I love entertaining, and summertime is my favorite time to entertain because of the casual, last-minute approach you can take to it. But I’m not a great cook…okay, I don’t cook at all, much to Rach’s dismay! So I’m always looking for ways to make take-out or delivery feel a little more special. I start by drawing my decorative inspiration from the food I’m serving.

For example, for a fun way to serve up Chinese fare, why not take the party outside? Make a table cover out of Chinese newspaper by covering it with clear contact paper. Get a couple of cool tea tins and after dumping the the tea into Ziploc bags for later use, turn them into small vases going down the center of your table.

Tea Tins such as these can be found at Pearl River

These are also great to use as parasol holders if you fill them with rocks for stability.  You can also use them to hold chopsticks. Incorporate some paper lanterns into the space and voila! Insert image

If you have a local Chinese grocery store, go check it out. You will probably get inspired just walking down the aisles! The packaging alone is enough to send my mind reeling- so many great colors and designs.  You’ll find favors, placemat materials, and so much more. If you don’t have a local shop like this, there are plenty of resources online like Pearl River and Cost Plus World Market that offer great, inexpensive items.  If you live near a big city. it most likely has a Chinatown-make a day of it and go explore!

Of course, you’re not limited to Chinese- you could take this same approach with Indian, Mexican, Italian or Moroccan food.  A Mexican blanket makes a fantastic colorful tablecloth; pair it with fun vibrant imported sodas and a delicious Mexican feast. Who doesn’t love that?

Links to check out:

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Mexican Folk Art

About Chinese Culture and Chinatowns

If you lack an outdoor space but want that same feeling for your next dinner party, then bring the outside in! Your dining room may be itty-bitty, or maybe you don’t have one at all- but if space is tight and you still want to play hostess, then try an indoor picnic. Doesn’t sound elegant? It truly can be.

Banish some excess furniture (just the coffee table, side chairs or end tables) to the bedroom for the evening to create space. Fill every nook and cranny with simple white pillar candles, turn off all over-head lights and open the windows. Right away you start to feel the outdoors creeping in. Now, really set the mood: go all out and add a scented candle that relates to a garden. Votivo makes a great one called English Garden Ivy, or Aunt Sadie’s Fresh Cut Grass, to truly feel like you’re “lawning it”. And don’t leave any sense out. Add a summer night soundtrack for the full effect. You can either get a CD of Nature sounds or a Relaxation machine that plays continuously. Running stream, crickets- whatever floats your boat!

Now all you have to do is lay a tablecloth or blanket on the floor, over a big cushy comforter for extra cushioning, along with some throw pillows. Keep some of your furniture around for leaning back on, making this much more comfy than a real picnic; (Not to mention the indoor plumbing bonus!) Again, I’m no chef, so I’ll leave the menu up to Rach, but I think finger food works great here. Tea sandwiches, crudité, lemon squares, for instance. SO fun and definitely elegant, not to mention,  a night none of your guests will soon forget…

Happy Hostessing!

kc

ABOUT KRISTAN CUNNINGHAM

As host and lead designer of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime” and judge on the network’s “$250,000 Challenge” Kristan has brought her accessible and affordable design ideas to viewers for years. Because KC believes that everyone deserves to “live a little lovelier,” she encourages people to not let a lack of funds or do-it-yourself know how stand between them and their dream spaces. A schooled interior designer, but self taught DIY enthusiast, her energy and can-do spirit encourages people to roll up their sleeves and tackle projects on their own.  KC also serves as a design consultant to furniture chain Raymour & Flanigan and lives in Venice, CA with her fiancé Scott and their dog Floyd.

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