Level Up Your Hosting Game With These Tips From Ina Garten

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For many, hosting is a hobby. From collecting table linens to finding interesting ways to design their tables, a true host loves jumping into all of the small details. But even if you have thrown hundreds of dinner parties, there is always room for improvement. That's where entertaining queen Ina Garten comes in. She's been writing cook books and sharing her best hosting tips for decades, and embracing some of those tips can really level up your own hosting game. Whether she's sharing her best tips for an elevated tablescape to her surprisingly simple formula for a fall table, she's got a lot of wisdom to dole out. So if you ever had trouble figuring out how to choose your table colors, seat guests, or make the ambiance less awkward, Garten can help.

In this article, we round up some of her best tips and tricks that will make your next party not just fun, but memorable. The tips span all areas of hosting, from how to make a mismatched tablescape feel coordinated to what to do if some of your guests arrive an hour late and stall the party. You'll be able to weather every challenge and ace every step of your next dinner soiree.

Everyone wants to make an Instagram-worthy tablescape for their dinner parties, so they might think they need to buy 12 new sets of place mats, linen napkins, and glasses each time they want to create a new theme. Understandably, that can stop most people from wanting to host parties because that kind of expense can be huge. But host extraordinaire Ina Garten doesn't think it's necessary. Instead, she thinks you can create an even more memorable tablescape by mixing and matching. "People think that in order to have a beautiful table setting, everything needs to match perfectly. I actually think it's much more interesting to mix things up — but you need to mix them up thoughtfully," she shares on her blog, Barefoot Contessa. "For this table, I chose a simple palette like blue, orange, and cream and I have lots of different glasses and napkins –- even different chairs! It all goes together and looks effortlessly chic!" This even extends to stuff like silverware. "I have a set of silver that's half antique and half new, and I think it looks more modern than your grandmother's silver," she noted in another post.

However, the trick is to have a common thread through all of these mismatched pieces. "All the dishes and chairs don't have to match — if they're the same color and about the same shape, they'll look just fine together," she explained. So if you have all different kinds of chairs, but they're all white oak, they will still look attractive grouped at one table. Or if you have some dishes that are scalloped, some that are round, others that have ridges, but they're all white, they will look beautiful arranged on your dinner table. In fact, the different textures and designs will create a more dynamic and fanciful display than simply a copy-pasted version of each table setting.

If you don't know how to arrange beautiful dining table centerpieces, you might worry that your tablescape will look lackluster. While there are plenty of tutorials on TikTok and Pinterest, some people just can't quite get it right. If that's you, Ina Garten suggests a simpler route that will look just as beautiful: a large cluster of bud vases. "It's not so easy to do a flower arrangement, but if you do lots of bud vases, you can move them around until they're perfect," she shares on Today. "You've got like this fanciful kind of dancing flowers."

In the segment, she shows how she clusters several vases together, and in the end, they look as impressive as a large bouquet but with half of the fuss. When creating your own arrangement, you still want to follow the same principles as you would when creating a larger bouquet. For example, you still want to use the 3-5-8 rule, just disperse the blooms across bud vases. This rule uses 3 showstopping flowers, 5 foliage pieces that add texture, and 8 filler flowers. You add foliage first, the main flowers second, and filler flowers last. Move around the bud vases until you get the arrangement you want.

Do you have a difficult time making your tablescape look cohesive? Level up your hosting game by following one of Ina Garten's simple design tips: "I usually base the color of the setting on the color of the flowers. Not lots of different flowers, but simply one big bowl of something dramatic: orange tulips, hot pink peonies, or white roses with lime green alchemilla," she shared on her blog, Barefoot Contessa. In an age of elaborate TikTok tablescapes that mix and match different tablecloth, napkin, and place mat prints and colors, this is a refreshing take. Not only does it keep the table looking simple and inviting, but it also gives the host less to think about. Simply choose one color, and run with it. It's one of Garten's best tips for an elevated tablescape.

You can implement this tip by either going to the grocery store flower section with a color already in mind or becoming inspired by whatever pops out at you from the current selection. But if you don't want to buy new linens, it's best to zero in on a flower shade that you already have. For example, if you have a yellow striped tablecloth you're planning to use for your spring dinner party, then zero in on yellow tulips or a giant bouquet of daisies. If you can't find flowers with the exact same color as your linens, go to the next closest hue. For example, if you have blue napkins, consider finding purple flowers. Or if you have red linens, match them with pink flowers, and so on.

To help your chosen tablescape's flowers pop, Ina Garten recommends keeping the tablecloth very simple. She keeps her background neutral so the rest of the design choices can take center stage. "To make the flowers look their best, I'll use a paler color tablecloth — usually white, cream, or natural Belgian linen," she explained on her blog, Barefoot Contessa. She then takes it a step further and also ensures her plates act as a similar backdrop for her dishes. "The plates are almost always white (it makes the food look best)," she shared. This ensures that certain elements catch your guests' eyes as they enter the room.

The nice thing about white tablecloths is that they're very easy to find and are usually a bargain. You can get them overnight if you buy them from Amazon, like the Softopia Cotton Store tablecloth, which is 100% cotton. If you're looking for a nice, natural linen color, Target has some great options at affordable prices. For example, the Threshold Linen Blend Tablecloth is only $24.

Hosting a party isn't just about planning the menu and setting a beautiful table. It's also about carefully curating an atmosphere that puts everyone in the mood to mingle and have fun. To create a guest friendly home, you also need to consider things like scent, lighting, and most importantly, music. Most people remember to put on music, but they may not think about when it should start. Well, Ina Garten has a hard rule for that: "I like [to have it on] when people arrive," she shared on a segment with Today. She keeps music playing softly while putting the finishing touches on the food, ensuring the playlist is underway as the first guest rings the doorbell. And the reason why is very relatable: "Because it's not that moment when you arrive, and it's quiet, and you're like, did I arrive on the wrong day?"

If you're unsure of what kind of music to play, you can simply go on Spotify and write "dinner party" in the search. All sorts of curated playlists will pop up, and you can choose the one you like best. You can also choose a playlist tailored to your theme. For example, if it's a summer bash you're throwing, search "summer dinner party playlist." Or if you want something soft and moody during the fall, search "fall inspired jazz". The app has thousands of playlists, so you will likely chance upon one that fits your exact needs. Having a great playlist running in the background is one of the easiest ways to set up your home for a memorable dinner party.

Here's an unexpected tip that will level up your hosting game: Don't keep couples seated together. By splitting them up, you will stimulate new conversations and great catch-up sessions that likely wouldn't happen if they were sitting next to their other half. There is also a specific sequence that Ina Garten puts her guests in: "I like boy boy, girl girl. So everybody's sitting next to a boy and a girl," she told Today.

However, that doesn't mean you should put the split couples on opposite sides of the table. Instead, put them across from or kiddie-corner to each other. That way, they're close enough where they feel comfortable, but can mingle with people they don't get to see every day. To ensure you get this arrangement without issue, put a seating card on each person's plate setting. This can be as simple as creating one yourself with cardstock and a pen, or as fancy as downloading a template off Etsy or Canva that matches your theme. For example, the Handwritten Watercolor Cards on Etsy can add a touch of whimsy to your table.

The best parties are ones where the host is relaxed and unbothered, and you won't be able to be that if you're worried that hot dishes and spilled wine might ruin your nice dining room table. Take that worry out of the equation with a simple trick that Ina Garten recommends: "I cover the table with a waterproof runner to protect the table. Then I put a tablecloth over it," she shared on Instagram. That way, you don't have to wince if someone puts a bowl of hot mashed potatoes next to –- and not on — a trivet. Let the guests do as they please, and your expensive piece of furniture will stay intact.

Specifically, you want a waterproof tablecloth with a flannel backing. The waterproof upper will keep spills and rings at bay while the soft backing will add cushioning and protection to the table. A good example of this is the Homing Spillproof Flannel Backed Tablecloth, which retails for an affordable $8.99. It's a cheap addition to your hosting routine, but it will negate a lot of stress.

It might be tempting to save time with paper napkins, especially if you're having just a few people over for a quick dinner party or happy hour. But if you want to elevate your hosting game, do as Ina Garten does and always set down linen napkins — even if just one friend is swinging by. This is an observation about Garten that House Beautiful made, where a writer noticed that the hosting guru never had a stack of convenient paper napkins on hand, not even for casual dinners at home with her husband. And the end result feels way more elevated and sophisticated.

So skip the stack of themed paper napkins at your next party and instead invest in something more permanent. To get you started, you can always try a linen pack from Amazon. While the quality is sometimes lacking — whether due to loose stitching or subpar material — you can sometimes strike gold and find some legit brands. For example, Ruvanti Cloth Napkins come in a set of 12, and reviewers say they're nice and thick and don't wrinkle after washing. However, if you want something fancier, try Crate & Barrel's Aspen Organic Cotton Napkins. Reviewers who are daily users of these napkins report having had them for upwards of five years without any issues.

Most people think that an official dinner party should be formal and thus be held at the dining room table. But that can throw off the vibe in some situations. For example, if you have a hodgepodge of people coming who don't know each other very well, things might get a little stiff if you seat them primly in the dining room. If you want to put less pressure on your guests, Ina Garten recommends moving things into the kitchen. "I tend to entertain in the kitchen rather than in a formal dining room, because I think everybody feels more relaxed," she tells The Food Network.

This can be around your kitchen table, or, if you don't have one, around the island. If you have a kitchen table, you can still have the same sit-down dinner you would in the dining room, just without the formal air. But if you only have a large island, you can invite guests to either pull up bar stools or mingle standing around the island. This is even more casual and should help guests float in and out of conversations as they see fit. However, in those cases, you want to tailor your menu to work well with standing. After all, you don't want to serve something that they need a knife and fork to eat. Instead, think of small bites and one-handed foods.

Hosting can feel chaotic, even if you're a seasoned professional like Ina Garten. After all, there is a lot to keep track of – from seating arrangements to dinner menus to ambiance curation. The list goes on and on. To keep yourself from getting frazzled, Garten suggests planning everything down to the smallest detail. "I sit down and make a list of everything I can do in advance and divide it among the number of days left until the party," she wrote for House Beautiful. "Three or four days in advance, I'll decide on the menu, make the shopping list, and plan the schedule." However, she's super specific. She will add the number of ounces, pints, gallons, or other units she needs for each ingredient. The same goes for her schedule. "The schedule will read: 5:00 P.M. boil the potatoes; 5:30 P.M. turn the oven to 350 degrees; 6:00 P.M. put the lamb in the oven," she explained.

She will also set the entire table two days before, so she's not scrambling with plates, linens, or flower arrangements the day of. "I also take out all the platters and write Post-its for them that say 'lamb' and 'orzo.'" she shared. That way, everything will go smoothly from oven to plate.

Sometimes things happen and people can't make it on time, but if you're throwing a dinner party, the food can begin to cool, and the guests can begin to get peckish. It can be awkward figuring out what to do, but Ina Garten has a solid game plan. "I wait for up to 30 minutes for the latecomers to arrive. If they're still not there, I quietly rearrange the table setting to remove their plates, glasses, and chairs, and put them aside," she wrote for House Beautiful. "If the friends arrive later, everyone can quickly rearrange themselves to make room — and then I serve them whatever course we're eating at the time."

It might feel slightly rude or unforgiving at first to clear their table setting in front of everyone, but you're really doing the latecomers a favor. If you have ever been late to a sit-down dinner, you probably were stressed trying to inch out of traffic and race to the party. People know how much time and effort goes into throwing a gathering, and they don't want to be the reason it gets derailed. Moving on without them takes the pressure and blame off them, so it's actually a kindness. And if they show up after the whole course is done, offer to either heat them a plate, or send them home with leftovers if they don't want to be the only ones eating.

You likely spent a lot of time (and money) making your tablescape look just so. You thought of what kind of tablecloth to put out, mixed and matched plates to create a memorable display, and created an interesting bouquet that elevated the event. But chances are you haven't thought of how the table would look while you were eating. Ina Garten, though, thinks you should make it attractive at every stage. That's why she prefers to create a buffet rather than have dishes sitting on the table. "I don't like to see all of those half-eaten dishes on the table. I just don't," she wrote in her book, Go To Dinners.

If you have an open concept kitchen and dining room, you can put the buffet on your island. If you don't, you can either artfully arrange your dishes on the buffet, or if you don't have that, a fold out table with a coordinating tablecloth. To ensure all of the dishes have a chance to stand out, place some of them on risers. This will keep things like salads and sides from fading into the background. Such an example is the Neatsure 8-Pack Buffet Risers. Simply arrange them across the island or table, and place the dishes right on top.