Make your home party-friendly

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Follow a few simple rules, say socialites and interior designers</span><br /><br />There are lots who party. And there are many who throw parties at home. But behind those few hours of fun is a lot of painstaking planning which goes into designing every corner of the house to make it, yes, party-friendly.<br /><br />For Rita Bhimani, veteran public relations consultant,who is also known for her house-parties,wellplanned parties carries the signature of the host. “It’s important to make enough space when you are entertaining people at home. I open up my living room and dining space extending to the balcony so that it’s one big hub. Often, I use another connecting room as a video room with a bar counter for certain parties. But on special occasions, I like throwing a terrace party complete with proper lighting, live music, catered food et al,� said Bhimani.<br /><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />But actually how well-equipped are Kolkata houses to throw great parties at home? According to architect JP Agarwal, “Punjabis,who love hosting parties always, make sure that they have additional space even if it’s a small flat. But others are just waking up to the fact that to make one’s house party-friendly, special provisions are needed.� According to interior designers, the plan for party space has to be done right when the house is being made and done up. “From the seating and dining arrangement, furniture, lighting, decor, everything needs to be taken care of. A buffet and bar counter, lampshades, movable furniture are a few mandatory things for parties at home,� said interior designer Swagata Guha.<br /><br />Celebrities and socialites in Mumbai and Delhi, for whom throwing the right parties is a prestige issue, agree. Take the case of actress and compere Mandira Bedi and her director husband Raj Kaushal. Their Bandra residence has multiple options for hosting parties depending on the season, the mood of the occasion and the number of invitees. “For a bigger, informal party,we have our terrace where we even make a dance floor. But otherwise,we have a separate living room used only during parties.We have two separate seating areas.When Raj’s friends come over,we usually entertain them at the bar counter with long bar stools. Otherwise,we have a formal sofa arrangement with wooden flooring,� said Mandira.<br /><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">This is how Mandira innovates</span><br /></div> <div class="Normal" style="" margin-left:11pt="" text-indent:-11pt="">▪ She keeps minimal and movable furniture in the living room to make space</div> <div class="Normal"></div> <div class="Normal" style="" margin-left:11pt="" text-indent:-11pt="">▪ There’s a separate space for a buffet spread and a bar counter with bar stools She combine your seating arrangement with a formal sofa set along with low-seating for casual get-togethers</div> <div class="Normal"></div> <div class="Normal" style="" margin-left:11pt="" text-indent:-11pt="">▪ For a casual party, she uses bright coloured curtains, cushions and lamp shades</div> <div class="Normal"></div> <div class="Normal" style="" margin-left:11pt="" text-indent:-11pt="">▪ Her terrace is ideal for big parties. (Even if you don’t have a terrace, you can make space using your balcony)</div> <div class="Normal"></div> <div class="Normal" style="" margin-left:11pt="" text-indent:-11pt="">▪ A music den is necessary, say interior designers and Mandira agrees</div> </div>