Throw a Tres Chic Holiday Party in Your Condo

The holidays are upon us. From family visits to hosting and toasting friends and colleagues, if you enjoy the art of entertaining, it’s the happiest season of all.

Throwing a holiday party at your condo is the perfect way to get into the generosity of the season. A classy social gathering not only lets you express your gratitude to those closest to you, but allows you the opportunity to show off your exquisitely-styled condominium. ArtHaus Condos offers you this primer on how to throw a tres chic holiday party in your condo.

When planning your holidays soiree, keep in mind the crucial pillars of an artfully designed party architecture: guests, decor, refreshments, and socializing.

Remember: simple is chic. Refrain from over-doing it and ensure your holiday party will go off without a hitch. Begin with the guest list. Providing a cozy yet comfortable atmosphere means not over-inviting. You want to make sure that you have sufficient seating for guests, and can maintain a free-flowing backdrop that does not feel cramped. This means making a guest list, and checking it twice. Those who are not expecting an invitation, or that couple that don’t RSVP you may want to leave off, in favour of meeting them at a later date for dinner or cocktails. A realistic and accurate guest count is essential for proper planning. Sending out formal invitations is a great way to remind your guests to RSVP and set the tone for your event. Knowing your guest count a full week out will leave you ample time to plan your menu, grocery shop, and primp and prep your condominium.

The second pillar of chic party architecture is your condo decor. Choose a simple yet chic design theme and run with it. We can attest that metallics are definitely the new black. And there’s nothing classier than adding tasteful gold, silver or brass accents throughout your condominium. Think of clever ways to display metallic-adorned wine bottles, serving platters and utensils.  A minimal dash of balloons, such as white with brushed on golf paint will exude style. For some cozy holiday cheer, purchase some scented candles and faux fur seat covers to drape over your dining or island seats. Create a chic ambiance with tiered lighting throughout your space. Good light at the entrance is a must, while in the rest of the condo should be brighter at first, with options to dim down for intimacy as the evening goes on.

Refreshments are key to an elegant evening amenable to socializing. Here too, simple yet chic will serve you well. Welcome guests at the center with a glass of wine or champagne, or the ‘drink of the night’. Set up a bar cart of counter area with all the ingredients necessary for simple fizzy libations—a black velvet, a mimosa, a Champagne cocktail, or a kir royale are superb choices. Place a card with the easy recipes for each to guide guests toward the one they prefer. This ensures that people will feel comfortable getting up and serving themselves, as they mingle along the way. Set our hors d’oeuvres when guests arrive, and replenish throughout the night. Partygoers typically love to nosh on delightful bites, such as bruschetta, an epic cheese spread with accoutrements, and a variety of crudités. If you have guests with allergy restrictions, add a jalapeno vegan cheese or vegetables with hummus to your board. Set out platters at different spots throughout the living or dining area to keep guests from crowding in one corner of the room.The world is your oyster, so have fun with a light, fun-filled menu of hors d’oeuvres — and yes, oysters are a great option, too.Basically, anything that doesn’t need to be constantly warmed up is the key to effortless elegance.

Socializing should of course happen naturally, but as host, you have the duty to enhance the hobnobbing. Introduce friends or business associates with interesting details that prompt discussion. As people congregate in various areas around your condo–around the island, at the dining table, or lounging in the living area, be sure to circulate. Keep yourself moving all night long to spread around your attention evenly, and adjust the atmosphere such as  lighting or music, or to encourage mixing up the mingling.

Showing your closest a wonderful time with a tres chic holiday party at your condo is the ideal way to indulge in the pleasures of the season. ArtHaus Condos wishes you much merriment as you fete your family and friends with the art of holiday entertaining.