Just before Christmas 2011, we introduced some new designer furniture products. One of the most popular ranges was the buffet dinning storage collection. Some of our clients even asked our advice on the subject of throwing the perfect elegant modern dining party. Recipes aside, we set to work gathering the most popular and effective hints and tips from around the contemporary dining furniture and home buffet hosting industry.

• Clear space ranked high on the list. You don’t want your guests to bunch around a small table as they select their dishes, so make sure everything is effectively placed on a good-size dining table. Our range of extending dining tables is ideal. Create a clear walking route into the room and around the table. Minimise the amount of time guests have to wait by placing dishes along the walking route rather than in a single group at the end of the queue.
• Buffets can be a great practical solution to a well-attended home dining event. Think about keeping seating areas separate from the buffet area to prevent crowd build-up.
• Stunning visual layout might be further down the list than making sure there’s a vegetarian option and providing ample serving implements, but it can be quite straightforward to create a buffet table that’s stylish and effective. Varying surface levels is a trick of hotels and restaurants. Add height using stylish, sturdy items like small coffee tables on top of dining tables (the “Cube” side table is an excellent choice)