Arrange your spaces to keep guests flowing through the party. RELATED LINKS Sheila Bridges: Designer Living Weekly Television Series More About Sheila Bridges Sheila Bridges Entertaining: 7 Days, 7 Ways Finding Your Style with Sheila Bridges Furnishing Forward: A Practical Guide to Furnishing for a Lifetime - Purchase this book...

Throwing a party is all about good friends, good food, and a good time. But to plan an event that will truly stand out, you've got to consider more than just the guest list and the menu. The best party hosts pay attention to an event's entire design, controlling numerous elements in order to keep things enjoyable for everyone.

Named "America's Best Interior Designer" by CNN and Time Magazine, Sheila Bridges is the founder of Sheila Bridges Design Inc., a company committed to creating thought-provoking and comfortable high-end residential spaces. Her television show, Sheila Bridges Designer Living, airs on Fine Living. Here she offers ideas to help you make your next party successful and memorable:

• Plan a warm welcome.
  Make a great first impression the moment your guests step through the door. Consider placing a fresh flower arrangement in the foyer, or warming up the entrance area with luminous pillar candles.

• Manage the party flow.
  Also give some thought to how you wish the event to flow through your home's spaces. Since people naturally gravitate towards the food, spreading out the snacks can be a great way of making sure people don't bunch up in one place. Try serving appetizers in one room and the meal in another, or even having dessert al fresco.

• Create conversation centers.
  Arrange seating in a way that encourages intimate, comfortable interaction between guests.

• Light for mood.
  Lighting is one of the key elements in creating a party's mood. Use multiple "up" and "down" sources of light, and try out different colored bulbs for either a calming or energizing effect.

• Mix up the tunes.
  Music is also very important to the mood of a party. Burn and play mixes of different artists and songs instead of playing entire albums at a time- it will keep the mood from stagnating.

• Make it a production.
  Your party should be a production, not just a gathering. Take time to design the experience and you're sure to get rave reviews from your guests.

Resources:

Sheila Bridges' Website, www.sheilabridges.com