My friends and I recently started a book club. Each month, we gather at one of our apartments to eat, drink, and discuss the book we've all just read. It's become an exciting ritual for us as a group – not only does it get us more involved in reading the hottest novels of the year, but it's an excuse to get the group together. And next week, it's my turn to host.
Although I've hosted lots of dinner parties and evening get-togethers at my place, I've never hosted a book club meet-up. And as I've started to prepare, I've come to realize that for a book club meeting, this isn't just about opening up the hosting closet, getting the snacks, and organizing seating – it's about setting the scene for a night of enriching discussions and lively debate. And the right decor and thoughtful touches can get you there.
1. Add comfortable but structured seating
When hosting any type of get-together at home, the comfort of your guests is one of the most important factors to consider. This goes for book club hosting, too. Instead of letting guests mingle anywhere, as if it were a normal party, Alex encourages a structured seating arrangement. This way, everyone will have a seat at the table and an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions comfortably.
'We arrange the seating in a circular format to encourage open dialogue and foster a sense of inclusion,' Alex explains about her experience hosting book club. 'While cozy lounging has its charm, I prefer the structure and nostalgia of gathering around a table. It evokes the feeling of college seminar-style discussions, focused, thoughtful, and a bit elevated.'
Depending on the layout of your home or apartment and if space allows, consider organizing seating in a circular format, as Alex suggests. But regardless of how you organize the seating, it's always important that each guest feels physically comfortable – and cozy decorating ideas can help with that. Enhance your space with ample throw pillows, poufs, and blankets to keep guests feeling comfortable all night.
2. Create ambience with layered lighting
I think we can all agree that it's best to keep the big light turned off when hosting gatherings at your home. Although it's a strong light source, its output can be harsh and unflattering, and certainly not conducive to a comfortable book club environment. Instead of using the large overhead light, consider dimmed and layered lighting to create a warm and inviting ambience in your home.
'I tend to gravitate toward dimmed lighting in most settings,' Alex explains. 'It instantly softens the atmosphere and creates a sense of intimacy. A few well-placed candles or low, warm ambient lights can go a long way in setting the tone for meaningful conversation.'
You might also want to consider some small but strategically placed reading lights to help your guests find passages in their book to discuss, and that they can switch on as they need.
3. Set up a designated drinks and snacks table
One of my favorite parts of hosting people at my place is preparing all sorts of snacks and drinks for them to enjoy. Even when hosting a book club night, it's important to provide refreshments for your guests. According to Alex, 'light bites and wine are always welcome.'
But when hosting a book club, the snacks and drinks aren't the main attraction – the conversation and discussion is. 'I recommend setting up a designated snack table slightly off to the side so it doesn’t distract from the main conversation,' Alex advises. 'This allows guests to help themselves as they please, without interrupting the flow.'
Although not the highlight of the night, food and drinks are still important details to include when hosting book club at your home. Consider prepping your kitchen counter with plates (I'm loving these Brandon Maxwell Texas Toile Appetizer Plates from Pottery Barn), cups and bowls (this set of daphne glass serving bowls from CB2 are ideal) so your guests can set themselves up with a snack and a drink before beginning.
4. Set an agenda to help the evening flow
Of course, the main event of a book club night is the thought provoking conversation . If you feel pressure about being the 'leader' of the conversation as the book club host, or even about hosting book club in general, Alex offers some helpful tips.
'Having a loose agenda or set of talking points is helpful. While you want the conversation to feel organic, a bit of structure ensures everyone has a chance to contribute,' Alex explains. 'I also like to allow for some informal mingling before we sit down and begin. It's a nice way to ease into the evening and get everyone comfortable.'
Before your guests arrive, consider writing down some talking points in a notebook – I love Papier's trellis spiral notebook– you can refer to this throughout the evening if there's ever a lull in conversation. Plus, after guests have arrived and you've allowed time for mingling, you'll be prepared with a list of ideas and topics to discuss throughout the night.
Cozy book club hosting essentials
To keep guests comfortable while seated, make sure that everyone has a pillow. This one is made with a hand-knit acrylic and wool cover, as well as a feather pillow insert for a plush feeling. Aside from its comfortable material, the woven design of this pillow makes it a stylish accent detail.
Worried you might not have enough seating in your home or apartment for hosting book club? A pouf is the perfect solution, like this one. It can function as a foot rest, an ottoman, or an extra seat when need be. Plus, its camel-colored velvet upholstery makes it a chic choice for your home.
Made with a wool blend that mimics the softness of mohair, this blanket is an ideal choice to drape around your shoulders on a cozy book club night. It's a stylish choice, too – its ombre checker-print pattern in shades of blue and brown make for a unique home decor accessory.
Diptyque makes some of the best candles – candles that have the capacity to fill a room with the most elegant and inviting scent, but are subtle enough so they don't overwhelm a space. The brand's Baies candle is perfect for a book club gathering – it's a fruity, fresh, and soft scent that can create a comfortable ambience at home.
Portable lamps are always a good idea to keep in your home, for more reasons than one. Since they're easy to move around, they work as fantastic task lights. For creating a moody and intimate atmosphere for your book club night, consider placing a few of these lamps around your living room or dining table.
If you plan on seating guests in your dining room as you host book club at home, consider using a candelabra like this one to dress your dining table. Not only can it act as a stylish centerpiece, but it provides six staggered spots for taper candles that can help set the mood for the evening with their warm and flickering glow.
This tiered serving dish stand is a hosting must-have. Not only is it a chic and stylish pick because of its vintage-inspired brass finish, but it's practical, too, with three bowls that can hold anything from chips or nuts to candies.
While I'm sure you already have glassware at home, it's always nice to have a uniform set for hosting guests at your place. This set of six would be ideal for book club night – they are stylish and chic vessels for your guests' drink of choice.
Make your snack display look effortlessly stylish with this wooden tray. Its spacious design is perfect for holding all types of light bites. Plus, its raised rim makes it easy to move around and prevents any potential spillage.
This advice from expert host Alex Bass is certain to help you host a successful book club meeting at home – in comfort and with confidence.
As we approach the fall and winter hosting season, read up on all of our holiday hosting tips according to interior designers. From layering your tablescape to properly scenting your home, these ideas are your key to stylish and stress-free gatherings.
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