Hallmarks of a good party

 A good party rises or falls on the people participating in the celebration.

The decor can be bare walls, and it doesn’t matter.

The food can be “meh,” and it doesn’t matter.

Plan the party with a “potluck” theme, and everyone will have at least one dish that they like to eat. Make it a “bring your beverage,” and the party-goers have a beverage they want.

Plan an outdoor venue, and everyone can bring their seats.

The host will need to provide bare minimums such as

• tables for the food presentation
• tablecloths
• beverage containers
• dinnerware and utensils
• napkins or paper towels
• ice and something to keep it from melting
• a groomed yard or awning at which to gather
• a time frame for the party
• coordinating the food
• host supplying the main dish for the party—unless it’s a barbeque and a bring/cook your own steak/chicken event (host should still have some burgers and hotdogs available)

I’ve hosted cookouts (burgers and hotdogs), sandwich parties, banana-split parties, dessert (covered dish) parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, Christmas Parties, Rock Soup parties, Hobo Parties, Finger Foods parties.

I keep certain foods in my pantry to host meals if family or friends drop in for a get-together.

The people, laughs, catching up on our lives, and their events are vital. Not the food, not the decor.

Drop on by. I can make a cobbler. Fix some salmon patties and veggies or some rice and chicken. You have a choice of coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, tea, or water to drink.

The important thing is we’ll get to visit. I miss seeing you in my life.

Got a spare room?

 Unfortunately, that extra room in the home commonly referred to as a storage room becomes a catch-all instead of a real destination.

Depending on your needs, the room’s size, and the room’s location, use it for one of the following purposes and furnish it accordingly. You can even combine uses in a room and zone different areas. Use convertible furniture and built-ins to accommodate multiple goals.

• A guest room for overnight guests
• A home office
• A children’s play or study room
• A craft room
• An overflow dining room for large family or friend gatherings
• A den
• A library
• An entertainment or games room
• A walk-in closet—properly outfitted for hanging and storing clothing
• A pantry
• A mudroom
• A hobby room
• A display room for a collection

The dining room adjacent to the kitchen is set up to host larger dinner parties as it was intended instead of being our computer/office area.

Our second bedroom (once our daughter’s bedroom, once a guest room, and a catch-all room) is now our library, craft, computer, home office, and bird room. There are multiple zones and the areas are organized. This room has been converted from a catch-all room into the room we now use the most.

Our dining room is dedicated to eating and is much easier to maintain.

I have a living and television room greatly suited for company visits.

When we can start having guests again that dining room will also be used as a card and board game room. However, the games are stored in the adjacent room and are easily available.

On the plus side, our bird is much more social. We are sharing his room instead of being in an adjacent one.

Your needs and a room’s usage may change over the years. Go with the flow. Your home should suit your needs now, not the mythical someday! Turn that storage room into something that works for you now. Don’t be afraid to zone it and create dedicated multiple zones.

DIY or hire a decorator?

 I prefer decorating my home to hiring an interior decorator.

Most people know what they prefer in their home. There are multiple free tools the consumer can use to decorate their homes.

Take a piece of fabric you’d like to feature in a room to your local home improvement store. There are numerous paint combinations and cards to pick complementary or contrasting paints to highlight the material.

Take a friend with you—one with a good color sense.

Create a board with pictures of items or a look that you’d love to achieve.

Then shop retail stores online, at flea markets, thrift shops, or yard sales.

High light that heirloom piece of furniture, the painting on a wall, portraits, a decorative piece.

Your style may change over the years. Doing the changes yourself can help you stretch those decorating dollars.