Tips for Thoughtful Entertaining at Home

After months of time apart, there is nothing more wonderful than gathering with your closest family and friends for an at-home get-together. I’ve always loved to entertain, as it feels like an extension of my design mind and a perfect fit for my innate need to bring people together. Simply put, entertaining gives me the opportunity to bring together what I love most — the people I’m close to, and the beautiful, comfortable experiences I love to create. Now more than ever, I value even the smallest gatherings. 

As we continue on through this mostly home-focused summer, I wanted to share some of my go-to entertaining tips and tricks so you can feel confident throwing that intimate summer soiree with your closest friends and family members. 

To keep up with our entertaining month here at AKD, don’t forget to check out our last blog post here on how to design a dining room that’s a perfect fit for gathering, and sign up to join our email list below to receive a whole newsletter dedicated to even more entertaining tips. 

Time to get started on my essential steps for entertaining at home:

Don’t skimp on the prep work. 

Entertaining is so much more enjoyable when you can eliminate some of the added stress and steps by preparing ahead of time. So much can be done the night before, like cleaning the home, ensuring your decor is placed appropriately, and preparing your tableware. I like to play around with my tablescapes and perfect the style the night before — there’s nothing worse than time-induced pressure when you are trying to decide on details such as candle placement and linen choice. This also leaves me with one less thing on my plate the day-of.

For the future, when we’re able to host larger cocktail parties again, I will lay out all the platters, serving utensils, plates, napkins and trays in their places the night before and label what goes where. Trust me when I say this will help you breathe a little easier on party day, when inevitably something gives you a minor set-back and time is of the essence. 

My family knows this quite well, but any food prep that can be done the night before will become an all-hands-on-deck project at the Kartheiser household. Food prep goes by a lot faster when you tap your sous-chefs.

Carry through seasonal touches. 

I always let the seasons inspire my plans for get-togethers. Winter gatherings are filled with nods to the holidays, springtime gatherings are guaranteed to have fresh blooms and floral candles, and what I love about summertime entertaining is that it is generally going to be a casual, outdoor affair. (However, if you need a rain plan, be sure to check out this post on designing rooms fit for entertaining.) 

I love to lean into this more casual approach, incorporating simple, fresh recipes like salads, fruit and veggie platters, grilled bratwurst cut into bites and served with different mustards for dipping, sliced watermelon and of course, pitchers of margaritas. Many of these can be made ahead of time. Having a seasonally inspired theme to your menu can also make menu planning a lot easier, and guests love the extra thought that went into this added experiential touch. 

Design preparation looks a little different for summertime outings, as I like to focus my attention a bit more on our outdoor spaces, hanging string lights, tidying the patio furniture, and, of course, ensuring bug spray is always within arm’s reach. 

Know your audience and prepare for them. 

One last tip for preparing ahead of time: always keep your guests top of mind. It’s easy to get lost in your personal entertaining routines, but thinking about your guests first will help ensure your soiree is a success, and might save you in the long run… 

For example, I love using cloth napkins and tablecloths when the occasion calls for it, as it adds a touch of sophistication and thoughtfulness. However, there are moments when paper might just make more sense for your guests. For example, when we have our semi-annual football tailgate party with old college friends, I go with paper — otherwise I have a feeling I would either never see my cloth napkins again, or they would not be salvageable. 

It’s also important to always be cognizant of any dietary restrictions. Keeping my guests as my priority, I want to ensure everyone has something to eat and drink and that they feel comfortable.

With one hour to go, break out the finishing touches. 

With one hour until guests walk through the door, I always ensure I am dressed and ready and now it’s time to focus on the last-minute details. After a quick run-through of my home, ensuring everything is where it belongs, candles are lit, and fresh flowers are out, I start to pull out any cold or room-temperature food first. That way, as guests arrive, I can take the time to welcome them, rather than having to focus on the food. As for hot foods, I will have them prepared and ready to pop into the oven, but I wait until a quarter of the guests have arrived. 

An hour ahead of time, I will also prepare the bar and usually like to organize it in stations: a champagne bar, mixed drinks bar, and a wine and beer set-up.

This is also the time I will start to prep that evening’s specialty batched cocktail, which is one of my go-to entertaining steps. These are mixed and poured ahead of time, then, as guests arrive, I can hand them out and welcome them as they enter the party. 

And, one last essential step: now is the time I turn on the music and set the ambiance. Time to kick off the party! 

Always be ready for the unexpected.

You can tell I love to plan — but sometimes gatherings can be a bit spontaneous, so I always want to be sure I’m prepared for a last-minute get-together. 

Music, candles and some clippings from the garden are the perfect first step in transforming your home into an entertaining haven. As for food, it’s key to always keep some staples around the home for this very reason. 

We keep nuts, olives, cheeses, meats and crackers in the pantry and fridge, so when an impromptu get-together commences, I have everything I need to whip up a gorgeous charcuterie platter at a moment’s notice. Chips, salsa and homemade guacamole are also favorites around here. 

Our freezer is always filled with a few frozen pizzas which can quickly turn into a tasty appetizer when cut up into little squares and served on a beautiful platter — no one will ever guess their origin. 

Another go-to is a take on microwave popcorn: sprinkle on parmesan cheese and rosemary while it is still warm and toss it up. Voila: gourmet popcorn in minutes with standard pantry staples. Serve it in small individual bowls so everyone can have their own.

And lastly, we always have a stocked bar with all the mixers for a delicious Manhattan (my husband’s favorite) including jumbo ice cubes in the freezer.

Thoughtful and elevated entertaining is still doable with a moment’s notice using household items: you just have to stock up strategically, think creatively and you’ll be hosting beautifully (and with less stress) in no time .