Decorating Ideas For Cocktail Parties

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Striking textiles, vibrant tagines, playful pillows—dreaming up a Moroccan-themed party is a matter of filling your space with curated accoutrements that have a faraway feel. Take inspiration from the gathering hosted at this breezy glass-walled Siesta Key estate, which features an open-plan design ideal for entertaining.

The beautiful Sarasota home, situated on Roberts Bay on Siesta Key, is currently on the market with Sotheby's International Realty.

Tiffany Hong

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Philip Ficks

A gracious entryway is a fitting place to set the tone for a festive fête to come. Create a party atmosphere from the moment guests walk in by throwing open your doors—in this home, the foyer embraces the views—and decorating the space with thematic florals. Bring a bit of nature inside by decorating with fresh greenery—it's often as simple as clipping branches from your own backyard. Candlelight imparts a warm and welcoming party atmosphere; try tin lanterns in various colors and sizes. A colorful runner marks a grand entrance and further underscores the cozy, inviting tone.

The entryway turns festive with a decorative serving bowl from Pottery Barn functioning as a vibrant bloom holder. Lanterns from World Market frame a geometric rug by Furbish Studio and light the way inside, where woven baskets from World Market, a CB2 vase, and a colorful throw add visual interest.

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Philip Ficks

With its wall of windows fully open to the infinity pool and bay beyond, this living room is the perfect spot for intimate pre-dinner snacks and conversation. Arrange a low cocktail table at the center of the action, with additional seating in the form of poufs and plush pillows. Switch out your everyday sofa décor for colorful printed pillows in eye-catching jewel tones. By keeping the color palette cohesive, you can play with different prints and patterns to striking effect.

Vibrant purple pillows by Luru Home, blue patterned pillows and natural-hued embellished pillows by John Robshaw, and a striped blanket by Bungalow Rose liven up a seating space for entertaining. Colorful tableware by Chabi Chic Morocco and a striped runner and napkins by Heather Taylor Home lend a worldly feel. Don't forget a pouf like this wool iteration from World Market.

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Philip Ficks

If you've got a beautiful surface like this marble cocktail table, let it shine—no need for tablecloths here. Lay a table runner down the middle to draw the eye, and then mix and match serving bowls of various shapes and sizes on top of it. Finger foods like olives and nuts keep things simple and free your guests' hands from carrying around a plate when what they really want is a refreshing drink—fresh mint iced tea served in colorful Moroccan-style glasses, to be exact.

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Philip Ficks

Tiffany Hong

Set on a striped runner with matching napkins by Heather Taylor Home, an array of patterned tableware by Chabi Chic Morocco and glasses from World Market give the food and beverage presentation an exotic feel. As a unique touch, add a few rosebuds to your table, like these from Rose Dose.

Much like the gracious living room, the open-air kitchen blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living, just steps from the expansive back deck and uninterrupted water views. Move guests through the space by encouraging them to fill a plate buffet-style, making use of unexpected serving pieces like these stunning tagines and printed melamine plates that look great but are durable enough for poolside fun.

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Philip Ficks

Serving pieces, dishware, and blue-and-white tagines and bowls by Le Souk Ceramique/Sobremesa, patterned dinner plates by Pottery Barn, tassel napkins by Kim Seybert, and sea blue glasses by Iitalia, set a celebratory stage.

You can forgo a bar cart and create a space for serving drinks anywhere with the right accessories. Against this kitchen's intricate marble backsplash, a colorful makeshift bar features vibrant citrus hues and deep blues. Fluted glassware doubles as garnish dishes, Moroccan tea glasses await their colorful contents, and edible rosebuds are at the ready to impart a fragrant and beautiful finishing touch. Never miss an opportunity to decorate with flowers, even in a utilitarian corner like a bar. Tall, slim vessels and unfussy blooms take up little precious drink-making space and add a welcome breath of fresh air.

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Tiffany Hong

Philip Ficks

The marble kitchen counter comes alive with Birds of Paradise flowers in a handcrafted vase by CB2, embellished barware including a braided raffia-clad pitcher by Chabi Chic Morocco, Moroccan tea glasses from World Market, footed bowls from Iittala, and a mini tagine by Le Souk Ceramique/Sobremesa. Make details pop with votives-turned-bowls by Iittala, vibrant tassel napkins by Kim Seybert, and a scattering of rosebuds from Rose Dose.

In the open-pavilion outdoor dining area, the table seems to float amongst the surrounding jungle-like greenery, creating a lush treehouse effect. A colorful, pattern-filled dining scenario stands out amongst the verdant backdrop with multi-colored table linens mixed with bright glassware, tableware emblazoned with exotic flora, and a selection of printed pillows and textiles. Choose a statement piece—like these gorgeous plates by Mottahedeh—as a starting point for the palette and take your inspiration from there when mixing and matching napkins, glassware, and serving vessels. A perfectly coordinated table is less festive than a loose, color-drenched setting with a host of different shapes, sizes, and patterns—it encourages your guests to enjoy themselves and relax, too.

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Philip Ficks

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Tiffany Hong

Textiles in varying motifs, including a striped tablecloth by Heather Taylor Home, assorted pillows and a throw by John Robshaw, a multi-hued embroidered pillow and napkins by Meridian NY, and various vases lend the table and chairs that faraway feeling.

The tableware itself is a thoughtfully curated mix of dinner plates by Mottahedeh, colored glasses by Tracy Glover, a tagine by Le Souk Ceramique/Sobremesa, and a pedestal by Chabi Chic Morocco.

A sunken fire pit surrounded on all sides by the tranquil lapping of the infinity pool is the ideal place to end the night. Wraparound seating is filled with cozy textiles to combat the chillier evening temps, creating an inviting after-dinner hangout spot that is as stylish as it is comfortable. Candlelit lanterns echo the glow of the setting sun over the bay, a fitting reminder to slow down and take in the stunning space in which you've spent the day—and its equally beautiful natural surroundings.

Variegated fabric pillows from John Robshaw, Meridian NY, Christian Rathbone, Ferrick Mason, and World Market, plus a throw from Meridian NY cozy up the seating space, while lanterns from Birch Lane and a basket from World Market add to the night's Zen ambience.

See the rest of this Sarasota, Florida home on Sotheby's International Realty.

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