How to throw the best family New Year’s Eve party 2022

What a year it has been: we’ve been through countless highs and lows in the past 12 months, but a new year is fast approaching and it’s time to celebrate. A fun-filled New Year’s Eve celebration at home with family and close friends is an ideal way to ring in 2023.

Whether you’re planning a soirée for scores of people, or a close family gathering, we’ve put together our top five New Year’s Eve party ideas that’ll see 2022 out with a bang and minimal fuss involved.

There’s no better greeting than a cocktail and canapés, trust us on this. Leave no side table bare, instead, arrange platters for guests to help themselves to food. This means you can spend less time serving and more time hosting.

If you want to go all out, make sure to read our guide on creating the ultimate DIY home bar.

Tip: Ask each guest to come up with a recipe and ingredients for their favourite cocktail – that way everybody gets to try something new.

Never make meals more complicated than they need to be when hosting. First things first, set out a seating plan with personalised name cards. That way, there’s no fuss to be had when it comes to sitting down.

Dim the ceiling lights and use tealights, lamps and candles to create a cosy atmosphere. For a relaxing touch, don’t forget to queue up your Spotify playlist with plenty of easy-listening song choices.

Lastly, serve dinner buffet-style so everyone can help themselves to as much or as little as they’d like. In the kitchen, load up the platters with something tasty, then add serving spoons and let everyone form a queue! This goes for drinks too, simply fill up jugs regularly and have an ample supply of glasses on hand.

Tip: Big one-pan meals are ideal for buffet-style dining at parties. Curries, pasta dishes, risotto and paella are all great options.

Little details and small touches are what make any party memorable. This doesn’t have to be complicated or take a lot of time. You could make a playlist that includes the favourite song of each guest, or take the time to handwrite name cards for the dining table.

Displaying photographs of your favourite memories from the past year is a lovely way to spark conversation between attendees that might not know each other well prior to attending.

If you have a guest that will require rest or a quiet area during the evening, set up a cosy armchair somewhere they can relax privately. A cosy throw and cushion wouldn’t go amiss either.

Tip: When inviting guests, ask them to RSVP with their food preferences, favourite music, preferred drink and if they have any special requirements or requests.

As the countdown to midnight gets closer, make sure to check that everyone has had enough to eat and drink. To ensure everyone is happy, we recommend zoning your home too, dedicating one area to dancing, and having another for those who prefer to sit, chat and relax.

In the room for dancing, dim the lights and turn the music up! Make sure you have a dedicated clock-watcher to remind everyone when midnight is near.

In the quieter area of the house, have plenty of comfy seating and soft furnishings, snacks, and a relaxed playlist.

As the clock strikes midnight, gather everyone for a rendition of Auld Lang Syne and make sure to raise a toast to the year ahead.

Tip: For children, having a dedicated room or area where they can play or nap is ideal for preventing boredom and keeping them entertained in the hours leading up to midnight.

If you have the room (and the energy) why not invite guests to a sleepover? Taxis are not only expensive but notoriously difficult to get on New Year’s Eve. By planning ahead, you should avoid the hassle of trying to create a bed in the early hours of the morning for unexpected overnight guests.

Even if you don’t have a spare bedroom, multifunctional furniture often provides a place to rest. A chaise lounge or sofa bed will suffice for one night of sleep, or if you have ample room, opt for airbeds. If anyone falls asleep on the sofa before the countdown even begins, keep them snug with a throw or blanket. They’ll thank you in the morning.

For breakfast, leave out a breakfast that doesn’t require you to cook (or even get out of bed). Pastries and juice are always a great choice – and provide painkillers for those feeling a little worse for wear.

Tip: Have more bedding on hand than you think you’ll need – you never know whose taxi will be cancelled!