How to Stage a Home for a Party

Transform your home into an exciting, relaxing party place.

Prepping your home for a party should be fun, not stressful. Depending on your home, two or three hours of staging is all that should be necessary to stage and party-proof your home. While the nature of the party may differ, from a Halloween costume party to a classic dinner party with close friends, how you stage the home stays roughly the same. If you start to get nervous about how to decorate or rearrange rooms for the party, keep a running list of what you need to do. Check the list as you complete the items to reassure yourself that the party will come together.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum cleaner
• Broom
• Basic liquid cleaning supplies
• Wine, beer and non-alcoholic drink options
• Serving bowls, trays, platter plates
• Snacks
• Chairs and couches
• Decorations (optional)
• Tablecloth (optional)

Instructions

1. Designate party rooms. Select the rooms you want people to party, drink, dance and socialize in. Block off other parts of the house or apartment where you do not want people to wander in. Lock those rooms with a key if you want to be extra safe, just shut the door or leave a note on the door saying "do not enter." Make sure to leave the bathroom(s) available for guests.

2. Clean your rooms. If you have a messy lifestyle, tidy up the floors. Avoid doing a massive cleaning for the party, which can cause unwanted stress and take up too much of your party-prep time. Toss clothes, unshelved books, toys, socks and other miscellaneous items into the non-party rooms. If you have time, quickly put those items in their rightful spots.

3. Vacuum and sweep. Run the vacuum over the main carpets or rugs in the house. If you notice some accumulated dust, sweep that away and toss it in the trash. Wipe the kitchen counters, clear off the kitchen table, and wash the dirty dishes piled in the sink; a cursory house cleaning brightens and refreshes the home and makes you feel good about the space you live in.

4. Arrange chairs and couches for the party. Place your living room chairs, sofas, loveseats and armchairs in a conversation-friendly configuration. Position an armchair to face the coffee table. Pull individual chairs from other parts of the home and set them around a main furniture piece, like a large couch or coffee table.

5. Create a playlist. Whether you use an portable music device, a stereo or have party CDs ready to play from your computer, make sure that the music is ready to go before the first guests arrive. If you want your friends to be able to change songs, pull up a stool or chair near the music device so people can play with your music. Otherwise, keep the music personal by placing the device in a corner of the room with few lights or comfortable chairs around it.

6. Turn off extraneous electronics. If you have a TV, switch it off before your guests arrive. If you have a desktop computer you want to use for music, feel free to keep it on but close down all of your personal documents and browsers. You do not want a friend checking his or your email during the party.

7. Set out the appetizer dishes, bowls and plates. Lay out an assortment of options, like veggies and dip, chips or baked hors d'oeuvres, on a central party-room table. If you are hosting a dinner party, you will already have things baking in the oven and sizzling on the stove before the party. For dinner parties, prepare the dining table with plates, serving dishes, silverware, napkins and a centerpiece before guests arrive.

8. Make a bar. Gather wine, beer, liquors and non-alcoholic drinks into one location. Set them out in a row on a kitchen counter or on a bar if you have one. Set out a bucket of ice, wine and beer glasses so that guests can easily grab a drink or cocktail when they arrive.

Tips & Warnings

• Open up a few doors or windows to let in fresh air an hour before the party starts.

• Avoid spraying air-freshening scents in the house. Even if they smell good to you, lilac berry could smell abrasive to a guest or waft into food and drinks.

References

• Country Living: Holiday Party Prep Guide

Resources

• University of Illinois Extension: When Your Child Is Host
• Apartment Therapy: How to Prep Your Outdoor Space for a Party