Log home living is all about togetherness, and hosting a party is a great way to make memories with friends and family. It’s also a great way to make new friends. Some of the most popular features in log homes—like expansive great rooms and wraparound decks—practically call out for a party.

From cozy winter gatherings around the fire to laid-back summertime BBQs on the deck, hosting events doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re a seasoned host or getting ready to throw your first-ever soiree, here are some tips to help you put on an unforgettable event.

Plan ahead.

Hosting events requires good planning. Set a date, create a guest list, and send out invitations well ahead of time. This allows your guests to clear their schedules and will help ensure a good turnout. Plan your menu, decorations, music, and entertainment in advance to avoid last-minute stress.

Set the mood.

Pay attention to lighting, music, and the overall feel of the space. If you’re hosting a dinner party, opt for soft lighting and music that allows comfortable conversation. If you’re throwing a bash, you’ll want music with energy—tunes that get people mingling and dancing. Carefully curate a playlist for the mood you want to create.

Break the ice.

A great party will have lots of chatter and laughter and few dull moments. Icebreaker games are a great way to break tension and get your guests mingling. It doesn’t have to feel corporate. A simple round of introductions or trivia can break the ice between guests who don’t know each other well.

You can’t always predict what your guests will bring up in conversation, but you can bring the discussion into more agreeable topics. If the conversation merges into unsafe territory—like politics or controversial subjects—gently bring it back to safer topics like food, music, and entertainment.

Have a signature cocktail/beverage.

Mojito, anyone? Or how about your famous sweet tea? A signature cocktail or beverage is a natural conversation starter and gives your guests something special to remember.

Make sure to offer both an alcoholic and non-alcoholic option to accommodate all preferences. Kids love a Shirley Temple, the iconic mocktail with a cherry on top.

Help guests feel comfortable.

Parties can get awkward when guests don’t know each other. People often end up forming cliques, and some guests may be left feeling like a fish out of water. The best way to avoid this is to invite people who already know each other.

If this isn’t possible, it’s especially important to practice good etiquette by guiding guests through the night, so they know what to expect. Make introductions and try to facilitate conversation.

Make extra food.

There’s no such thing as preparing or ordering too much food and drink, but it’s a definite no-no to have too little. Having a nice variety of food—and plenty of it—allows guests to freely take seconds (or thirds). And who doesn’t love leftovers?

Give yourself a break.

If you’re the type who likes to get things done right, it’s easy to get hung up on every last detail. But overthinking can lead to analysis paralysis.

Make things easier for yourself by taking well-planned shortcuts. If food prep makes you anxious, order takeout or hire a caterer. If mailing invitations is a project you’d rather avoid, use Evite. Whatever you can do to make hosting a party less stressful, do it.

Log Home Decorating Ideas

Play up the natural features of your log home or cabin with these decorating ideas:

Rustic table settings: Gather materials from around your cabin to decorate the table, such as pinecones or bundles of twigs tied with burlap. Use log slices as the base for your table settings, along with rustic tableware like wooden plates and bowls. Finish the table with mason jar centerpieces with wildflowers.

Cozy fireplace/fire pit: If your log home has a fireplace or outdoor fire pit, make it the focal point of your party. Arrange comfortable seating around the fireplace and add plush blankets and pillows to create a cozy gathering spot for your guests.

Bistro lighting on the deck: If you have a deck, enhance the ambiance with bistro lights. Stringing these soft, warm lights overhead will lure people outside to mix and mingle. Combine bistro lights with comfortable outdoor seating and rustic decorations for a spot guests will love.

Build Your Dream Home with eLoghomes

If you’re still in the planning or visualization phase of building a log home, eLoghomes is here to support you. We are the nation’s premier log home manufacturer and builder. With hundreds of different models and floor plans to choose from, you’ll find the perfect log home for your family in our huge catalog.

Our homes have already been expertly designed and engineered, so you don’t need to hire an architect. Yet each one is fully customizable, so you create your dream home down to the last detail.

Ready to get started? Search our portfolio to find your perfect log home, then call us for pricing.