Finding a home that’s perfect for entertaining is on many wish lists, yet any home can be turned into a great gathering place when you are a confident host. The secret to stress-free entertaining is to keep it easy and casual, says Kim Vallee, a lifestyle and entertaining expert and creator of the popular At Home With Kim Vallee blog.

“You don’t need to impress your guests or be a star chef,” she says. “If you have good company and good conversation, and make your guests feel at home, everyone will tell you they had fun.”

As a mom of a two-year-old, Vallee has adapted her hosting skills around her toddler’s schedule, allowing Vallee to enjoy a great social life at home without needing to get a babysitter every time she wants to spend time with friends.

Here’s how to hone your own open-door approach to entertaining.

Make your home guest-ready

While the shape of your home may dictate the style of entertaining — whether an open-concept kitchen party or a more formal dining room affair — your floor plan should not be an obstacle:

Rearrange the furniture. “If you've got a big gathering but limited space, change your furniture placement for the evening to allow a bit of flow,” says Vallee. If you're not watching TV, for example, there’s no need for the sofa to face it.
Grab a seat — anywhere. Where seating is limited, use benches, foldout chairs or dual-purpose ottomans. Or, try the opposite approach, suggests Vallee: Consider hosting a stand-up cocktail party and make space by clearing everything out of the room.
Set up a serving station. A staple for easy entertaining is a self-serve area for guests, whether it’s a bar, a buffet table, or both. “Even for big parties, when I’ve had 40 people for dinner, I’d never hire a server,” says Vallee. Easier yet, set up your serving area for food that doesn’t require knives and forks, such as chili or a hearty stew.

What food to serve

Across many traditions, food and drink are a hallmark of hospitality, but you don’t have to be formal under your own roof.

Stick with your favourites. Home hosts can stress out over ambitious menus, says Vallee, who suggests a dinner party is no time to try a new recipe. “If you really want to relax, why not just cook one of your easy, everyday meals?” she asks. One of her staples is a crispy chicken recipe from a popular cookbook — an oven-baked meal that allows her to stay out of the kitchen.
Stock your party pantry. Reserve a corner of your cupboard to stock up for spur-of-the-moment get-togethers — flatbreads, tapenades, olives and preserves all have shelf life and offer easy nibbles when passed around on a pretty platter.
Experiment a little. Try something different on a small scale, such as hors d’oeuvres or appetizers. A current favourite of Vallee's is dukkah, a traditional Egyptian mixture of ground herbs, nuts, and spices, which is used as a dip for bread or vegetable sticks. “Make it if you must, but there’s no shame in serving prepared foods,” says Vallee.

Stir up the fun

Vallee suggests loosening things up with a theme to help get guests talking or incite a few laughs.

Have fun with food. Try a variation of “pot luck” for an interactive dinner party, such as a bring-your-own-topping pizza night or an Iron Chef challenge to bring the weirdest secret ingredient.
Share your music playlists. “Ask your friends to bring their five favourite song titles from their twenties and then have your guests match the music to the person,” says Vallee. Online music services can put almost any tune at your fingertips.
Subtle decor sets the mood. There is no need to spend a lot on decor, says Vallee, but small touches can help create a sense of occasion, whether with holiday ornaments, spring flowers, or bundles of Valentine hearts for guests to take home.