11 Tips For Stress-Free Party Hosting

Use your space to settle on a colour palette for your décor, even if it's a picture on the wall with a hint of yellow or a cushion on your sofa. Bring that to the table and it will bring the whole room together. Maximalism is in over minimalism at the moment. I think you can never have enough on your table – and the food you serve is all just part of the art. Invest in some beautiful serving platters, but remember you don’t need a full set – everything can be mixed and matched. That’s the whole point of hosting at home – everything doesn’t need to look perfect, it’s not a restaurant. That was the thinking behind Soir – it’s not a restaurant experience, so you won’t have to leave because the next booking has arrived or it’s closing time. We’ve hosted events where there’s been dancing on the tables – that’s what it’s all about.

Red wine stains on the table, dessert forks and empty cake plates all over… That's the sign of a great night. Perfect isn't what people are looking for now, they're looking for something with character. That's what we try and bring to the table before anyone's even sat down. You want people to think, ‘That's a bit cool’ and take pictures. The more relaxed a space is, the more your guests will relax. If your table’s beautifully done, everyone’s going to feel a little bit stiff. It can still be beautiful while having character – that’s when people will know they’re here to have fun.

Take advantage of the dark days. There’s nothing better than a table with lots of candlelight. Remember, if you're going to do a sit-down dinner party, make sure people can see through your flowers and candlesticks to guests on the other side. Bulb vases with fresh-cut stems are the answer as they’re low – and if you wrap ribbon or twine around them, you can hand them out at the end as party favours. It’s all about those personal touches – and it’s also a sustainable option, as they won’t go straight in the bin. Calligraphy is another simple way to make an impact. Even if you do it yourself, it will look good – you might see your own handwriting as bad, but others will see it as characterful. That said, there are lots of places in London where they’ll do it for £1 per card, which I think is money well spent considering the time and skill that goes into them.

Glasses are so important – some funky glassware can make all the difference to entertaining at home. I suggest mixing and matching newer glasses with antique glassware. I swear by the app Narchie and could just go through it forever looking at all the different antique glasses – right down to dessert wine glasses, which would be perfect for a small tot of mulled wine to kick things off. I also like using fun cocktail sticks. Sandra Alexandra has beautiful glass ones with vegetables and fruit on the end. Otherwise, just pop a cranberry on the end of a cocktail stick or some orange peel on the rim of a glass – anything to add a point of interest. Another fun idea for a girly night is to tie different coloured ribbons on the bottom of each glass to show whose is whose.

A flower frog is a heavy metal contraption with pin spikes on that goes in the bottom of a vase or glass, which you place stems onto. It’s an ideal way to make the most of flowers that might be on their way out, as it makes them artfully curve and fall. You can buy them on Amazon and they’re amazing – tulips on their way out look amazing as a centrepiece when you pop a long frog inside. Everyone thinks you have to be a professional florist when it comes to hosting – that’s just not true these days. Look at Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Masterclass, YouTube, Create Academy… It’s so easy to learn and try things – and if the finished result isn’t perfect, no one will mind.

I’m a sucker for lists – one for food, one for setting up. If you can, set the table the night before – you don’t want to be running around like a headless chicken just before guests arrive or, worse, when they’re there and everyone else is having a fun time. And with an elaborate tablescape, remember to leave space for all your serving plates and platters. That’s a joy of having a host service – I've never fully enjoyed one of my own parties before, I’d always be saying hi then running away into the kitchen.

Again, don’t buy things you don’t need. If you don’t have enough serving bowls or chairs, ask a guest if they wouldn’t mind bringing one with them. Same with wine glasses – if it’s just two of you living in a flat, of course you’re not going to have 12 wine glasses, so ask around to see if anyone has some spares they don’t mind being used. Otherwise, you’ll just end up buying loads and having nowhere to store them. People like to be useful – and much prefer that to asking if they can bring anything, then being told ‘just themselves’. That’s the joy of hosting friends and family.

If you're not a chef, that's fine – the simpler, the better sometimes. Just having some nicely decorated charcuterie boards can make such a difference, as can making your own pizzas (even if they’re just store-bought), or ordering some sushi on Deliveroo. People put such pressure on themselves and then they don't actually enjoy the evening. Your guests don't need a cheese soufflé – they'll have a great time just because everyone is there together around the table. For New Year’s Eve, we’re renting a house in Devon. I’m just going to do a massive roast, then go to bed!