20 Useful Tools For Hosting A Stress-Free Dinner Party

A relaxed host makes for a smooth dinner party, so if you are planning a culinary event soon, you want to ensure you have all the tools to make the evening go without a hitch.

From setting the table beautifully to ensuring you have the best cookware and glasses, being fully prepared for your evening ahead of time will make hosting your party a delight rather than a chore. Ensuring a relaxed environment for your guests comes down to knowing you have thought of every detail, from the classical playlist to the scented candle in the bathroom.

Your role as host is not to be stuck in the kitchen all night but to be a participant in the evening's events. By considering every detail beforehand, you will create a welcoming environment and allow yourself to enjoy the evening fully, transitioning effortlessly from chef to guest. That's why we're highlighting several tools and items to help you accomplish a stress-free dinner party. 

When preparing your table for the dinner party, one of the first considerations will be whether or not to have a tablecloth. Choosing to use a tablecloth will have the dual effect of adding a touch of class to your table while protecting it at the same time.

If you are planning a formal evening, a white linen tablecloth is a timeless classic. It will provide a blank canvas that will allow you to accessorize the table with other elements. If your party is more casual, why not opt for a brightly colored or patterned cloth which will seem more festive?

Remember, the size of your tablecloth is essential. You're aiming for a tasteful drape, delicately cascading over the edges — you do not want it trailing on the floor.

If you have decided against a tablecloth or want to add a pop of color to a white cloth, consider incorporating a table runner. This narrow strip of fabric runs along the center of your table and adds a visual focal point. It is an excellent opportunity to add a splash of creativity while still keeping a traditional look.

No matter which table dressing you choose, a well-dressed table will set the stage for a memorable evening and allow you to provide an unforgettable experience for your guests.

As you continue to add layers to your dining table, the next component to consider is the appealing flicker of candlelight. Candles help to create a warm ambience and are a fantastic visual attraction in their own right.

When choosing candles and candleholders, there are a huge range of options. From sleek pillar candles at either end of the table to charming tealights scattered throughout, you will be able to find a combination to suit your table perfectly. If you want to avoid the prospect of an unexpected fire, LED candles can provide a very realistic alternative, and you won't have to worry about replacing them when they burn out.

The choice of candle holder can transform the look of your candles and the effect they have on your room. A traditional silver candelabra, for instance, will be the perfect choice for classic elegance, whereas a hurricane vase may better suit a more intimate party.

Remember to match the style and color of your candle holders to the rest of your decor to create a pleasing layout, and consider the height and arrangement of the candles for the desired lighting effects. While scented candles may work well in the bathroom or hallway, think carefully before adding them to your table, as their scent could overpower your food, which should always be the star of the show.

While many of the essential tools for a successful dinner party get the chance to shine center-stage, let's look at one of the unsung heroes behind the scenes — the humble saucepan. If you envision hosting dinner parties regularly, investing in a good set of saucepans is worthwhile, as they play a crucial role in creating a smooth dining experience.

While catering for a dinner party, you need to multitask like a boss, and having only one saucepan to work with will slow you down considerably. Having a set of pans, from a small milk pan to a large stock pot, will enable you to reduce your sauce, blanch asparagus and create custard for dessert, all at the same time.

If you can, buy a quality set of heavy-based saucepans. The increased cost will pay off in the long run, as you will reduce the chance of burnt sauces and unevenly cooked dishes. In most cases, choose pans with plastic handles to avoid an unwelcome burn during your dinner party prep.

However, one versatile pan that does have a metal handle is the oven-safe pan. This culinary superstar allows you to start your dish on the hob and then continue cooking in the oven without transferring it to a different pan. This not only saves you precious time but also reduces the post-party cleanup — win-win!

The next items on our list may seem like an unnecessary expense, but any amateur cook should consider having a set of thermometers in their kitchen to keep their guests safe and cook their food effectively.

Unless you exclusively cook vegetarian food, you should invest in a meat thermometer to protect your guests from foodborne illnesses. A meat thermometer will allow you to accurately check the internal temperature of the meat, increasing the chance of it being both safe and perfectly cooked. Plenty of options are available, from simple probes inserted into the meat to infrared digital options and smart thermometers with an accompanying app.

An oven thermometer may seem over the top, but relying on your oven's thermostat could lead to uneven cooking, which might be a disaster on the night of your dinner party. An oven thermometer means you know precisely when your oven has preheated and can keep an eye on the temperature as your food is cooking.

A fridge thermometer is another crucial ally in the battle for food safety, especially if you plan to store ingredients for a few days before your party.

Remember that the fridge door has the least consistent temperature, so it should not be used for meat or other highly perishable foods.

To keep yourself organized, a timer is crucial for tracking all the dishes you have on the go at once. While a simple egg timer will suffice, why not use a smart speaker which can help organize your preparation and sort out the party playlist at the same time?

Devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home can act as your trusty sidekick, keeping track of cooking times and even suggesting wine pairings. If you're looking for some after-dinner entertainment, they can even provide you with some fun party games.

Unlike a simple egg timer, a smart speaker can keep tabs on different timers for each dish and will tell you which one is ready to come out of the oven.

Don't forget one of the essential components of your dinner party — background music. With just one voice command, you can ask the smart speaker to play some ambient instrumental music or a playlist you have set up in advance. Perhaps some elegant classical music for during dinner and a cheesy pop playlist for afterward.

When planning your big day, your primary focus will be on making the room where your guests will be eating look as perfect as possible. But it is essential not to forget another important area — the bathroom or powder room. Every one of your guests is likely to go in there at some point, so it pays to spend a bit of time making it look presentable. In addition to ensuring it is clean and tidy, you may wish to buy some fancy soap and wash one of your best towels to have on display.

You may also wish to employ the aforementioned scented candle, which will have a more pleasant effect in the bathroom than near the food. If you want to go the extra mile, consider a basket containing toiletries such as hand lotion, some packs of tissues, or even some breath mints. Devoting attention to these finer details will elevate your dinner party and leave a lasting, positive impression.

If you want your guests to have the perfect drinking experience at your party, you will need to give some thought to your glassware. Having a diverse collection of glassware is important if you are planning to serve a variety of drinks depending on your guests' preferences.

Assuming that you are planning to serve wine with the meal, you will need to have both red and white wine glasses for each guest. Red wine requires a large, round glass that allows the wine to aerate, whereas white wine is normally served in a narrower glass to hold the perfume (via Wineware).

Tall flutes are perfect for showcasing bubbles if you are serving sparkling wine such as prosecco or champagne.

Having cocktail glasses, high balls, and beer mugs will ensure that every type of drinker at your party will feel spoiled by the attention to detail. Be sure to include some stylish water glasses to keep non-drinkers happy too.

There is one small but mighty tool that you must not forget about in advance of your party — the handy wine opener! For such a small item, it has such a crucial role to play in your evening. It is also important to ensure you know how to use it properly. If you are not an experienced wine drinker, don't underestimate the skill it takes to open a bottle of wine elegantly. Corkscrews, particularly the compact, folding type known as a Waiter's Friend, can be tricky to master and must be practiced in advance of your big night.

Additionally, make sure you are adept at uncorking a champagne bottle to avoid the cork flying across the room — the last thing you want is for that thing to hit someone's face.

Your corkscrew or Waiter's Friend should double up as a bottle opener for those drinking beer or non-alcoholic beverages.

While the food you serve is going to be the highlight of your party, you still want to put some thought into your dinnerware and invest in some new crockery if necessary. If possible, you should use plates that complement the rest of your decor — whether that is elegant white porcelain or something more colorful and modern.

If you are hosting regular dinner parties, you may want to invest in a high-quality set of dinnerware so that your plates, bowls, and cups all match.

When choosing a dinnerware set, think carefully about the cleaning up process. Some materials and designs may not be dishwasher safe, for instance, leaving you with the unenviable task of hand washing dozens of plates the day after.

While beautiful matching dinnerware can bring an elegance to your evening, remember that it is the delightful company and engaging conversation that will make the evening unforgettable.

As your meal draws to a close, serving coffee to your guests is a perfect way to allow them to begin to wind down and prepare to leave the dining table. Having a coffee machine makes the process of serving coffee much easier, especially if you are wanting to serve specialty options.

Modern coffee machines can create a wide variety of options, from espresso to latte, cappuccino to hot chocolate, all at the press of a button. They can also brew a delicious cup of tea, admittedly at a much higher price than simply dunking a teabag!

An additional benefit of a modern coffee machine is the reduced clean-up time. Most models have an automatic cleaning function, meaning you can spend more time enjoying a cuppa with your guests rather than working in the kitchen.

The balance between functionality, quality, and convenience makes the coffee machine a worthy addition to your dinner party arsenal.