My at-home entertaining must-haves

Let’s get real for a minute - there are two types of people in this world: either you love setting up for parties, or it’s super stressful for you. Which “type” are you? 

No matter which side of the party prep line you on, investing in some staple items makes it so much easier to be ready for a gathering at any moment. From backyard gatherings to dinner parties, or even those “Surprise, we’re in town!” visits, you don’t need to sweat the prep if you’ve got your must-have items stocked up in your cabinet. It’s essentially everything you need to make your space feel welcoming and put together with a few easy steps. When I am getting ready for guests, these are my absolute favorite must-haves: 

A simple vase for fresh flowers adds the perfect touch to every room - living room, dining room, or kitchen.

I love lighting a large candle or set of candles to add a subtle scent to the room and make it feel cozy, especially during the fall and winter months.

Having a nice serving tray is perfect to make quick appetizers look elevated and it adds a chic touch to any table. I have a few cheese boards that also work as an addition to your apps, or a more complex cheese board makes a great centerpiece for the table (and a conversation starter!). 

Finally, finish off your setup with a carafe and nice glasses (standard glasses or wine glasses). For nicer occasions, I always like to replace any wine bottles or pop/juice bottles with a carafe for the liquid. It adds a nice touch and again, makes your overall table set up feel more elevated (with one easy step!). 

That’s it! A few easy items that make your table look elegant and chic, with very little work. The best party prep is easy party prep in my book.

Here are my favorite items - everything is currently under $40! 

My exact wine glass, exact candle, and a very similar cheese board are linked below, plus so many other great finds on sale now. 

All product imagery below is from West Elm, Crate & Barrel, CB2, and Target.

Serving Trays

ONE. These nesting gold risers are perfect for appetizers that have been baked. You can set them out for display and they can still cool evenly on the bottom to maintain their fresh-from the oven texture.

TWO. I’m OBSESSED with this adorable two-tier stand. It’s great for daytime/brunch party apps and dinner apps. If you want, this can double as a cheese tray.

THREE. I’m a gold gal, but I know you some of you love silver accents too, so I think this 3-tray set is such a great option.

Decanters + Carafes 

FOUR. This decanter is an easy option to aerate wine and get rid of the wine bottle on the table.

FIVE. and SIX. Both of these carafes can be used for water, juices, sodas, or even wine (if you don’t mind). At dinner parties and nicer gatherings, it keeps your table looking clean and classy to have a glass dish versus plastic bottles. 

versatile vases

SEVEN. This super simple vase comes in multiple spring/summer colors that works well for any occasion. 

EIGHT. and NINE. I loveee (yes, with 3 E’s), these vases so much. Talk about an elevated look for under $25 and under $15. These are such a steal and they work year-round to complete your table setting. 

TEN. A set of vases allow you the versatility to put out 1 or all 3, play with the height of flowers you add, or even the color scheme. These are super fun for parties or if you take an interest in tablescape design a bit more than the average person!

cheese board

ELEVEN. This is pretty close to the one I have (shown in the pictures above). It’s on sale right now and comes with cheese markers - so cute! 

TWELVE. and THIRTEEN. Super great price for these two boards under $30, and I bet you’ll be surprised how much you’ll use them. There are so many great charcuterie board tutorials out there, you’ll be a pro in no time!

wine & water glasses

FOURTEEN. Another favorite - I’m obsessed with this wine glass style. The stiletto stem looks very distinctive and classy. It’s great to add an upscale touch to your next dinner party.

FIFTEEN. and SIXTEEN. These red and white glasses are other uniquely shaped pieces that I love.

SEVENTEEN. For other beverages like water, juice, and soda, I think these slightly squared glasses have nice, approachable look that still feels a little bit nicer than your everyday glass. 

candles

EIGHTEEN. This is what’s in my photo and my go-to candle buy lately - the Bergamot scent is amazing! It’s about $16, but it’s lasted me for quite some time and I light it every. single. day. ;) 

NINETEEN. Here’s a great Anthropologie candle dupe! I’ve heard the scent is exactly the same, but I haven’t done the “smell test” myself yet. So, if you love that Anthropologie scent, this might be a good find for you less than $10 (a mere fraction of the price for the real thing).

TWENTY. Finally, this gold bowl candle is such a stately piece. It can act as a centerpiece or added element on the table. It’s a bit of an investment for a candle, but you can likely use it for many, many events to come!