How to Prepare Your Kitchen for a Dinner Party

By Marialiberati

No matter the size of your house, guests will always gather in the kitchen. To make sure that everyone feels welcome, make sure this crucial room reflects your dining and entertaining style. Create an oasis for good company. If you're planning on having a dinner party, here are a few tips to make sure your kitchen is well prepared.

Atmosphere

To create a kitchen that reflects your personality, carefully consider features such as layout and cabinet choices. An elegant cherry finish on your cabinets will create a formal look, while painted cabinets can add whimsy to the space. You can fully engage the senses of your guests with lighting choices and just the right countertop. Keep an eye on your cabinet choices. According to Wholesale Cabinets, the cabinets you choose for your kitchen will dominate your kitchen's overall style and tone.

Serving Supplies

The food you serve and the tools you use can greatly reduce your workload on the day of the party. For example, if you can use your slow cooker to prep the main portion of the meal, you can plate up hummus and veggies as an appetizer and enjoy time with your guests. Getting everything on the table, hot and ready to eat at the same time can be a challenge for even the most experienced cooks. Consider serving a cold salad, hot bread and a stew from your slow cooker if timing is a worry.

Clean Up and House Prep

Be sure to clean up your kitchen and home days before the party. If possible, get the heavy-duty cleaning work wrapped up the night before, so all you have to do on the day of the party is light candles and focus on the food. Announcingit.com suggests walking through your home and looking for areas that appear cluttered or less than tidy. Carefully review your kitchen counters for areas that look overcrowded and be ready to store away items you don't need to serve your guests. Consider setting the table the night before to make sure that you have all the pieces you need. Finally, don't run a loud dishwasher during the meal in an effort to start cleaning up. You don't want anything to get in the way of sparkling conversation.

Your dinner party doesn't have to be formal to be wonderful. Your kitchen design choices should reflect your lifestyle and entertainment preferences. If you can limit your workload with the right tools and plan ahead, you can make the day of the party all about great company and wonderful food.

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