Host a Relaxed House Party at Home

The party season in Malta often means squeezing lots of guests into compact living and dining spaces. A few simple changes to how you serve, light and arrange your rooms can turn hosting into something you actually enjoy.

Let guests help themselves

The easiest parties are the ones where the host isn't stuck in the kitchen all evening. Instead of mixing drinks one by one, set out a large bowl of something warm and spiced, such as mulled wine simmered with cinnamon, star anise and orange zest, and let people ladle their own glass. Add a cinnamon stick for a nice touch. The same thinking works for food: one big pot on the table with a serving spoon and a stack of plates means everyone serves themselves and you get to stay in the room with your guests rather than running back and forth to the kitchen.

BLANDA BLANK serving bowl, stainless steel, 28 cmOFTAST serving bowl, white, 23 cmBLANDA MATT serving bowl, bamboo, 28 cmBLANDA BLANK serving bowl, stainless steel, 20 cmBLANDA serving bowl, clear glass, 20 cmTRYGG serving bowl, clear glass, 28 cm

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Rearrange furniture for different moods

Most Maltese homes, whether a flat in Sliema or a townhouse in Gozo, do not have room for a separate party space, so the trick is to let one room do several jobs. Push an armchair into a corner for a quiet chat spot, roll back the rug to free up floor space for dancing, and pull stools up near the sofa so there is always somewhere casual to sit. Thinking ahead about what guests will actually want to do, whether that is talking, eating or taking a breather, makes it much easier to lay out a small space well.

Bring in some sparkle

Lighting does more to set a party mood than almost anything else. Chain lights look lovely wound round a doorframe, piled into an oversized glass vase or trailed along a shelf, and they cost very little to run through a long evening. Pair them with plenty of candlelight on side tables and windowsills for warmth. If you would rather not worry about naked flames once the evening gets lively, flameless LED candles give much the same glow without the risk, which is handy in a smaller room where guests are moving about close to furniture.

Dim the lights for a relaxed feel

Bright overhead lighting can make even a well-decorated room feel more like an office than a party. For a softer, more sociable atmosphere, switch off the main ceiling light and rely instead on a floor lamp or wall light in each corner, so the light pools rather than floods the room. A lamp with a dimmer is particularly useful here, since it lets you adjust the mood as the evening goes on, from bright enough for arriving guests to low and relaxed once everyone is settled with a drink.

LAUTERS floor lamp, ash/white, 62 cmRÖDFLIK floor/reading lamp, grey-green, 40x140 cmTÅGARP floor uplighter/reading lamp, black/white, 24 cmÅRSTID floor lamp, brass/white, 36 cmLAUTERS floor lamp, brown ash/white, 62 cmFLYGHÖJD floor lamp, brass/green-grey, 36 cm

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Small changes to lighting, seating and serving can make hosting at home far less stressful. Maltashopper delivers IKEA favourites like these to addresses across Malta and Gozo.

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