So why not stay home instead? What could be nicer than having your friends turn up on your doorstep with a bottle of wine and their comfy clothes on, ready to settle in for a night of chilled out fun?

Here’s how you can turn on the restaurant vibe in your home.

The table

If you don’t have a dining table, don’t worry. As long as the room is snug, with a little music on and some comfortable chairs or cushions, your guests won’t mind a little make-do.

• Bring in a table from the garden;
• Scatter cushions around the coffee table;
• Put a couple of smaller tables together;
• Beg, borrow or steal a trestle table.

The decorations

This is the fun bit. From handpicked flowers in jam jars to white tablecloths and fine china, this is where you can let your personality shine. Here are some hints to get started:

• A (clean, please) bed sheet makes a perfectly good tablecloth;
• Candles are a simple way to set the mood;
• Homemade place settings add a personal touch;
• If you’ve got cloth napkins, use them;
• If you don’t have matching glassware and matching plates, mix them up so everybody has something different. Remember – charity shops are your friend.

The food  

Want a tip? Keep it simple. Pick a favorite meal that you love to cook. Nobody wants to be wrangling with hors d’oeuvres instead of making merry with friends.

There are two ways to serve food at a dinner party. You could plate up the food in the kitchen before serving your guests. Or you could take fill the table with serving platters and let everybody help themselves. We like the latter option.

It’s less formal, but it’s also a friendly call out to those watching waistlines or food allergies  – let them eat as much (or as little) as they like, and leave the rest to everybody else.

The theme

Setting a theme is a great way to ramp up the fun. Plus, it makes picking menu choices a breeze. Need some ideas to get your stomach rumbling?

American: Kick off with BBQ spare ribs to nibble on; followed by burgers and fries; and a New York cheesecake chaser.

Vietnamese: Keep it fresh with rice paper rolls, followed by a steaming bowl of pho; and banh gan (creme caramel – Viet style) to finish.

Spanish: Bring out a few plates of tapas first, followed by a big platter of paella, with a churros and chocolate sauce for sweet teeth.  

The music

Music helps set the mood. Choose the soundtrack when you’ve decided on the menu for seamless food-mood pairing. Set up your system with a playlist of fun faves for when your guests first arrive, relaxed vibes for chow time, before settling back with a full belly and a few oddball classics from your back catalogue for post-dessert guessing games.

Shopping

Need help with your shopping list? Read our handy guide to how to keep on budget. If you’ve chosen an international theme, head to a speciality grocer and stock up on interesting nibbles and sauces to jazz up the meal.