After Dinner and Late Night Entertaining

You go to a dinner, a show, or a movie, but the night doesn’t feel like it’s quite done. There are plenty of late-night options, but you and your date, friends, or out-of-town guests aren’t in the mood to deal with a crowded bar or a 24-hour diner.

There’s an art to late-night, in-home entertaining, and if you do it right, there will never be a doubt as to where everyone wants to wind up the evening. The Design Team at Baer’s Furniture recognizes how important in-home entertaining is to many of its loyal customers. That’s why they helped to prepare this guide for late-night entertaining.

Entertaining Spaces

Most late-evening, impromptu get-togethers wind up in the living room, dining room, or kitchen. The layout of your home will determine which is best for entertaining, but let’s start with the living room since it’s the first choice for most people.

Living Room Entertaining

There are a few different ways to go with this space. If you believe you’ll be watching television or playing video games, a reclining sofa or a set of reclining chairs provides some of the best seating for these activities. If you are mostly interested in conversation, drinks, and hors d’oeuvres, you can arrange seating around a coffee table.

This photo featuring a sofa, loveseat, and chair from Bernhardt’s Addison Collection would comfortably seat six adults. Add an end table and coffee table, and you have the perfect location for an after-dinner digestif.

Dining Room Entertaining

No one should be expecting you to serve a full seven-course meal after a movie, but you may offer to heat up some lasagna or even order a few pizzas. If that’s the case, you’ll want your dining room ready to go. If you don’t entertain often, though, you don’t want to just leave flatware and cutlery arranged about the table where they can gather dust. A nice buffet with a stack of plates, cutlery, and napkins inside ensures that you can serve a meal in a snap.

While this picture was taken during daylight hours, it’s the perfect setup for a little late-night snack spread. Notice the Tommy Bahama Home Turtle Point Buffet in the background ready for service. This particular piece has interior lights that shine through the seafoam-colored glass to add to the late-night ambiance.

Kitchen Entertaining

The kitchen is best for small, informal get-togethers or late-night drop-ins — that friend who just happens to be in your neighborhood with a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine. Still, unexpected or not, it’s probably important for you to be hospitable and offer your guests a seat. The Hidden Lake Bistro Table with Burnished Stainless Steel Top is a counter-height table that’s ideal for a smaller closed kitchen.

Pro Tips for the Late-Night Host

Here are a few tips that will put you in the Late-Night Entertainment Hall of Fame!

Intoxicated Guest Solutions

For many people, nighttime entertainment means drinking, and that will occasionally make it unsafe for your guests to drive home. As the host or hostess, you have a legal and ethical responsibility to keep your guests and others safe.

One of the best ways to accomplish this is to have a place for them to sleep. Many people feel awkward about turning a one-hour visit into an overnight stay, so you’ll have to take away their excuses. “Listen, I have an extra toothbrush and pajamas. You’ll sleep like a baby in the guest room, and you’ll make me feel much better.”

If you don’t have the space for a guest room, consider buying a convertible sofa. If you start unfolding the sleeper sofa as you’re talking to them, they’ll realize that you’re sincere in your concern.

Keep a Small Cache of Snacks and Drinks

If you’re planning to head back to your place after 10 p.m., your last-minute shopping options will be limited to bodegas, gas stations, and 24-hour drug stores. Keep a few basic items on hand, and you’ll always be ready for the impromptu evening at home. For example, if you have a cocktail you’re particularly good at making, keep the ingredients on hand. “Who’s up for some nachos and a round of my signature spicy margaritas?” Who would say no to that?

Call Ahead to Security

If you live in a gated community or a condo, call ahead and let security know you’re planning on having a few guests. Nothing spoils a guest’s night like having to wait at the gate or front desk while the security guard ensures that they’re not a burglar.

If you have the space for it, late-night entertaining can lead to some really memorable nights with family, friends, and dating partners. Celebrate these times with high-quality pieces from Florida’s top furniture retailer. With over a dozen stores throughout Florida, there’s bound to be a Baer’s Furniture near you.