When it comes to hosting, there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done, particularly when cooking is involved. This is why it's essential to have a few tricks up your sleeve so that your kitchen is ready for guests as well as practical for your hosting needs.
15-minute tricks are crucial for making this prep work manageable. No one needs decorating or tidying tricks that take an hour when you're on a time crunch, which is why I've asked the experts exactly how to zhuzh up your kitchen with minimal effort.
From scent scaping to small Christmas decor ideas that have a big impact, these are some easy updates to implement before the festive season begins.
1. Prep a bar cart
Bar carts are a handy decorative item that look good, but also save you a task when hosting. Prepping a bar cart with glassware and the tipple you want to serve will allow guests to help themselves, so that you are free to chat and enjoy the evening.
It only takes 15 minutes to set up, and styling a bar cart really is simple.
'You don’t need to have a bar trolley, although it’s a nice to have. A bar can be set up on a sideboard or kitchen island really effectively,' explains Rebecca Udall, founder of Rebecca Udall.
'Ensure everything is within reach to make the drinks – ice cubes, mixers, spirits and garnishes. I use our bar set so I have a small board and serrated knife just for fruit at my drinks station, or you can have a small bowl with sliced fruit ready. Ice buckets are a must. To make the set up aesthetically pleasing, I play with different heights, shapes and textures – for example, rattan, glass and ceramic, to display what is needed,' she adds.
Make sure you're prepped with all of the essentials.
These cocktail napkins add a fun decorative touch but will also protect your kitchen surfaces from glass rings.
2. Fetch some foliage
When you've got food and drink to think about, kitchen decorations might not be top of the list. This is why I always advise to keep seasonal decorations as simple as possible - a classic colour palette, vintage glassware brought out year upon year and fresh foliage that adds a sense of newness to the look.
The best part of foliage is that it brings your space to life in an instant. Head out to the garden for some twigs that can be adorned with baubles and lights in a large vase or create your very own table garland with fir tree branches. It only takes a few minutes and a vision in order to pull something festive together, but your guests will never know.
'Getting your kitchen guest-ready in the colder months doesn’t need to be a big job. A few cosy touches can completely transform the space. I love adding something seasonal, like a small bunch of autumnal foliage, a bowl of warm-toned citrus, or even a sprig of eucalyptus,' adds hosting expert, Lavinia Stewart-Brown.
3. Layer in scent
If you have an open plan kitchen that you're hosting in, there are a number of different challenges that you might face. One of the biggest one is cooking fumes that penetrate a space and are hard to get rid of, unintentionally scenting your evening with the smell of whatever has been cooking.
Layering scent is the best way to work around this. Scent will set the scene for whatever mood you want to create, whether it's warm and festive with notes of pine and cinnamon or fresh herbaceous scents that neutralise cooking fumes.
Combining candlesticks with glass jars, as well as diffusers, will create dimension and ensure the scent is smelt wherever you're sat.
It's a splurge, but Diptyque's limited edition 'Sapin' candle is the ultimate festive scent. The gold jar will look so decadent, too.
This is a festive candle staple. I invest in this year after year and it always gets compliments from guests.
M&S' range of apothecary candles feel so high end without the price tag. The 'Calm' scent is perfect for relaxing evenings.
Hosting is an art but it doesn't need to be difficult or take hours. These small tricks will have your kitchen looking and feeling like a curated space without too much effort.
