Strong design should pique the curiosity of every one of our senses - sight, touch, taste, and smell are most often covered through furnishings and decor, greenery and/or candles. But what about our hearing? Yes, sound is intangible, so it tends to fall outside of the scope of design work, but I insist that it must not be forgotten! I happen to be a huge fan of music and can always be found listening to it when I’m by myself, but it’s also my #1 priority when it comes to entertaining… well, alongside offering a variety of good food & drink options, and paying close attention to lighting…

My biggest piece of advice is be sensitive to the volume and read your crowd. I often adjust the volume many times throughout an evening - there tends to be more energy at the start, which pairs well with louder volumes, and there can be a dip in between which requires the sound be softened significantly. The worst is when music is too loud, so when in doubt, softer is better. Be cognizant of where the sound is originating from vs where crowds are forming and try to gauge how well conversation is flowing between parties. People have different sensitivities to sound so you want to be mindful that no one appears to be overwhelmed or too distracted by it. But, when the sound is subtle and almost unnoticeable, it creates such a warm, inviting vibe and takes some of the pressure off of conversation. It encourages relaxation and puts people at ease, and it can help make a space feel cohesive with next to no effort.

So, as we head into entertaining (aka holiday) season, here are a few of my go-to playlists for setting a great vibe when hosting friends and family…

I gravitate toward Jazz (Classical and Piano are a bit too sleepy for me), and sounds with soft beats and few/more muted lyrics. When energy is high, by all means a pop, rap or country playlist is great, but when I’m looking for more of a relaxed yet lively lounge feel (which is most often/I think sets the best tone), I tend to prefer fewer lyrics.

**If anyone has any suggestions or recommendations to add, comment below - I would love to test them out!

All available on Spotify…