The best hosting essentials that will ensure repeat guests

Need us? We'll be manning the charcuterie board!

the best hosting essentials: a beautiful glass vase and floral dessert plates on a pastel green and pink background
(Image credit: Anthropologie + Urban Outfitters)

It's all in the details, folks. The best hosting essentials will trick your guests into believing you're preparing a meal à la Carmy Berzatto from The Bear.

Filling your dining table with cozy details and asking Alexa to shuffle a fun playlist is half the battle according to food writer and culinary entrepreneur, Jonah Reider, who writes Food & Wine's bi-monthly Supper Club column and founded Pith

"It has so much more to do with how you welcome [guests] into your space rather than what you’re welcoming them with," he tells Real Homes.

For the adventurous souls hosting a party in a small apartment, there are a few non-negotiables in Reider's eyes: A pitcher of something delicious at the ready upon friends' arrival, great tunes, and of course, the proper lighting. Don't be afraid to let candles give off a golden-hour glow. 

"They add all of this rich, highly dynamic light and make whatever you’re serving look beautiful," Reider says. 

As you dip into the world of entertaining at home, make sure to have a few essentials that can carry you from season to season and across cuisines. Here are a few of our favorite selections. 

The best hosting essentials for year-round gatherings

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Having your work crew over for a bite? Reuniting with your college roommates? No matter what you're serving or what you're celebrating, these staples are a must for social butterflies. 

Should you really want to crank hosting duties into high gear, Reider recommends picking a style of dishes or sets and building it over time.


Not that your party is complete, it's time to start planning your next occasion! For the early risers among us, check out these beloved brunch hosting essentials. Please save the sleepyheads a side of bacon.

Danielle Valente
Contributor

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again. 

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