The Art of Relaxed Hosting

This Bank Holiday you might be hosting... or being hosted?! How lovely. The key to Hosting is to keep things as relaxed as possible with a focus being on good company, the feeling and great conversation.

Here are our 3 tips to help you Host well this Bank Holiday. 

At Chapter, we believe hosting should feel like as relaxed and fun as possible, even for the host.  

This is the art of relaxed hosting.

It starts with how you want to feel

Before you think about food, flowers, table cloths, welcome drinks, place settings, ask yourself one simple question:

How do I want this to feel?

Calm? Fun? Super easy.... 

Let that feeling guide everything else,  the music (you could create a playlist on shopify) the lighting, the food, the pace of the evening. When you host from a feeling, rather than a checklist, everything becomes simpler.

Keep the food uncomplicated

Relaxed hosting is not about proving how great you are in the kitchen. Or maybe you know you're not the best and you feel a little nervous. Its not your skill set don't worry. 

Choose dishes you’ve made before. Things that can sit happily on the table. We're big fans of one pot dishes like a big chili, a curry, lasagne. 

A simple bowl of something warm, good bread, a dressed salad. This is a really lovely way to get people to dig in and interact and you dont need to worry about fancy table settings. 

People remember how they felt, not how many elements were on the plate.

Create the mood 

Small shifts can really help set the whole mood. 

Lower the lighting. Light a candle (we love The Tonic for Spring evenings) open a window slightly, fill a vase full of tulips from the garden. 

A space that feels calm allows people to exhale as soon as they arrive.

Stay present

It’s easy to slip into “hosting mode” topping up, tidying, being busy. But your company is what people have come for. Don't worry about taking away the plates, or filling the dishwasher. That can all wait. 

Sit down. Eat slowly. Listen. Laugh. 

A relaxed host gives everyone else permission to relax too.

And if you're being hosted....

Always take a little something to show appreciation, a tub of Olives, a bar of Chocolate for supper, a small candle. 

Dont forget to tag us in your Chapter photos for the weekend to be in with a chance of winning a £50 voucher. 

Happy Bank Holiday.