The summer entertaining season is your home’s time to shine. Soak up the inspiration with these on-trend buys, handpicked for every occasion.
After dinner drinks
As twilight beckons, have friends around for refreshing beverages to beat the heat – and achieve vintage elegance with almost no effort.
Top tips for post-meal tipples
- Match your dessert or cheese options and your drink selections. Chocolate desserts go well with a port or sherry. Pair fruity items or strong blue cheeses with a late harvest riesling or botrytis. For creamy bries or camemberts, chardonnay, pinot noir or rosé complement nicely.
- On hot summer evenings, place your glasses in the freezer ahead of time to keep your evening drinks crisp and cool.
- For a fun and engaging way to keep the party going, set up a drinks station on a bar cart or side table with drink and garnish options.
Afternoon tea party
Who can resist an invitation to tea and cake? With this collection, you’re covered for everything from champagne occasions to laid-back indulgences.
Top tips to keep calm and drink tea
- Bite-sized servings are a great way to encourage your guests to dig in. Oh – and pre-slice cakes. No-one wants to be rude and cut the first piece!
- Create a warm and welcoming environment by setting up your tea party spread on a kitchen island or counter. This allows your guests to serve themselves and keeps the conversation flowing.
- Depending on the occasion, offer guests both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Having a tea box filled with interesting choices beyond the standard English brekkie blend makes selecting and steeping a tea bag that little
bit more special.
Summer loving picnic
For unforgettable picnics, barbecues and wood-fired pizza parties, all you need is blue sky, good company and these stylish finds.
Top tips for an alfresco afternoon
- Just because your summer evening is outdoors, it doesn’t mean you can’t take some tunes with you. Bring a portable Bluetooth speaker outside to create the aural ambience of your dreams.
- If you plan to use a pizza oven or barbecue, set up your table nearby. You want it far enough away that you won’t feel the heat, but close enough to be able to chat with your guests.
- Invite guests to really relax in your outdoor dining experience by encouraging them to remove their shoes (optional, of course!).
Games night
Hosting a games night is your chance to break all the usual house rules. Roll the dice and team easy neutrals with fun colours, playful pieces and retro flair.
Top tips for a successful games night
- If you’re entertaining a crowd for games night, rather than one big bowl of crisps or popcorn, opt for individually portioned cups for fuss-free snacking.
- We all know game-crowded coffee tables and sofas – that rise and fall along with guests’ energy levels – aren’t the safest place for spillable items. Have a tray on hand to transport drinks to and from the party hub. Also consider a side table or bar cart to keep things within reach.
- A successful games night is all about momentum. Keep games short and fun, have plenty of options so everyone gets their pick, and avoid games that go on forever or tend to incite tension! Quizzes, card games and, of course, Jenga are all great options.
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