How to Host a Party, According to Angelica Hicks (2026)

When you’re hosting a dinner at your home, you want your guests to have a nice time. Ideally, they’ll feel at home in your home. But creating such an ambience isn’t as simple as placing a kitschy “Welcome Home” doormat in your entryway. Instead of literally telling your guests to make themselves comfortable, you can communicate the message through thoughtful details, a relaxing flow, and delicious food that doesn’t run out, according to illustrator and creator Angelica Hicks.

Hicks is known for her cheeky and creative presence on Instagram, where she recreates red carpet and runway looks using household wares and found objects. Given her ability to approximate couture from the likes of balloons, trash bags, and charger plates, it tracks that her guiding principle for hosting a party is to work with what’s in her home. For example, referencing the compact kitchen in her New York City apartment, Hicks says she focuses on cooking easy but satisfying meals that don’t require a ton of dishes and counter space to create, like salad and ravioli. “It's not too much of a mess, and I can actually be present for my guests without stressing about whatever's in the oven.”

Here, Hicks offers her top tips for hosting a party where guests will feel at home, along with the wares to buy to pull off a welcoming party of your own.

Set the Scene

According to Hicks, the first thoughtful detail a host makes happens long before guests arrive: sending invitations. Doing so conveys your intentionality as a host, which can help stoke guests’ excitement. “When I receive [an invitation], I'm like, ‘Oh, this is a plan, a dinner party—this is an event,’” says Hicks, whose Paperless Post collection of 16 illustrated invitations went live October 5. With an invitation, all logistical information is in one place that you can revisit, saving you from needing to send a series of follow-up messages to confirm the time, location, or other logistics.

Another important pre-party to-do is to curate a guest list of people who don’t already know each other. And for the people who are already well-acquainted, split them up to the best of your ability, whether through seat assignments at dinner or making a point to personally introduce them to others. Couples in particular “spend a lot of time together,” says Hicks. “They came to the party together, and they'll leave together, so it’s quite nice to separate them in the meantime.”

Load Up on No-Cook Food

It might seem contradictory, but Hicks recommends having a lot of food while cooking very little. It’s not a riddle but an eloquent way of suggesting to lay out snacks and appetizers that are easy to refill, such as cheese and crackers, on a beautiful platter (Hicks is partial to the whimsical designs from Carolina Irving and Daughters). “People are hungrier than you’d think,” she says. “Have too [many] things that you can top up and bring out again and again.” Not only does doing so save you from spending all of your time cooking, which can make guests feel uncomfortable, but it also allows you to be present at the event. If you’re spending a hefty portion of the event cooking, you risk being a no-show at your own party.

Have a Bevy of Beverages

Don’t expect every guest to bring a bottle of wine as a host or hostess gift. Instead, stock a wide range of drink offerings like a restaurant so everyone can sip something they enjoy. “Have a bit too much wine, have a bit too much sparkling water, and have a non-alcoholic alternative that makes people who don't drink feel great,” says Hicks.

Make Micro Flower Arrangements

Flowers can add color, texture, and personality to any space—they’re a great addition to any party. But ask Hicks, and less is more when it comes to a floral arrangement. Or, perhaps more accurately, shorter is stronger. With a bud vase, “you can still see across, as opposed to when people have larger arrangements, which actually just look a bit, well, ridiculous in my small kitchen,” she says. Bud vases allow you to fit a few statement stems without the piece becoming the center of the party—or, in some cases, blatantly in the way.

Cue the Candlelight

Hicks has a wall-mounted candle sconce that she says gets a lot of attention from guests. In addition to being a romantic design choice, using candlelight for dinner parties creates a much warmer and cozier environment than standard overhead lighting. And keeping the candles off the table leaves room for plates and protects guests from dangerous accidents.

Avoid the Sound of Silence

Literal silence, to be clear, not the Simon & Garfunkel classic. When Hicks notices that the vibe feels off at one of her gatherings, she first makes sure that there’s music playing. “One reason you might be feeling awkward is that you don’t have that music in the background.” She says her go-to playlist for her parties depends on the crowd and event in question, but in general recommends “being informed of which friends have good Spotify playlists that you can easily play from any speaker.”

Infuse Your Personality

It’s your party, and fun details can help ensure nobody forgets that’s the case. Hicks says pieces of decor that represent your identity can “allow your personality to shine through in ways that aren't necessarily obvious.”

Take, for example, Hicks’ Lego Statue of Liberty, which she built during the pandemic and now uses as a centerpiece. People are curious about it, often complementing its look and asking her when she built it. “There's something kind of glamorous about it,” she says. “Even though it's obviously Lego, it adds an Art Deco feel.”