Gestures at Mealtimes

What you choose to serve and your Christmas table decor ideas will depend on many factors. From the number of people you're hosting and individual preferences to the time of day you're dining. With overnight guests, you will be entertaining them at multiple mealtimes. However, there are some simple gestures that will put your guests at ease and create a convivial setting.

'For overnight guests, a simple, cheerful breakfast table with fresh fruit and pastries, is ideal. I set things family-style so guests can help themselves without formality.'

'Evening meals automatically call for a little more ambiance. Candlelight, cloth napkins, and a centerpiece that doesn’t block conversation add a sense of occasion without being stiff. I keep serving pieces easy to reach so the meal flows naturally.'

Nina believes luxury is not about perfection; it is about emotional generosity. 'I like to set out soft slippers in winter, place a cozy shawl on the back of each chair, and ensure that lighting falls on faces rather than ceilings,' she says. 'These small gestures communicate care at a cellular level. When people feel seen, safe, and comfortable, your home becomes more than beautiful. It becomes restorative.'

8. Go the Extra Mile With the Guest Bathroom

A sparklingly clean bathroom – whether specifically for guests or shared – with fresh towels is a no-brainer. However, anticipating overnight guests' needs can help their stay go smoothly.

'A well-prepared bathroom is another subtle but meaningful way to show care for your guests’ most personal needs,' says Sydney. 'When space allows, a small basket (like these seagrass storage baskets from Pottery Barn) filled with thoughtful toiletries adds an extra layer of hospitality.'

'If you don’t have a dedicated guest bathroom, simply clearing personal items from the counter can create a cleaner, more welcoming space. Adding a small night light (like these plug-in LED night lights from Walmart) also helps guests navigate a dark, unfamiliar bathroom with ease.'

Guests might also appreciate this small wooden table mirror from H&M Home when applying or removing make-up.

9. Level Up the Guest Bedroom

The best bed sheets, a beautifully made bed, and space to hang clothes is basic hospitality. However, seasoned hosts like to add extra thoughtful touches. This not only levels up the experience and makes it more pleasant for your guests, it makes life easier for you too. So it's a win-win.

'With the guest bedroom, think boutique hotel, but personal,' advises Myka. 'I always include a small carafe of water and a glass (like this clear glass carafe at Crate & Barrel). so guests don’t have to wander around at night to get a drink.'

'A note with the guest Wi-Fi code is usually appreciated too – I find guests love feeling independent, and it saves them from feeling like they're “bothering” you. I also like to put flowers or greenery, such as sprigs of lavender, from my garden in their room by their bedside."

Etiquette expert, Nick Leighton, co-host of the podcast Were You Raised By Wolves agrees and adds: 'Add a small basket full of things like earplugs, sleep masks, travel-size toothpaste, and bonus points if you offer cords and chargers too.'

'In addition, clear off surfaces, make room in the closet, and empty a few dresser drawers for your guests.'

A portable light like this LED table lamp from Anthroplogie enables your guests to move it to where it's most convenient for them. Just make sure it's fully charged before they arrive.

Shop the Essentials for Making a Great First Impression

Perfecting a good first impression is less about you and more about putting the focus on your guests and how they might feel in your home. Finally when it's time to wrap things up, Jackie suggests 'As the gathering comes to a close, be intentional in expressing your gratitude. Let your guests know how much you truly enjoyed having them before you start to reclaim your home after the holidays.

Whether you're planning a lavish soirée or an intimate gathering, every successful event is more than the sum of its parts. In my view, however, you simply can't host a cocktail party without punch – and if you're worried that it feels a little kitsch, allow me to introduce you to Instagram's viral punch bowl ice wreaths.

I've been eagerly trying out recipes like these to help me nail holiday hosting this year, and I have to say that elevated ice cubes really are the key to show-stopping drinks. Just like my favorite Christmas morning mimosa hack, which involves freezing orange slices in gorgeous rose petal shapes, the punch bowl trick produces a spectacular wreath-shaped ice 'cube' that you can add directly to your punch. The secret is in something you might already have in your baking stash – a bundt tin. I love using a particularly elaborate option like the Nordic Ware kaleidoscope bundt pan, and placing the ice wreath straight into my Hatch punch bowl from Crate & Barrel.

The beauty of this hack is that it's totally customizable – and since it only requires a bundt pan, you can easily try it out, even if your home bar setup isn't stocked with luxe cocktail essentials.

I love that you can use a variety of bundt pans to create different wreath shapes (though you can also pick up specially-designed ice trays like Williams Sonoma's snowflake punch bowl molds), and you can add a range of finishing touches, too. Just make sure your bundt pan isn't filled to the brim with water, and top off with decorative additions. I'd use thinly sliced oranges alongside rosemary sprigs and a handful of cranberries or pomegranate arils, to create a colorful, festive look.

The wreath is best left to freeze overnight. Once it sets, you can display it in your favorite bowl before pouring in your punch (or batch-mixed cocktail) of choice. A cut glass bowl will complete the look; lately, I'm loving vintage-inspired options like Pottery Barn's antique cut punch bowl and the Juliska Graham footed bowl (Bloomingdale's). Any large bowl will work, however – you can even go for a statement look with pieces like Anthropologie's etched glass serve bowl.

No matter which pan and bowl you choose, the ice wreath hack guarantees a show-stopping addition to your holiday drinks. I'd even give it a spot on my Christmas day menu, with a batch-prepped sloe gin and pomegranate cocktail.

Shop Everything You Need to Make an Ice Wreath Punch Bowl

Want to perfect your parties this holiday season? Check out our ultimate Christmas hosting guide for more tips and tricks.

The primary intention of Feng Shui is to activate a flow of uplifting, supportive, positive energy into the home all year-round. A home blessed with good Feng Shui gains a head start on the fresh energy of the New Year, and festive guests will notice the feel-good sensation the moment they walk through your door.

When it comes to entertaining, the hosting secret my VIP clients practise is to establish an intentional anchor point, situated in alignment with the main entrance to the room. This tempts guests and positive energy into the space and into every part of the room.

Want to replicate their success? Here's how to avoid common living room feng shui mistakes and create a sociable living space perfect for holiday hosting.

Why Your Hosting Space Needs Anchor Points

An anchor point, put simply, is the commanding position in a room. It is a focal point that grounds energy and draws guests in.

Chi lifeforce energy routinely circulates within a room, but there can be ‘stagnant areas’, often found in corners or overly cluttered spaces. Here, guests clump awkwardly, and hosts fear to tread. To be candid, the energy is as flat as a pancake, making deluttering methods a must before hosting.

Anchor points are a useful entertaining tip for any time of year, and at Christmas, we’re blessed with an obvious decorative choice, the Christmas tree. The combination of light, height, and beauty is an enticement to all. During other seasons, a tall, elegant lamp, a vibrant feng shui plant on a pedestal, or a piece of enticing art will have the same effect.

In homes with large, open-plan areas, a classic layout encompasses the natural circulation of people and energy. You’re almost spoilt for choice when it comes to hospitality options. Situate your anchor point in the furthest third of the great room so people gravitate towards it.

Traditional homes and those with more bijou entertaining spaces work just as well by focusing the guest experience on the sitting room. Aim for the far end of the room, maintaining a clear view of the door.

While you’re planning your event, use the guest scanning method to look at the space with fresh eyes and identify anything blocking the flow of people within the room and your anchor point. If there’s a single entrance, is it possible to do a circuit of the room, or does furniture placed against a wall mean there’s only one viable route?

In more intimate spaces, look for ways to create volume. This might mean rearranging furniture before hosting a crowd, repositioning a sofa, relocating very large coffee tables, or generally repurposing the room specifically for your event.

How to Try It Yourself

By activating your living room's secret anchor point, you draw your guests effortlessly into a warm, relaxed, and beautifully seasonal space. Spending time with family, friends, and neighbors should never be a chore.

To really tap into this method, I suggest the following:

• Welcome Chi, and guests will follow: As with good entryway feng shui, remove items that block the door from opening to its fullest extent. This is a simple rule and very effective. Declutter anything that doesn’t belong, and the room will instantly feel lighter.
• Furniture and flow: Take the focal point away from the TV, follow good feng shui furniture placement, and position seating for interaction. Where possible, allow circulation space behind furniture to encourage socializing. It’s much easier to engage with shy guests when they don’t feel trapped in one spot. If you anticipate saying a few words, have a popular raconteur on the guest list, or need visibility for charades, use your anchor point for the purpose.
• Let there be light: Harsh lighting is a no-no. Instead, add twinkling light in warm tones, and if space allows, make use of lamps pooling their illumination at a variety of heights to uplift energy and add depth.
• Beat bottlenecks: Locate drinks and nibbles in opposite parts of the room to prevent the ‘queuing for the buffet vibe’ and keep people moving. It’s a great way to keep energy fizzing.
• Tap into the Feng Shui: If you have already activated the specific feng shui remedy the room needs, there’s no need to add more. However, for those new to the practice, balance is everything. Add in aspects of the five elements for the evening. You likely already have them in the home. Wood is represented by living plants; Earth by crystals or ceramics; Metal by metallic objects and finishes; Fire by reds, and hot colours; finally, Water in a vase will do the job for one night only. One thing to remember, if something doesn’t feel comfortable, go with your gut instinct and remove it. When the feng shui is right, it takes the room to a new level.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Don’t position a chair too close to your anchor point: Legs are both a distraction and a trip hazard when you’re holding the room.
• Secure decorations and garlands: This will stop a passing elbow from bringing the whole show crashing down. Sharp holly is best displayed above head height to avoid scratches and peril to party outfits. These reusable zip ties from Walmart are ideal for this purpose.
• Protect candles: The warm glow of candles is deliciously opulent. Protect from mishap by putting them out of range of flammable apparel and extravagant gesticulations. If in doubt, use artificial candles, such as these LED pillar candles from Amazon.
• Set boundaries: A great party can overflow into every available space. If rooms need to remain out of bounds for privacy, close doors and place a console or chair in front of the door to deter prying eyes.
• Create a stain station: Spills are inevitable in a crowded space. Have a cleanup kit easily to hand and resolve the mess quietly, reassuring your embarrassed guest that everything is fine. Tide To Go Pens, from Walmart, are ideal for this. If you’re anxiously monitoring every glass of red poured by that tipsy uncle, it’s probably best to offer only white and rosé wine options.

What to Shop

Stressed hosts and miscommunication can be a real damper on an evening. Share the load by splitting decorating duties with family, and split chores with a partner to ensure you all enjoy this special time of year. After all, it’s your night in the spotlight, and you deserve to shine.

The grazing table may be ubiquitous at weddings and formal events, but the trend isn't going away anytime soon. The opposite, in fact: grazing tables are becoming a favorite way for hosts to create a visually arresting and stunning display of savory and sweet treats. And, if you're wondering how to host Christmas celebrations without turning on the oven, this is your answer, especially as it's a way of naturally encouraging mingling and conversation – exactly what the holidays are about.

No matter your Christmas decor ideas, you can design a no-cook grazing table to suit your style, space, and your guests’ needs. Check out these expert tips, tricks, and ideas to create the perfect grazing table to add seasonal scents, color, and flavors to your home.

Add Drama with Color and Depth

While reds, greens, golds, whites, blues, and silvers all lend themselves easily to Christmas grazing tables, don’t forget about neutrals.

‘Working with a color palette or specific mood is easier than people think. You don't need every single item on the table to be in your chosen colors,’ New York-based chef and creative culinary producer, Amy Karp, explains. ‘Neutrals do most of the heavy lifting, and you're just weaving your actual palette throughout to create the feeling you want.’ Amy also uses dark and moody tones (purples, browns, blacks) to ‘make the table feel expensive and considered.’

For Amy, ‘a grazing table is not just food laid out on a surface. It is an invitation to gather, to linger, and to feel taken care of. That feeling is the whole point.’

Fabric can also help achieve a sumptuous aesthetic that lends your finished table the quality of gazing at a ‘still life painting.’ Amy layers tablecloths (try Williams Sonoma’s Italian washed linen tablecloth, which is perfect for year-round hosting) to add dimension and interest: after placing one tablecloth down, she adds risers for height (stacks of books, cardboard boxes, flipped pots and pans), then drapes a second tablecloth over it all.

Prioritize Variety Over Volume

Your grazing table styling should reflect your guest list, according to Lindsey Coffelt, owner of Michigan-based Graze Craze Okemos, who says: ‘A larger crowd doesn’t necessarily mean piling on more items: think variety over volume.’

Instead, use serveware to organize your table, whether you’re serving two people or 20+. ‘Begin by placing a few small ramekins or bowls on the board to act as anchors for dips, nuts, olives, or other wet ingredients. These help to create sections and make the layout feel more organized and intentional from the start.’

Embracing a more geometric or stylized look for your grazing table can create a striking impression, even when you don’t have a lot of food to serve.

DeJa Robinson, of Colorado’s The Board Gatherings, follows the ‘rule of three. I like to place decor in a bit of a triangular or zigzag pattern to balance out the table.’

Curate your Cheeses

Made By Merry NY’s Merry Masson, who specializes in luxury grazing and charcuterie tables, calls cheese ‘the star of the grazing table show.’ (West Elm’s Cove cheese knives, sold in a set of three, add a contemporary finish to any grazing table layout.)

Nail the basics with a soft, semi-soft, and hard cheese, like a brie, Cheddar, and a Manchego. Masson likes budget-friendly Président Brie: it looks pretty, pairs well with white and red, and doesn’t smell or brown).

Finish off your cheese curation with a spreadable cheese like Boursin (which you can place in a festive mold like these festive tree molds from Amazon for shaping), a goat’s cheese, an Alpine cheese like gruyère, and a blue cheese like Stilton or gorgonzola, which ‘brings more complexity’ to your spread.

And remember, cheese isn’t just for eating: ‘Think about a brie wheel, chunking your Cheddar, or a create a Christmassy flavored goat cheese log by rolling it in cranberries, almonds, and rosemary, then placing in the freezer,’ suggests Merry. Holiday cookie cutters like these from Williams Sonoma, create festive shapes easily, too.

Choose Seasonal Hero Ingredients

In addition to grazing table essentials like meats, cheeses, breads, dips, crisps, nuts, crackers, and veggies, include a ‘hero’ ingredient to reflect the season (think pomegranate seeds, oranges, or cranberries). This is a minimum-effort way to add pops of vibrant color festive flair to a spread.

For Amy, grapes are the ‘number one’ ingredient because they are ‘inexpensive, beautiful in any color, available year round, and they pile in this gorgeous way that creates a natural dimension across the table.’

She adds, ‘olives are the other thing I always include, and here's my controversial take: canned black olives are completely fine. They taste the same as expensive ones, and once you put them in a beautiful dish, no one can tell the difference.’

Amy also likes to include a ‘really good salted French butter with a knife tucked into it.’

Display Food in Eye-Catching Ways

Want to level up your grazing table? Suspending food will add instant ‘wow’ factor.

‘We love reimagining the buffet vertically, suspending food to introduce height, playfulness, and a touch of poetry,' explains Marjorie Artieres, partner and creative director at Pinch Food Design. 'It adds a dynamic, interactive element to the table and disrupts the traditional buffet in a delightful way’. Try it at home by running a line above your table and hanging snacks, like free-form lavash crackers or root vegetable chips. Ziediop’s meat hooks at Walmart will do the trick.

‘Imagine jewelry-like bites plated individually, instantly creating order, rhythm, and a dose of quiet drama. This approach is especially effective for filling a large table when your guest count or food quantity wouldn’t naturally create a sense of abundance,’ says Marjorie.

Amy Karp also likes to make no-bake Croquembouche-style towers, using a foam cone and toothpicks. ‘Start stacking whatever you want: grapes, figs, cornichons, olives, even donuts. It gives you instant height and makes everything feel festive immediately,’ she says.

Factor in Festive Touches

‘Fresh rosemary, eucalyptus, and cedar sprigs instantly make the table feel wintry without overpowering the food,’ says Claudia Khoury, of Tavola Charcuterie. She likes to add unexpected seasonal touches, such as cinnamon sticks tucked between cheeses, honeycomb for shine, sugared rosemary or cranberries for sparkle, and clusters of chocolate-covered almonds or peppermint bark for contrast.

‘These touches give the board more texture and make it feel festive without turning it into a dessert table,’ she explains.

Claudia mixes themed boards with neutral platters and natural foliage to avoid overwhelming the table with novelty items. To create your own Christmas tree design at home, use a few triangular platters (like these mango wood platters from Target), or band ingredients together in horizontal rows, narrowing as you move upwards.

Or make a wreath: ‘Start with your greens (rosemary, eucalyptus, or lettuce leaves) to form the outline, then build in layers of cheese, charcuterie, and fruit. Keep your circular shape intact by placing components in repeating clusters,’ says Claudia. Terrain’s wreath serving board is a stylish cheat.)

Festive Buys to Bring Your No-Cook Grazing Table to Life

By encouraging hosts to embrace seasonal ingredients and unexpected styling ideas, these expert-approved grazing table tips can be used year-round. For more ideas on how to nurture connection with your loved ones this festive season, don’t miss our editorial director’s rules for relaxed hosting, wherever you're spending Christmas.

With the holiday nearly upon us, we're all thinking of ways to elevate our hosting game this year. From planning your Christmas day menu to your Christmas table decor ideas, the countdown is on. If your home will take center stage for hosting a large group of family and friends, or you're opting for a more intimate gathering this year, ensure that you're organized for the days ahead with this expert advice. Here's how to have a very merry (and well-planned) Christmas.

Create an Inviting Atmosphere

Creating a sense of warmth and ambiance for the festivities with ensure everyone feels, calm, merry and ready to enjoy the holiday as well as creating a welcoming home-from-home for your guests. 'Holiday hosting should feel as warm and memorable as the gathering itself,' says interior designer Erica McLain, founder of McLain by Design Interiors. 'I like to think of my space as an experience that starts from the moment guests walk in the door.'

1. Make Your Entrance Feel Welcoming

Don't forget to think about your front door when hosting guests this festive season. Since it's the first interaction guests will have upon entering your home, adorning it with a festive Christmas wreath creates a welcoming entrance that says 'come on in.'

'Don't miss the opportunity to make an impression right from the start,' says Jenny Weiss, founder and director at Hill House Interiors. 'Greet your guests with a festive flourish – a beautiful wreath hung on the front door is the perfect way to set the tone for your styling.'

'Wreaths can be personalized to suit every taste, from a traditional mix of cinnamon and orange slices with lush foliage to an exuberant display of layered baubles and ribbons – anything is possible. The smell of pine and mistletoe is key to bring that scent of Christmas throughout, hence why we love to integrate foliage, right from the entry. Our top tip is to weave twinkling lights throughout the wreath; battery-operated lights are easy to use and add a magical touch.' Festive Doormats (like this fun Let's Get Spritzed doormat from Anthropologie) and slippers for guests to put on when they arrive will all add to the welcoming atmosphere.

2. Create a Cozy Feel With Lighting

When hosting guests during the holidays, lighting is key. Ambient lighting creates a relaxed and intimate feel. 'Lighting acts as an effortless, atmospheric backdrop to hosting and should be a core consideration in your festive season planning,' says Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville. 'Small changes can make maximum impact – look to change bulbs to warmer tones with lower Kelvins in order to nurture seasonal wellbeing.'

'Setting the mood rests entirely on the lighting you choose,' agrees interior designer Matthew Williamson. 'Forget about using one main lighting source in favor of illuminating a few lamps around a kitchen for a more interesting, flattering lighting scheme.'

'If there is ever a time to experiment with lighting, it’s the holidays,' says suggests Denver-based interior designer Nadia Watts. 'Simply adding a strand of white twinkle lights (like these Battery Operated Fairy String Lights from Walmart) can make your entire space feel more festive. Dim your overhead lights and focus on layered lighting. Add candles, luminaires, and strands of holiday lights in unexpected places.'

3. Add Candles for Ambiance

When hosting throughout the holiday season, candles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to create a cozy and welcoming feel for your guests. Whether that's with taper candles (like these Christmas taper candles from Target) on your dining table or pillar candles in the living room, candles are the finishing touch to ensure a welcoming home.

'Candlesticks are a stylish and budget-friendly way to enhance your holiday decor,' says Interior designer Darla Bankston May, founder of Houston-based Bankston May Associates. 'They bring a touch of elegance and warmth to your space, making them perfect for decorating table settings or mantels. With endless color options, you can select candlesticks that align with your style and decor, adding a festive flair to your home.'

4. Consider Fragrance

A smaller detail that won't fail to create a welcoming vibe is to use seasonal home fragrances. Whether using the best candles or reed diffusers, opting for seasonal scents of spices or pine will ensure your home feels festive from the moment guests walk through the door.

'Something subtle and natural like a cinnamon, cedarwood, or balsam fir can make the space feel even more inviting and cozy without overpowering the senses,' says Erica McLain. 'The goal is to create a space where people feel truly at home, surrounded by beauty that feels effortless and comforting.' Try the Pottery Barn Fireside Cinnamon Scent Collection, which includes candles, tealights, diffusers and potpourri.

5. Set up a Self-Service Bar

Don't forget the welcoming drink for when your guests first arrive – a festive cocktail or hot toddy is a lovely idea to invite them in from the cold with. But once everyone is settled in, it's nice to have a self-serve bar cart or even a mini fridge, which guests can help themselves to and it will save you the job of bartending, too. When it comes to cocktail hour, a kind guest might even pour you a drink to enjoy in the kitchen while you're food prepping.

You may also want to invest in some luxe cocktail essentials, from nick and nora glasses to tumblers, and cocktail shakers to bar tools. 'When the holidays roll around, I always like to make sure that my bar cart and drinks cabinet are fully stocked, not only with a variety of spirits, wines, and garnishes but also with a plethora of glassware,' explains interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'It's so nice to be able to use the proper glass for specific cocktails and wines, and it really does add to the overall festive mood of a gathering when guests can delight in how beautiful your coupe glasses or cut-glass tumblers are.'