The One Item Every Good Hostess Should Have

The Tiered Server

You may not think of yourself as a “hostess” or one who likes to throw elaborate affairs but just by opening the door to your home to friends, you are one.  That is not to say that you have to have a big arsenal of items at the ready to cater to your guests or that you need to jump through hoops to make their time in your home something they will never forget.  Having a few key pieces will add to your confidence and allow you to pull off even a last minute, casual but classy visit.

-Cute cocktail napkins are something that can be easily stored in your pantry.  You wouldn’t want to have to hand your dearest pal a paper towel with her iced tea would you?

-Having a platter on which you can serve cheeses, cookies, dried fruits and nuts or anything else that your heart desires is also something simple to have on hand.  There are no hard and fast rules for what it should look like but it should reflect your home -in style, color, formality, etc.  I’m certainly not going to bring out a sterling silver tray for my guests as they are sitting on the futon in my living room.  It just wouldn’t be right.  But a nice, modern white tray would look more at home.

-There is one piece, the tiered server, however that I think every good hostess should have.  A tiered server is a multi level accessory that can be used in a wide variety of ways.  This gorgeous piece is both decorative and functional.  Imagine it set with fresh fruits, chocolates and other small sweets for having the ladies over one afternoon.  It could be styled as a coffee bar with all kinds of yummy mix-ins and toppings for an after dinner treat.  A full breakfast spread with bagels, sweet rolls and bacon could all be placed on this efficient piece.  And that is just the start!  Remember that the tiers do not have to hold the same items and they can also be mixed with edible and non edible items.  How magical would this look on a coffee table covered in lit white votive candles?  And think about it in terms of holding fresh flowers and you have an absolutely out of the box and stunning pop of color for the room.  I’ve also seen this type of item used for displaying curated collections.  The effect is stylish and creative.

A tiered server would make a terrific hostess gift.  Now tell me, do you have a tiered server?  What is your favorite way to use it?

Posted January 24, 2013 at 3:30 am by Sharon Garofalow