Help! I need to impress...

[GingerOClock]

Well,not impress exactly, maybe just make me relax and feel comfortable doing this. I've stupidly invited some school mum's over for drinks. I haven't done 'drinks' before. I'm not usually social. They are middle/upper class. I am not.
Please give me tips on how to improve the appearance of my house . Also, what food to put out, canapes? Drinks? Wine or something else?

I assume it's not tonight?!

Oh no! Gosh, I'd be hyperventilating if it were! Next weekend so I have time!

Planning a trip to Homesense to get a couple of bits to spruce up my kitchen. Thinking things like oil dispensers, wine decanter etc?!

Wine decanter is trying too hard imo.
Just be yourself!

Just remembering things I have picked up on when being a guest...

I always notice really nice wine glasses. Also a candle or oils or room spray for a nice smell. Good lighting, lamps etc.

Things that impress me when visiting people are that they're relaxed and themselves. Wine decanters are fussy as hell. I want to feel at home! Nice hand wash and lotion in the bathroom is my one exception to this rule

Yy to nice candles and hand soap/moisturiser!

This is great

• decent hand soap (I have a love hearts kids one currently, so this is a great shout!)
• hand lotion
• candles
• fairy lights maybe ? Never sure what to do with them

You don't need a wine decanter. You need copious fairly nice wine and some nibbles out of M&S. Or maybe some nice gin and tonic. As long as your home is clean and cosy you don't need to do anything else. Just be yourself.

Keep it simple, make sure the house is clean and tidy, nice wine glasses, candle or other nice room scent, good towels in the bathroom, and some fresh flowers on display. And some good wine, obvs!

• flowers
• M&S nibbles, can I not go wrong there?!
• upgrade handtowel

Drinks:
Put out wine, both red and white (or just white if you prefer). I'd personally pick a Sauvignon Blanc for the white, and maybe a Rhône for the red - but that's personal preference.
Gin&tonic is a good alternative for those who don't like wine, but only if you know what proportions to mix (no doubt you can look this up on the internet).
And for those who don't want booze, it's nice to have elderflower cordial to mix with water, or just squash.
And depending on what time they're coming (pre or post 6pm) you could offer tea. For middle-upper class, it's good to be able to offer Earl Grey and ask if they'd like it with milk or a slice of lemon (never both)
Nibbles-wise: Some crisps, ideally something like Kettle chips, with hummus.
Chop some cucumber / carrot sticks if you'd like a healthy alternative, again with a bowl of hummus.
Olives if you like them. But not from a tin of brine - from a jar or pot.
I like to put everything in a bowl/dish rather than in the packet they came in.
To be clear, non of these are "rules", they're just my personal preferences and things that are often offered (in my experience).
Hope that's helpful

Re making your house look nice, that's hard to say without knowing what it looks like. Are there any specific items that you're not sure about, that you might want to hide? Eg trashy newspapers or copies of Hello! If so, please ask!

You are SO not going to relax and enjoy it if you are out buying oil dispensers etc to spruce up your home in preparation!
These are people you've invited to your home so you must think they are nice friendly people. Surely they won't be looking at you and your home and judging you and if they are I very much doubt a few bits from homebase are going to sway their thoughts.
They will be coming to have fun and relax.
They must like you or they wouldn't have accepted your offer. You don't need to impress. You need to be you.
I'd provide wine, few spirits and mixers.
Foods like wraps, quiche/tarts and maybe a help-yourself salad.

I think don’t go OTT. Clean,tidy bathroom,one nice soap and nice hand lotion,good toilet roll.

Kitchen - is it just drink nibbles? Maybe a nice serving dish? Or a chopping board with cheese,cold meats and crackers? Also ditto on nice glasses - are people bringing their own drink ? I have borrowed glasses from friends before example whiskey glasses,nice champagne flutes ?

Make sure the house is as clutter-free as possible and clean. You could put things like shoes and excess coats in the car (yes I do this 😂). Immaculately clean bathroom with no clutter, clean hand towel etc. Candles in the main room you'll be in, Sainsbury's do some nice -not too expensive- scented ones.

Choose a good quality red wine and offer a white or Prosecco. I'd get a couple of bottles of each but they might bring some too. Sparkling water is always good, the one in the glass bottle. Perhaps some elderflower cordial too. Snacks could be kettle chips, large olives, caramel-cashews. You don't need to go OTT. It's really nice of you to invite them! Hope you have a nice time.

Charcuterie is always a winner in our v middle class evenings.

If you're doing elderflower cordial mix it with sparkling water not just tap though.

Make sure House is clean and smells nice and toilet is spotless, clean hand towel and loo roll is hung right way. 😉

PS
Yes to: clean, tidy and cosy, and being yourself!
Yes to: nice hand soap and hand lotion, and a scented candle (not the industrial-type ones that smell of toilet cleaner, but you probably can't go wrong with something from M&S or John Lewis) - these are optional though and you certainly wouldn't be judged for not having them.

No to wine decanter - far too try-hard.
No to spending lots of money on stuff you don't actually like yourself.

@SuziQ10 ha ha I love the fact that you hide stuff in the car  And oh my goodness caramel cashews sound divine - where can I get them?!

@Bloomburger I actually prefer elderflower cordial with tap water, but I appreciate I'm unusual. And oh dear lord I can't believe you've started the loo roll debate 🙈

Pineapple?

Impresses apparently

Fairy lights?

You are all so kind and this is all so helpful, thank you!

I would usually have elderflower with tonic? Recently anytime I have seen elderflower cordial I have seen the rhubarb and ginger one too - lovely if having gin - maybe not necessary otherwise?

I would also try and not drink a lot on this occasion just to get an idea of what people are like if they aren’t well known to you - maybe that’s just me though

As long as your house and wine glasses are clean all you need is plenty of wine and maybe a tapas board.

I get packets of charcuterie pile over salad on large slate with chunks of cheese, some sundried toms/artichokes/chargrilled peppers nuts and dried fruit. Looks and tastes great and all out of packets/jars.

Make sure everyone knows to get a taxi and keep topping up glasses.

If I have friends over, I will usually do a gin based cocktail in advance for arrival to help get the evening going. My other friend introduced me to 'pimp your prosecco' where you put out nice garnishes eg strawberries and raspberries and maybe some nice liqueur or chambord. If you're doing gin and tonics I find the mini cans of mixers great to pop in the fridge and people can help themselves. Also having ice on hand is great. Love the idea of a charcuterie board by a pp. Yum! Maybe some carbs e.g. garlic bread would help to soak up the alcohol too. Have fun!

Just to add, No to fairy lights (unless you personally really like them and would have them anyway). If you do feel the urge, best that they're plain white and not themed (eg butterflies or flowers).

Also I would say the cocktails idea is fine if it's a group of good friends and you've invited them round for a cocktail night. But if you've just invited a group of people who aren't your close friends "for drinks" (as you say), then cocktails might seem a bit full-on (apart from gin & tonic which is normal).