After the weather we've had this week and with the bank holiday weekend on the horizon, many people throughout the country will be feeling that it's the perfect opportunity to entertain guests.
Hosting a house party is not something to enter into lightly. By the end of it you'll be drained and your house will never be the same again. You need to be fully prepared for such an undertaking.
Here's ten essential preparations to make your house party ready.
1. Clean the bathroom
It might not be the first space that comes to mind when you're planning a party but really this is the one area with which you should spare no effort. You can tell a lot about a person from how clean they keep their bathroom. What do you want your bathroom to say about you?
The sink and the toilet are the two main areas that need attention as they'll be the two things your guests will definitely interact with. Make sure they're spotless. If your shower/bath is also in the same room make sure to give that a scrub too because you don't want people thinking that you bathe in filth. Make sure there's extra toilet paper and clean hand towels (might be worth investing in some disposable ones for the occasion).
2. Hide the overdue credit card bill
Or any other embarrassing bills or invoices. Your guests don't want to know any more about how much you paid for your chest wax than you do.
3. Take anything expensive off the wall
If you're party is going to be a relatively small gathering then you should be safe here but if you're expecting any more than fifteen people then you're tempting fate not to plan ahead . That vase your mother got you as a house warming present? Hide it. The framed signed photo from Lionel Richie? Hide it. The ceramic urn holding your gran's ashes? Oh you better believe you need to hide that.
4. Get some extra furniture
Being short on seating for your guests is not ideal. While the majority of your guests will be moving around for most of the evening anyways as they mingle but it's always nice to have somewhere for them to settle down when they want to get comfortable. Beg, borrow and steal to get some extra chairs from your friends or the neighbours to make sure you're well stocked.
5. Finger food
While it's likely most of your guests will have eaten prior to arriving, it's always crucial to have some finger food lying around. Salty snacks are always a favourite whether it's crisps, peanuts or pistachios. Though it would be no harm to have some jelly sweets and chocolate treats on hand just to cover all your bases.
6. Lock your housemates' doors
If you're lucky enough to have a house of your own then this won't be an issue but if you live in a shared household, this one is essential. The last thing you need the morning after a party is having to deal with an angry housemate who's room has been 'disturbed' by one or more of your guests.
7. Create an awesome playlist
Music is key to any party. Whether it's to get your guests in the mood to start throwing some shapes on the dancefloor or merely to be used as ambience for the evening, it's important to create a playlist that suits the tone of your party. If possible keep the playlist out of sight from your guests. There's always one friend who'll try and hijack it.
8. Get a corkscrew and bottle opener
Whether it's beer or wine, bottles are always popular at a house party which is why you really need to have a corkscrew and bottle opener on hand. If there's none in the house, your guests will be forced to get creative and that's when disaster can strike.
9. Cleaning supplies
You might as well have these on hand before the party begins as you'll have enough to do after without a trip to the shops. Rubber gloves, mops, sponges and brush are the essentials you need to have in place.
10. A fully stocked fridge
It's generally a given that most house parties operate under a BYOB policy but as the host it's your duty to have supplies on hand in the event that your guests run dry. Having some beers in the fridge should see you through but it's also worth investing in a few bottles of wine as well. We'd recommend the Sauvignon Blanc. It's arguably the most popular wine variety. Its fresh zingy gooseberry and apple fruit flavours should satisfy most taste pallets.
When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, you can’t go wrong with Carry Out’s Aviary Sauvignon Blanc at €8.99. Prosecco has also become a party essential – Carry Out have the beautiful Collalto Prosecco Frizzante at €14.99. Try Prosecco with a splash of Elderflower cordial to create a stunning party drink everyone will adore.