Interior designer and lifestyle guru Elizabeth Mayhew is known for her epic party-throwing skills, whether it’s an intimate fete or a full-on blowout. “Entertaining is like theater,” she says, “it’s a play you’re putting on for your friends. As in a live performance, things don’t always go as planned, but no one remembers that—they only remember the good stuff.”
PROPER PREPARATION
Organize Your Grocery List by Aisle Before Shopping
All the dairy together, all the produce together, and so on. It will work wonders for your efficiency.
Take Out the Platters, Serving Pieces and Tableware in Advance
“It’s overwhelming to cook and set the table and get everything else ready all on the day of the party,” Mayhew says—so don’t.
Think Through All the Stages of the Party
Where will coats go? Do you have the supplies you’ll need for cleanup? And don’t forget the bathroom. “The three places in your home that people will almost certainly be in are the living room, the dining room and the bathroom,” Mayhew says. “Stock hand towels in the bathroom, and put the light at a nice level.”
SET THE SCENE
Pay Attention to Lighting
“It’s so important,” Mayhew says. “I’m surprised by how many people overlook it.” Adjust down any lights on dimmers, and don’t be shy with the candles. Mayhew illuminates metal-and-glass lanterns with big pillar candles and buys votives in bulk.
STAY FLEXIBLE
Tweak Your Space to Fit the Event
Mayhew never committed to a formal dining table—she loves how she can morph her dining room’s configuration to suit her needs. Instead, she relies on a stash of inexpensive folding tables that lend themselves to infinite configurations.
Invest in Some Ballroom Chairs
“They stack, so you can pull them out when you need extra chairs and then store them again easily,” Mayhew says. “They’re incredibly versatile.”
SERVE IT FORTH
Consider Doing a Buffet
“With so many different food preferences these days,” Mayhew explains, “people often like to put together their own plate.” Choose things that can be eaten on a plate on someone’s lap with just a fork, no knife required—chopped salad instead of a leafy one, for instance, or a chicken curry instead of whole breasts. Including a hearty vegetable dish ensures that vegetarians will be well fed, too.
Assign Seating for Sit-Down Dinner
“A friend of mine says, ‘Six seats itself—after that, forget it, you need to do place settings,’” Mayhew says. Save beautifully calligraphed place cards as treasured mementos of your events.
Predetermine Your Drop-Dead Timing
“Even if you’re still waiting for someone who’s running late to arrive, there comes a time when you have to serve the food,” Mayhew says. “Have it in your head what the absolute latest is that you’ll start serving.”
Embrace Room Temperature
It’s impossible to cook everything at once—and it’s also not necessary. “Many things are actually more delicious at room temperature,” Mayhew says. “I don’t stress about everything being piping hot.”
ECOURAGE MINGLING
Set up a Self-Serve Drinks Table
“I put it at the far end of the room, which gets people moving through the space,” Mayhew says.
Pay Attention to Furniture Placement
A misplaced sofa or chair can stymie the flow of a room. Throwing a party is one sure way to find out whether or not your current floor plan works.
