Tips for hosting in your new home

It’s also an opportunity to get to know your new neighbours by asking them to join in with the fun. Read on for our guide to planning a summer garden party including how to prepare your house for hosting, party food ideas, barbecuing tips, summer party decorations and more.

Homes designed for hosting

New Redrow homes lend themselves perfectly to hosting a summer party – or entertaining all year-round – read on to find out why.

1. Open plan layouts put the kitchen at the heart of the home and the kitchen is usually where guests congregate at a house party.
2. Some of our homes, including the Sandringham, Blenheim  and Highgrove, have dedicated dining rooms, making them well-suited to those who love more formal entertaining and hosting dinner parties.
3. Many of our new homes have a separate utility, just off the kitchen, with built-in units for storage, ideal when you need somewhere to store party supplies including summer drinks or burger buns for the barbecue. We’ve put together a handy guide on how to create a homely utility room.
4. All of our new homes, unlike most older properties, boast the convenience of a downstairs cloakroom. This means guests don’t have to go upstairs to use the family bathroom.
5. Every new home in the Heritage Collection features either patio or French doors for an easy transition between inside and outside, ideal for hosting a summer garden party whatever the weather.

Tips to prepare for hosting a garden party this summer

Barbecue season is in full swing, so it’s a great time to take the party outside. To help ensure your garden gathering goes to plan, follow these top tips.

1. Send out summer party invitations – create a WhatsApp group or private Facebook event or go old school with traditional paper invitations. If you’ve recently moved into your new home, remember to include the address and postcode or give them a what3words reference, which will direct them right to your front door.
2. Hosting a garden party or barbecue is a great way to get to know your new neighbours, but even if you’re not inviting your immediate neighbours, it’s a good idea to let them know about the event even if it’s just so they can take their washing inside away from barbecue smoke.
3. A quick garden tidy is always worth it. Weed your pots, flower beds and any patio areas and deadhead plants, mow the lawn and clear away the clippings. Sweep and jetwash the patio or decking for an extra sleek finish.
4. Ensure the barbecue is clean and that you have enough gas or charcoal to cook for your guests.
5. Make a party playlist of classic summer tunes and party anthems that will have your guests up dancing.
6. It may be summer, but you can’t always rely on the weather. Invest in a gazebo or awning in case of rain or to shelter from the sun. Position parasols over the table.
7. Be prepared to move the party indoors – our homes have French or bifold doors for easy access and a great way to allow a seamless flow from the outside to in.
8. Having outdoor heating such as a chimenea, fire pit or patio heater will enable you to stay outside later in the evening as the weather turns colder. Another option is to have blankets at the ready, stored in boxes or put on the back of chairs.

Find more advice on making the most out of your garden. 

Outdoor cooking & dining tips

Cooking and dining outdoors requires slightly more planning than hosting indoors. With these simple steps you’ll be able to spend more time with your guests rather than toing and froing between inside and outside.

1. Be prepared – chop your salad, slice the burger and hotdog buns and marinate ingredients in advance so that you’re not stuck in the kitchen prepping once your guests arrive.
2. Set aside an area of the barbecue or if space allows have a second barbecue for guests with special dietary needs such as vegans or vegetarians or those with allergies.
3. Provide a condiments and cutlery station near where you’re serving food where guests can help themselves easily without having to keep asking for items.
4. If you’re cooking over charcoal, one of the key barbecue cooking tips is to light it before guests arrive to allow time for the coals to reach the right temperature. They should glow red with a powdery grey surface when they’re ready to cook over.
5. Consider part cooking meats inside and finish them off on the barbecue. A food thermometer is a barbecue essential. Food should be 75oC or above when cooked
6. Chill drinks in advance and consider making a batch of summer cocktail drinks ahead of time such as sangria or a white wine mojito. Provide non-alcoholic summer drinks options and not just for the children.
7. Create a drinks station or bar outside to reduce trips back inside. An old bookcase can be repurposed as a bar – perfect for storing and serving drinks from. A clean wheelbarrow full of ice can be used to keep bottles and cans cool.

Ways to dress your home and garden ready to party

Create the party atmosphere by decorating your home and garden for the occasion. You may decide you love the vibe so much that you leave the party decorations up long after the last guest has left.

1. Inside or outside, lanterns or candles on the table, can add to the ambience. The scent of a citronella candle will help keep bugs away.
2. Match your party decorations with the décor of your home and to the colour of the plants in your garden.
3. Festoon lights on the fence can be fun and functional enabling the party to continue outside.
4. Colourful outdoor cushions will brighten up the space, while adding extra comfort to your seating. We’ve included tips on choosing outdoor dining furniture in our guide to dining room trends . We’ve put together an easy to follow guide to outdoor garden social space ideas, to help create the ideal summer garden party venue.

For more garden space ideas, read our guide.

For outdoor games ideas for summer, check out our top tips.