How to Throw a House Party: Why I’m Really Good at It

The evolution of how to throw a party (a house party specifically) successfully has been just that: a journey, an evolution. It wasn’t something I saw modeled for me in my family almost at all, so I had no idea how to do it when I decided it was something I wanted to try. Hosting people and helping them feel comfortable in my home seemed foreign, and it was, but I was determined to master it. Because I own two businesses that involve people and community, creating a space of comfort in my home was imperative for me to grow.

First, I selfishly like being at my house because I am more at home (pun intended). Second, inviting people into your home and them feeling like they belong is a divine experience for everyone involved. I’m going to share how I throw my house parties, and what elements I have found are key to a successful one.

Fried Okra - Easy and Yummy

Having good food is one of the key ingredients (pun intended but I’ll stop now) of how to throw a good party. And by having good food, it doesn’t mean that it has to be complicated food. Nor does it have to cost you a fortune to purchase or make. What I have found is that people like a variety of options. There are many people who get invited to my home that are vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and all kinds of other “arians” that I’m not sure I can name. My goal is to gently accommodate all and not alienate others. I choose a few simple dishes that I make well, because I do love to cook. And I make them for almost all the parties. Sometimes I combine this with food I purchase.

When my guests come, they know there will be simple and easy-to-eat dishes that will fit their dietary needs, and it makes them feel seen. It also doesn’t take away from the regular eaters in the crowd, because I always make sure to have food that simply tastes delicious. Need some tips?

Fried Chicken

The fried chicken I provide comes from my local grocery store. When I tell you that every single person that eats it comments how good it is, I am not kidding. While fried chicken is not on the menu at my house frequently, for parties it's an easy go-to. Another fried chicken hack is the nuggets from Chick-fil-a. They are good. People love them.

Dip

My go-to dip is one that I make: spinach and artichoke dip. People rave about this dip, and I am happy to oblige and make it. It feeds plenty of people, and it's easy enough to make. Totally bad for you, but oh so good for the taste buds. A cheese dip, French onion dip, or some other kind of dip will work as well.

Soup

Sometimes I like to serve soup because it's fairly easy to make or purchase, and who doesn't like soup? It's one of those things that someone can make a meal out of, and if you are looking for some good soup recipes, check out my blog on easy dinner ideas. I have several soup recipes you can easily make.

Cheese or Charcuterie Board

A cheese and/or charcuterie board is an elevated way to host a party. While I don't go for the meat part because I personally don't eat those meats, I encourage you to add it if you're a meat eater. People love a good cheese board, and some of those people will enjoy the meats.

Dessert

Keep the desserts simple. I'll make cookies (chocolate chip are my favorite) or a simple cake. Depending on which fruits are in season, I may also make a pie. There's an ice cream shop that I'll occasionally buy an ice cream pie (s'mores flavor - addictive) but I often just make my own. One other idea: Whole Foods has some really nice cakes and desserts. They would be a great place to keep in mind if you're in a pinch.

Ready to Serve

Depending on the size of the party, I have dinnerware that is appropriate for the event. A while ago, I invested in some reusable plastic plates that I can throw in the dishwasher afterwards. I’m a huge fan of reusable products. So this was aligned with me cutting back on disposable paper and plastic. Here are some wheat straw plates that are nice and colorful, and help people identify which plate was theirs. You know how people forget after a couple of drinks!

Another great idea of how to throw a house party successfully is having a second set of silverware ready to go in a caddy. There is nothing worse than eating from flimsy plastic forks or spoons, much less trying to cut with a pathetic excuse for a knife. Make it easy on yourself and your guests and get real (and inexpensive) silverware. I picked mine up at Sam’s Club and they’ve lasted me years. They sit in their caddy and I grab it and put it on the counter when people come over. Easy, easy.

Wine is Easy and Good

In the drinks department, I often love to overcomplicate things. When giving advice on how to throw a house party, I tell people to keep it simple. If only I followed my own advice! So many people are into so many types of drinks: alcohol-free, CBD, this type of beer, only red wine, only white wine. Complicated! After thinking about what guests really want out of a party, they want something to sip on and the enjoyment of other people. No need to have 16 different types of drinks. Providing infused lemon water in a drink dispenser, a few fizzy flavored waters, some beer of my choosing, red wine, and white wine is all my guests really need. And hey, if they want something different, I encourage them to bring it and put it on the drink table to share. It’s a communal party, after all.

Red Wine

Red wine is generally an easy pick. I particularly like to have a light type (like Pinot Noir) and maybe one with a little more oomph, like a Cabernet Sauvignon. You don't have to get too crazy, and Trader Joe's usually has some good options.

White Wine

Some people (not me) like white wine. If you are a host that doesn't want to chance red wine spilling on your furniture or on your guests, consider only having white wine. A couple of popular types are sauvignon blanc or chardonnay. I cannot weigh in to which ones, but your local liquor store will help you if you ask.

Bubbles

A surprising one for me was bubbles. Because I don't drink bubbles too much, I was shocked that so many people would bring me bottles as gifts. That must mean they like it. So, the bubbles have been added and I can say they are a popular choice. Some favorites are cava and prosecco. I'm not big on champagne. Too bubbly!

Beer

Once in a while I'll buy beer for an occasion, depending on what the occasion is. For a crawfish boil (I'm from New Orleans!), I will definitely buy a strawberry flavored beer. If it's my king cake party, it's a pass for me because other types of alcohol are preferred. Beer is a good compromise, and it's not a huge expense.

Water

Just a simple pitcher of water with a gallon behind it will do you just fine. Perhaps doing individual bottled water is easier - I've done both. I've also done lemon water in a dispenser, and people do like that. Canned fizzy flavored water has also been added to my list, and that is a huge hit for the non-alcoholic drinkers.

The Right Guest List Indeed

My humble option is going to be stated boldly here: your guest list is the most important thing in how to throw a house party. At least if you want it to be a hugely successful one. The most common thing that I hear from guests after a gathering is: they feel like they belong; the crowd is a good mix of age ranges; there is always someone interesting to talk to; the guests are always rotating or there are several new people to get to know. I always ask for feedback from a few people at random to know how they felt about it. Some text me the next day thanking me and saying they want to come back for another party.

My biggest hope is that everyone there knows they belong. If there is ever anyone who makes my life or the lives of others uncomfortable, they are off the list. No more invitations to my parties, because the people I have at my house are 10/10 humans. Otherwise, find another party to attend!

Grab and Go for Everyone

Don’t wait until the last minute to set things up and arrange things. Know where you want your guests to get food, drinks, dessert, and hang out. In my new house, I have a laundry room that connects the kitchen and the living room. So I decided to put a 6 foot table in there with the drinks to bridge the gap between the kitchen (where everyone naturally gathers, at least in New Orleans) to the living room, where people would be more comfortable sitting. It was a great way to use the space and get people moving around the house, instead of parking it in one room and one location.

Thinking about how to throw a house party, make sure to think about the spaces in your house. Get creative, and your guests will find a natural flow. And you’ll reduce traffic jams as well, especially in a smaller house like mine.

Conversations Are Enough

Loud music is the absolute bane of my existence. It’s one of the reasons I don’t go out to eat much or to live music shows. My brain doesn’t function well when I have a lot of background noise. In some cases the music is so loud that it’s the front ground noise. A complete nightmare for those of us who are very sensitive to it. Music is not even present at my house when I have guests typically because of this. And people having multiple conversations is like music to my ears anyway, and I would rather hear that.

If you’re wondering how to throw a house party without a lot of extra noise, ditch the music idea. Feel like you absolutely need it because you're throwing a karaoke themed party? Different story. Everyone can get involved at that point and it's a real rager. That's when the music really makes sense. Queue Dancing Queen!

We Like Our Sleep in this House

As I get older, I realize how important a few things regarding time is in relation to parties. Making a start and stop time give people a boundary that they are welcome to stay within. It creates less stress on you, as the host, especially. Take it from me who has learned this the hard way and had people show up for hours on end in trickles. For me, it’s a persona hell I will not revisit.

Another good tip of how to throw a house party in regards to time is to start it rather early. I like my parties starting no later than 6 pm, but usually in the 5 pm range because I want people out in time for me to get to sleep at my usual bedtime, and that’s early. If it’s a weekend, you’ll find many people have plans, so being able to stop in on the early side give you both the chance to see each other. Starting early is a win-win, at least that is what I have found in my extensive entertaining world.

Friends, do not get so caught up in hosting that you forget or don’t give yourself the opportunity to enjoy your guests that are there. I’ve gotten good at delegating throughout the night to help me keep the party going, and it takes the pressure off of just me. I’ve done it all which ways, like waiting on people the entire time, sort of enjoying but having low grade anxiety that everyone who is there actually hates it and is only there because they feel bad for me. None of that is fun to deal with, so I had to make some changes.

In order for me to enjoy my guests, I have everything ready for when they arrive (at least within the first few minutes) and I can start visiting. They are there because I invited them, and they want to talk to me, as well as the other guests. Why wouldn’t I want to enjoy my own party and talk to my guests?! In my ever-evolving how to throw a house party experience, enjoying my guests became a priority, and I’m so glad it did. And it makes me continue to want to throw them. Again, win-win.

Since prepping for parties is something that is second nature now, I know how to do it in my sleep. No, I don't. I would never interrupt my sleep for a party. But I do know that it takes a bit of preparation, and if you don't know how to prep, I'll give you some easy tips on what I think is most important so guests feel comfortable and at ease when attending a house party in your abode.

Take Time to Clean

Having a neat and clean space is something that, when I go to people's house, I am looking at. There's not much worse than being in a dirty or cluttered space, and you feel like you might have gotten the wrong day for the party. Take a little time to clean up and make sure that the toilets are tidy and your diary is put away.

Lay Out the Spaces

When I am prepping for a party, I have designated areas for flow. Drinks over here, food in there, dessert in the next room. You get the idea. Make sure you have enough surfaces for your food and drinks, and there is space to sit down and eat. You don't want traffic jams either so spread things out a bit.

Set the Mood with Lighting

Lighting matters. When I renovated my house, I had dimmers put on the lights so that I could dim them down when people are over but if I need them brighter it's an option. I'm sensitive to light, so I rarely have lights overhead and almost always have lamps only. People don't love spotlights on them, so consider your lighting.

Music

If you want music at your party, which I support overall, make sure your speakers are charged up and synced, and get your playlist together. A very soft sound in the background can be nice, but don't overdo it. People hate screaming over music to hear themselves think. Something to be mindful of when prepping for the party.

Nametags?

Once in a while I'll ask my guests to wear name tags so they don't have to feel bad when they ask for a person's name and immediately forget it. I know I'm not alone in this, and name tags really help those of us who have this chronic issue. It's not that we don't care, it's just our ADHD brains going haywire at the wrong times.  This is just a consideration for get togethers.

Label the Food

Labeling food has become a habit if I have a bunch of people attending parties. I cannot personally escort each person to the food, so I write what it is and if it's vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, etc. I've purchased these chalkboard tents and chalk pens and I write what I have made on them so I can reuse them for a later date. It's cute and it's helpful.

Force the Leftovers onto the Guests

My guests who have come to prior parties know that they are required to take a plate of food with them at the end of the night or else I threaten their next invitation. There is nothing worse than having to put away oodles of food at the end of the night, so get your guests to make their plates and then beat it. It actually makes everyone's lives much easier.

Choosing what type of entertainment for your party can be obvious or not so obvious. I've done so many different kinds of gatherings and get togethers and parties that I have ideas of what I want. I'll share a few ideas for you in case any of them resonate.

• Instrument Player(s)

• Games

• Speeches

• Photo Spot

• Let the guests entertain themselves

When you’re hosting a house party, it’s easy to overthink the details. I did it many times in the beginning. Truly, you don’t need anything extravagant to make people feel welcome. A good party comes down to a few things: enough space for people to gather comfortably, good food and drinks, and small touches that make the night flow smoothly. When those are covered, guests can relax, conversation is easy, and you’re free to enjoy the party instead of managing it.

• Enough Seating

• Plates, Cups, Napkins, Silverware (or plasticware)

• Ice

• Trash, Recycling, Paper Towels

• Drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic)

• Easy food

• Music

• A delightful host

Hopefully this list of how to throw a house party has helped and motivated you into throwing your own. They can be wildly rewarding if you get it right, and there is now right way to get it right, sans some basic information. And that is what I have here: basic information to throw a really good and simple house party. Remember, guests are typically not coming for a theater show. They want to mingle with you and other amazing humans and feel connected. At least that is the type of house party I am throwing., not the showy and fake kind that some people throw.

If you follow these simple steps, and keep amending and working on your skills, you too will have a great recipe for a house party. Your guests will leave wanting more, and that is exactly the feeling you want them to take home. You’ve got this, and I can’t wait to hear about your party!

If you liked this blog, you might also like the one I wrote about 7 easy dinner ideas.

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