I love hosting at this time of year, as I am sure most of us do. And no room works harder when it comes to hosting season than the kitchen. I am just warming up for all the hosting to come over the next few months, finding what works in my kitchen, and pulling out all the pieces that make prepping and cooking easier.
And as well as the practical aspects of prepping my kitchen for hosting, there are little decor tweaks I like to make too to give the room a sense of occasion. The kitchen is a sociable space in my home. Guests are always in there while I am cooking so I want it to feel festive and inviting as well as functional.
I've asked interior designers for their tips on how to get a kitchen ready for hosting, to help create rooms that feel warm and welcoming but are practical too and make the job as easy and as seamless as possible.
How to get your kitchen ready for hosting season
As I mentioned, I do a lot of hosting within the kitchen itself. Usually, the time before dinner is spent with most guests in the kitchen while I prep and faff, so it's really important that the space works hard to make my life as easy as possible, but it also has an effortless flow about the room too so I am never in the way of guests and they are never in the way of me. Now this 'effortless' flow is something I very much curate, usually through the clever placement of drinks and nibbles, but more on that later.
1. Have a deep clean and a declutter
It's the least fun part of getting a kitchen ready for hosting, but decluttering the kitchen is something you'll hopefully only have to do once a season.
'It's a given that no matter how much time you spend tidying up your living room, the party will end up in the kitchen. To get it party-ready, the first step is a good tidying up and deep clean - no guest wants to see your breakfast dishes in the sink or last night's marinara sauce splattered across your cooktop,' says Bethany Adams.
'As I get ready to entertain, I start by thoroughly cleaning and decluttering my space. A well-prepped kitchen not only makes hosting more manageable but also enhances the overall ambiance, ensuring that my guests feel welcomed and comfortable,' agrees designer Jennifer Davis.
I used this fall declutter as a way to rediscover all the accessories, bakeware, and serveware I have that have been ignored over the summer, but I love using it when hosting season starts. If I have time I will take everything out and organize kitchen cabinets based on what I am going to need over the coming months. I also take stock of my pantry cupboard since I know that's going to slowly get busier over the holidays, chucking out anything past its sell-by date or items I know won't get used.
Then it's time for a really deep clean so everything feels super fresh and I'll just have to do smaller regular cleans to keep it looking lovely.
2. Make sure you have enough of everything
'A well-stocked armory of essentials, easily accessible, can transform hosting from a daunting task to a gracious art.' is how designer Artem Kropovinsky so eloquently puts it. And I very much agree. The last thing you want to be doing when hosting is washing up, so ensure you have enough pots, pans, utensils, etc. to make everything as easy and as seamless as possible.
The same goes for crockery. Think about the maximum amount of people you usually host and ensure you have enough plates, bowls, glasses, cups, cutlery, and so on. If you find you are lacking in something, the Black Friday sales are ideally timed for picking up new kitchen bits.
I like to keep all my crockery fairly neutral, even over the holidays that way it can be used all year round. The rustic look of this platter would be perfect pilled with something delicious a festive, but like wise I can use it in the summer for salads. There's also a whole matching range of this set too which I can keep adding to.
Amazon is my go-to for new glassware. A lot of my collection is vintage and brought out for my most favored guests, but when I am buying new I go for cheap and cheerful so if I loose a few over hosting season I can easily replace them.
You can never have too many wooden boards in my opinion. They are the quickest and easiest way to elevate all the kinds of foods you associate with hosting. I like to fill them with treats before guests arrive and have them on the island ready for snacking as soon as everyone arrives.
3. Think about how you use the space and plan accordingly
This will slightly depend on your kitchen layout, but you want to ensure you can move as easily as possible around the space while guests are in the kitchen. I have the classic golden triangle layout, so it's fairly simple to keep walkways free.
'Carving out clear zones for the culinary dance of prepping, cooking, and cleaning can compose a harmonious rhythm,' says Artem. 'Generous seating and surface realms beckon guests to alight, mingle, and partake in the culinary narrative.'
This has been my trick too. Tempt guests to certain areas that you know will be out of the way but feel like they are part of the action. And don't just stick to one space, then you'll get this crowding in one part of the kitchen which could feel a bit awkward. Have a bar set up in one section of the kitchen, and dot food around the rest.
And while the kitchen island may feel like the perfect space to have guests gather, still create another option elsewhere in the kitchen if you can.
4. Go soft and warm with the lighting
Kitchen lighting is usually designed to be very practical, which in turn usually means it's quite bright and harsh. However, when hosting you want the light to be soft and warm and welcoming.
'Lighting plays a pivotal role in setting the mood, so I adjust it accordingly with ambient lighting for a warm and inviting atmosphere,' says Jennifer. And I very much agree.
If you don't have any obvious ambient lighting, I'd suggest bringing in some lamps from elsewhere in your home. Floor lamps and table lamps add that less intense light that's far more suitable for a sociable space.
The rise in popularity of portable, cordless lamps has made bringing softer light into the kitchen easier than ever. So many bars and restaurants I have been to recently have had a lamp in the center of the table to create a luxurious feel, so bring some of that into the kitchen by dotting lamps on the island or countertops.
For an even more romantic cozy glow, lanterns filled with candles will instantly set the relaxed but festive mood. I have always been a real candles kind of person, but there are some amazing realistic LED options now that I use when I am hosting so I am not constantly having to monitor the candles.
I throw warm white fairy lights all over my home at this time of year, they look lovely no matter where you put them. This year I want to loop some over my kitchen cabinets for parties along with some paper garlands.
5. Choose serveware that will double as decor
'When preparing to host for the holiday season, I like to first make sure my kitchen is stocked up on rustic wooden serving boards, glassware, decanters and barware, and plenty of scented candles. I also like to place a large stone or ceramic vase of seasonal greenery or foliage on my countertop to add an air of festivity,' advises designer Kathy Kuo.
Having serveware that does the job and looks lovely is something I also rely on when getting my kitchen ready for hosting. Aesthetically pleasing platters, boards, and glasses can do so much of the work for you. Plus, as Kathy suggests you can make them part of a display that will instantly give your kitchen a relaxed, festive feel.
These side plates look good enough to eat. They are the perfect addition to a tablescape to give it a touch of festive cheer and look lovely layered with neutral crockery for a chic yet cozy Christmas feel.
Elevate your festive bakes and treats with a beautiful stand that can sit on a kitchen island or countertop for guests to admire. There's a vintage charm to this stand that's both on trend for this holiday season and a timeless look.
Anthropologie's iconic Bistro Tile collection has had an update for the holidays. Bake your pies and puddings, or even just fill with sweets for guests to help themselves to, and turn this dish into an instant centerpiece.
6. Set up a bar area
'A great tip is to set up a small home bar, so everyone can help themselves to drinks rather than being permanently on duty! Mulled wine is a great choice for the holidays too, I cheat and buy it, but by adding fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks when we heat it up, it almost looks home-made!' suggests Chrissie Rucker, founder of, The White Company.
A home bar, whether it's a permanent setup you have all year round, or something you create on a sideboard for occasions, will mean you don't always have to refresh drinks and you can guide where you want your guests to gather.
'I like to use my island to set out a drinks station, including glassware and a cutting board with a sharp knife and lemons. Do not make your guests guess what they're supposed to be using to make their martinis, lay it all out for them in advance,' suggests Bethany.
7. Add in touches of festive decor
How you approach this will depend on the holiday, but always add in some sense of occasion and festivity. That could be a couple of pumpkins around the bar, a jar of autumnal leaves on the island, fairy lights in the windows, or evergreen displays as we get closer to the holiday season. Consider what will work with your kitchen style too.
'On windowsills, I add large silver stars with fairy lights which look gorgeous as it gets dark, and do miniature trees. I also love lots of very simply arranged white flowers and greenery: ranunculus, hyacinths, white roses, flowering eucalyptus, snowberries, and fresh rosemary are all favorites,' suggests Chrissie.
Getting your kitchen ready for hosting is as much about making it look wonderful as is it about making sure it works for you as the host. The key is to make it a warm, welcoming stress-free environment in which guests feel like they are part of the key part of the evening. Rely on doing as much 'help yourself' drinks and nibbles from the start and just ensure you have all the essentials to make prepping and cooking as easy as possible.
