After the year that was, it’s a great feeling being able to come together and safely welcome those closest to us into our homes to entertain - whether it’s a backyard BBQ, dinner party or cocktail night, however many of us are a little out of practice.
So, we had a chat with renovation, style and home bodies Kyal and Kara about how they entertain at home and what tips they can share to help Aussies host the perfect get together with products from homewares, to wines, snacks, and outdoor furniture, all from Amazon Australia.
Hosting a luxe dinner party is the perfect way to show your nearest and dearest you appreciate them, but you have to plan properly; getting the right tools for the job, creating an atmosphere and theming correctly are all important to a successful evening.
Shop Kyal and Kara's curation of entertaining at home products here
Kyal and Kara's top tip for hosting a dinner party
Prepare, prepare, prepare
If you are having guests over it makes sense that you spend time with them, right? Before the night, try and prepare as many things as possible in advance or consider a menu that lets you prep and forget, so that you can maximise your time with those you’ve brought into your home.
Love the layers
When you’re setting a table, it’s all about layering. Think about the colours and textures you are using across all the layers – placemats, plates, utensils, napkins, name cards and decorations. A timeless trend is natural textures and colours or even pastel colours.
Products:
· Gold Utensils Set KiiZYs Modern Cutlery
· MARC OLIVER Pink Pure Linen Dinner Napkins
· 12pc Ecology Siena Stoneware Dinner Set
· Villeroy and Boch Metallic Brushstroke Placemats
· Wooden Utensils Set for Kitchen
· Stanley Rogers 50754 Wooden Serving Platter Rectangular Small
Glasses up
Make sure your glassware matches the drink. That’s big and bold glasses for a red and perhaps beautiful crystal flutes for sparkling wine or champagne. It’s also important to remember to include water glasses on the table for cleansing the palette and staying hydrated.
Products:
· Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Glass Pure Stemware Collection Burgundy Red Wine Glass
· Schott Zwiesel Vina Champagne Tulip, Pack of 6
· Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Glass Paris Barware Collection Highball Cocktail Glass
· 2019 Mr Mick Rose Wine from Clare Valley
· Jansz Tasmania Premium Cuvee Sparkling Wine 750ml
Mood, music and ambience
What’s a party without the tunes? Make sure you set aside some time to create the perfect dinner playlist to set the mood. Consider the theme and match the music. You could even have a playlist that changes genre or tempo as the courses change to shift the dynamics of your evening. Oh, and don’t forget about the candles and lighting! You need to make your guests feel as comfortable and on theme as possible.
Products:
· mbeat Aria Retro Turntable Player
· SENSORI+ Detoxifying Soy Candle Wiruna Night
Menu matters
The best thing you can do to prepare for a dinner party is to plan your menu and prep as much as you can beforehand, this includes your wine list! You can make things easier by ordering online, making it one less thing you have to worry about. Creating a menu for the table is also a great idea, it lets your guests prepare for what is to come, putting their minds at ease and not overfilling on the first dishes.
Products:
· GreenPan Padova Induction Safe Healthy Ceramic Nonstick 10pc Cookware Set
· Ecology Quartz Stoneware Serving Platter 32cm Multicolour
Watch the episodes on our Facebook, Instagram or YouTube to see how Kyal and Kara style their home for entertaining.