Dinner Hosting 101 includes tips for getting your apartment ready as well as your meal!

FIRST UP - YOUR APARTMENT!

To celebrate the launch of our site, Michelle, a lucky New York alum was given a NEXT apartment makeover to help her host on Shabbat. Read below to see how you can get a makeover too!

Michelle has a great apartment in New York's Lower East Side neighborhood but the way her living room was configured left little room for all of her guests. With a friend hosting an upcoming Shabbat, Michelle wanted guests to say the kiddush and enjoy appetizers at her house before walking over to dinner. We saw the challenge and enlisted interior designer Robyn Singer of Conceptual Interiors Inc. (as seen on HGTV!) to help rework Michelle's space.

Michelle's living room before:

You can see Michelle has a nice living room, but right now there isn't much room to move around.

Here in Robyn's drawing, you can see the furniture has been moved and temporary seats have been added to show how Michelle can accommodate her guests. By painting one accent wall behind the couch, Robyn has also created a warm looking area for sitting.

Success! The new set up is just like the plans above. Robyn even created one-of-a-kind artwork for Michelle's wall, (black and white photos of clothes hangers) inspired by the history of the neighborhood.

If that wasn't enough, Robyn even gave the bedroom a little loving care by adding decorative decals to her wall and turning a vintage sewing table into a desk instead of a place for clutter. For more amazing wall decals, check out our Israeli friends at www.studioluka.net.

Now here's a special offer for Birthright Israel alumni! The team at Conceptual Interiors Inc. is offering their services at a discounted rate. You can receive a consultation to discuss:

• Paint color selection
• Floor plan layout and sketches
• Suggestions for product and shopping sources
• Tips and tricks on how to do it yourself
• Accessorizing tips and sources

For more information, contact Robyn Singer-Dror at 718 663-8434 or email info@yourinterior.com.

Here are some of Robyn's key tips for making the most of your space!

• Lighting in a small apartment helps to define space. Since good overhead lighting can be sparse in some small apartments, make sure you place floor lamps or table lamps in about 2-3 spots around the room so that the entire room gets adequate lighting.  

• A fun and affordable way to add some flair to your space is with removable wall stickers. Choose from simple designs such as circles and squares, or more unique options in various colors.

•  Function is key in a small apartment. A coffee table that you can eat on and that can also offer you storage for small items such as the remotes or your laptop is a great multifunctional piece.                                                

• Don't clutter your space with oversized furniture or too many items.  More floor space feels more open and inviting.  Try to select furniture that fit the scale of your apartment.

• When buying a sofa for a small apartment, keep to the narrow or square arm style sofas.  Although a big roll arm may look attractive, the arm size will take away from the amount of seating the sofa can offer.

• Make your space cohesive! Add an accent of color in a pillow for example that matches a painting on your wall. This will really help tie together your space and create a comfortable environment for your guests.

WHAT'S NEXT? THE MEAL OF COURSE!

Basic prep the week before:

• Choose your menu
• Check with your guests for food allergies or other dietary requirements.
• Create your shopping list. *If you plan to order in make sure to give the restaurant a heads up that you'll be placing a catering order for delivery the following week!*

Choosing the menu:

• If you're cooking, choose recipes you can make in advance. This will ensure that you don't need to rush around cooking for the entire night and ultimately give you more time to socialize with your guests!
• Also ensure that you have made your dish at least once before. You will want to know that everything works perfectly on the night.
• Don't feel that you have to cook everything from scratch. It's okay to buy one or more courses already pre-made like the dessert or appetizers.

Here are some quick crowd-pleasing snacks!

• Cheese and crackers
• Snow peas or edamame
• Vegetables and dip
• Bruschetta or pita and hummus

Three Days Before:

• Buy all your ingredients 
• Buy the wine but if you are unsure of the correct wine to serve with your meal just ask the sales staff for advice and show them your menu
• If you are using 'special occasion' cutlery, china or glassware then ensure you take it out of storage to give you time to clean them if needed

One Night Before:

• Tidy the house
• Make any dishes that can be made the night before

HOW ABOUT YOUR TABLE?

• Be careful not to choose scented candles or heavily scented flowers for the table. Perfumed flowers and candles can cover the aromas of your delicious meal.  
• Set the table with as many doubles as you can of things that need to be passed. This will prevent your guests from having to reach across large tables or wait for basic items. Here are some examples of doubles that save time if you have the table space:

• Salts and peppers
• Butter dishes
• Sauce and gravy dishes
• Vegetable serving dishes
• Bread baskets