When you have a party, there’s one thing you don’t want to forget: a well-stocked bar. “Every time I entertain, I reset the bar,” said interior designer Jessica Schuster.

Here are a few tricks she’s learned →

DO: Include a worry-free space for mixing drinks. If your furniture could be damaged by moisture, use a tray or cutting board to hold wet bar tools.

DON’T: Overcrowd the bar. Avoid packing your bar so full of bottles and glasses that guests have to worry about knocking them over. If supplies run low, you can always replenish them.

DO: Mix up your glassware.“It’s exciting to drink out of a beautiful glass,” Schuster said, so use your best ones, even if there are only a few of each. “Having an incredible assortment really makes a difference.”

DON’T: Use the bar as a place for dirty glasses. “I would definitely have a different area for used glassware,” she said. “It should go straight into the kitchen or somewhere out of sight.”

DO: Offer a signature cocktail. “It’s usually fun to have a couple of drinks at the ready,” Schuster said, to put indecisive guests at ease. For spring, she recommends a French 75 or Eastern Standard cocktail.

DON’T: Be an anxious host. “You’re setting a bar and throwing a party,” she said. “Have fun with it.”

Want more decorating ideas from the pros? Check out this helpful advice:

• The Best Way to Welcome Spring? Give Your Foyer a Makeover.
  
• Renovating a Kitchen? Don’t Forget the Most Crucial Thing: Light.