In addition, you may have to do some rearranging of your living room, depending on how big a party it's to be and what you're going to do at it. If card tables are to be used, you may have to remove some furniture in order to make space for them. If this is to be an after-dinner party, you will have them all set up. You will probably want to set them up afterward if dinner is first. But whatever you do, anticipate and arrange your room for the greatest convenience.

little tables
Ordinarily, and for small parties always, a living room, unless it's of colossal size, is best arranged so that everyone in it can talk to every­one else. You will arrange strategically near chairs occasional tables equipped with ash trays, matches or lighters, and cigarettes. When you have a big party, however, you know there will be too many people for general talk. Allow room for people to move around, even if means removing some furniture. Look at your room and visualize filled with guests. Have you arranged it so there are at least two chairs together here and there for te'te-a-tetes? Are there enough ash trays, in plain sight, so that your guests won't accidentally burn holes in your rugs or furniture? Are your flowers so arranged that there's no chance,1 when the room is crowded, that someone will knock over a vase, spill water on himself and another guest and perhaps break the vase? Flowers or plants are a lovely touch in making a room look festive. For safety and the best decorative effect they should be put on top of the tallest and sturdiest furniture and well back from the center of activity. At small parties, little vases and bowls can be used on low tables, provided the guests do not have to peer over or around them to talk.

fire or no fire
If there's a fireplace in your living room, be sure that it is neat and clean before a party. If you really understand how to build hearth fire this does not mean that you take out all the ashes. A bed of ashes is essential to the making of a good fire. On the other hand, a fireplace which gives evidence of being the family dumping ground for cigarette butts, bits of paper or trash is an eyesore. Sweep it up well, lay it prop-erly with paper, kindling and logs, whether you intend to burn it while the party's in progress or not, and hope that your guests (though you know they'll throw some cigarettes into it) are considerate enough not to make it a complete mess.