You’ve got to fight! For your right! To throw a great house party…
But what ingredients make up a house party that can truly be defined as great? Is it the friends you made? The food you ate? The numbers you exchanged or the hangover you woke up with the following day?
Sometimes, it’s a mixture of all of these elements. Other times, it’s that little bit of ethereal, unquantifiable je ne sais quoi that was sprinkled over the event like magic fairy dust (another component of a good party, some might say).
But to leave the success of your soiree to luck or something intangible, we think would be a mistake. Instead, guarantee a fantastic night with our IDEAL guide to throwing a great house party.
BRING THE DRINKS UP A NOTCH
Cheap spirits and mixers, budget lagers and your pal’s ‘famous’ punch recipe are all hallmarks of house parties, sure.
But we’re talking about throwing a great house party here, so say no to buying rough tasting booze and instead go for something a little more premium.
We’re not only saying this for the sake of flavour; cheap booze also tends to give you a worse hangover (and a dose of heartburn for good measure), and you certainly don’t want your party to be remembered for that.
If you want to bring your house party up a notch, then may we suggest having a range of good quality liquors for your guests? Of course, it’s house party etiquette for your guests to bring a bottle, too, which will help to keep costs down, but traditionally, the first few drinks served will be the host’s making. If you’re in a particular pickle, planning wise, then same day alcohol delivery websites are your friend.
Or, consider hiring a mixologist to mix cocktails and bring a bit of theatre to proceedings – provide all the mixers, garnishes and anything they need to create top notch cocktails, then sit back and let the professionals do the rest. Or, at least learn how to make a margarita; a guaranteed crowdpleaser if ever there was one.
When it comes to beer, consider getting some mixed cases of a premium beer or a new brand of craft beer in. Do check out the Ollio app, too, as many craft breweries share leftover stocks or damaged cans of beer at bargain prices on the platform.
Finally, be sure to include some low and no alcoholic drinks, not just for those who aren’t drinking but also for party attendees who simply prefer to pace themselves.
CARE ABOUT THE PARTY FOOD
Empty stomachs and a great house party are two concepts that shouldn’t be in the same sentence; they only result in tetchiness, distraction and that sloppy kind of drunk that isn’t fun for anyone. As such, it’s essential that you serve food to keep the vibe moving and grooving but under control.
Keep in mind that finger food and snacks are significantly easier to coordinate than a full-blown, sit down, three course meal, but somewhere in between is a good idea.
A pot of homecooked curry with rice, cooked in a rice cooker to stay warm, doesn’t require heaps of effort but is hugely appreciated by a hungry crowd (mind those turmeric stains on white shirts, however!). A few frozen pizzas that you can whip out at a moment’s notice is always a good idea and any leftovers make an excellent breakfast.
Finally, remember to pace the food, introducing it incrementally throughout the evening so there’s some for guests who arrive late or people who get the late night munchies.
FOIL PROOF FUN: GO DISCO
Having a theme for your party can help everybody get into the spirit of things, but let’s be honest here; quite a considerable minority simply loathe even the mention of fancy dress parties. So, instead of getting people to dress up, why not dress up your house instead, in a disco theme?
Bear with us on this one… The main reason we suggest a disco theme is this; if you’re worried about your walls getting grubby, then you can cover your walls in kitchen foil or foil curtians, add a disco ball and some disco lighting, and voila! Instant party vibes.
When adding the foil to the walls, use masking tape to secure it. Avoid dutch or scotch tape as it may damage the walls, which rather defeats the objective, don’t you think? Whether you’re a theme lover or hater, you’ve got to admit that this is a good idea!
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LIGHTING
No one wants to go to a party with stark overhead lighting. Instead, create the right ambience for your house party with the right lighting.
If you’re going for a speakeasy vibe, then low ambient lighting is the way to go. Or, for the above disco theme, a low-cost motorised disco ball light is ideal – these can be easily secured to your ceiling with sticky pads so you don’t have to bother with any last minute DIY to set things up.
LED light strips that are easy to install are perfect here, too; simply peel off the back and stick them just about anywhere. Some can even be controlled with Alexa (other smart home hubs are available). If you want things to get really chaotic, then YouTube has a strobe light effect evocative of an Ibiza club.
DIFFERENT ROOMS FOR DIFFERENT VIBES
Instead of just confining your party to the living room and kitchen, extend it to the different rooms of your home and garden, should be lucky enough to have a larger home.
Mood, energies and vibes can contrast as much as converge at a house party, and it’s the host’s job to anticipate these ebbs and flows by setting up a chillout room for those who just want to have a natter away from the spirit of the main event.
About as far removed from a chilled out natter as you can find, and whether you love it or hate it, karaoke is sure to take your house party to the next level, so consider a karaoke room, too. If you don’t already have a karaoke set up at home (firstly, what have you been doing with your lockdown?), there are a range of different options available for an affordable price.
Finally, why not channel your student days (but perhaps with slightly higher quality booze) with the return of Beer Pong and Flip Cup in the kitchen.
MINIMISE SINGLE USE & RECYCLE
Those red-single use cups we’ve all seen in Hollywood movies? Forget about them. Instead, consider using Waitrose’s glass service, that lets you hire receptacles in volume, or if you’re worried about glasses being smashed, invest in some reusable cups, instead.
Set up a recycling station too so guests can dispose of empty bottles and cans with ease – not only will this help your clean up mission in the morning, but it will also be kinder to the environment. An eco-conscious house party? Sounds ideal to us!
Read: 5 environmental resolutions to make in 2022
CLEAN UP WHILE YOU’RE STILL TIPSY
The last thing you want to do is wake up to a messy household and that stale post-party smell. Having half-empty drink glasses, bottles and dirty dishes everywhere, knowing that you have to clean up while you’re still lying in bed wondering if you’re going to survive this hangover is simply not the one. We’ve all poured leftover beers and spirits down the sink the morning after; it’s not a nice thing to smell, especially when you’re suffering from hangover fog and feeling nauseous.
When it comes to the post-party clean up and dealing with the aftermath, the best practice is to tidy when you’re still drunk and preferably still drinking. This way, you wake up to a clean household and can get on with nursing your sore head and feeding your rumbling tummy.
BE PREPARED FOR THE MORNING AFTER
If the party really went off, then it’s not unexpected that some guests will have crashed over and are waking up with a hangover. This is when your hosting really comes into its own!
Be sure to have a dozen or so eggs (one of the best hangover foods of all time) in your larder and some good quality bread so you can whip up some scrambled eggs on toast, which is unquestionably the easiest way to cook eggs for a large number of people.
Or, go the extra mile and rustle up a full fry up – we know that this iconic post-booze dish isn’t really recommended as a “hangover cure” and it is likely to leave you and your guests feeling sluggish, but it’s always welcome nonetheless.
Having some breakfast bars on hand is also a good idea for those who are feeling a little woozy and need some food ASAP. Ginger tea is another good idea as it can quell nausea. Oh, and having a few Berocca and paracetamol in will also earn you hosting points, too!
Equally important is to have clean towels and linen at the ready. There’s nothing better than a hot shower the morning after the night before, to wash away the ills of the previous evening’s play. Stock up on toiletries, too. Because let’s face it, not many of us carry a toothbrush, deodorant and tampons around with us, expecting to be staying out ‘till morning.
And with that, might we expect our invite in the post? We can’t wait to try your famous scrambled eggs!