Entertaining doesn’t have to be stressful. No matter what type of dinner party you’re planning, our guide will show you how to be the hostess with the mostess.

Get prepared
If you want to have a stress-free party it’s essential to get prepared ahead of time so you’re not rushing around at the last minute. Plan a menu that you know you can manage – don’t attempt time-critical dishes like chocolate soufflé unless you want to spend your evening peering anxiously into the oven. Choose dishes that are simple and can be made ahead of time, like a slow-cooked lamb rack and rich brownies with a simple raspberry sauce that you can serve with store-bought ice cream.
 

Know your audience
For some people the perfect dinner party will be a ready supply of cold beers, for others it’s about the wine and food matching exquisitely. It’s important to think about your guests’ tastes and what you think they will enjoy. Check if anyone’s a vegetarian or if there are young children coming - in which case it’s a good idea to have a few plain dishes they won’t
turn their noses up at and get some DVDs to keep them entertained. 
 

Be wine wise
If you’re worried about your wine-expert father-in-law coming for dinner because you don’t have a lot to spend on a special bottle, don’t stress. Just focus on matching your food and wine well, your effort will be appreciated. Check out this guide for some matching advice or ask the person at your local wine shop to suggest something. 
 

Set the scene
It’s all about attention to detail, so put some effort in. While it’s not necessary to lay on the silver service, it is essential to make sure your house feels warm and inviting.

Give your place a top-to-toe clean (no towels on the bathroom floor or pet hair on the sofa!), use an oil burner to make your house smell delicious, dim the lights and put on some low-key music – great if your guests don’t know each other well and need a talking point! 
 

• Flower power. You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a bouquet from a florist. Just cut a few blooms from your garden, arrange in old jam jars and group together. The result will be effortlessly chic.
• Use cloth napkins instead of paper. Not only are they better for the environment they will also look a lot better on your table! Just make sure your linen is clean and crisp, and
  for extra greenness choose vintage linen – inexpensive, pretty and even better for the environment.
• Use candles. It will save you power and you will be amazed at how candlelight can transform the feel of a room.
• Cutlery counts. If you’re having a barbecue and were planning on using plastic plates and cutlery, don’t. If you really can’t face the washing up, make sure you choose a biodegradable option. You can now get plates and cutlery made from potatoes – they look better than plastic too.