Winter Event Ideas - BE Event Hire

A clear format and a suitable layout are the foundation of any successful winter event. You need guests to sit comfortably, move easily between areas and feel that the room is well organised. Furniture choice directly affects all three.

Chairs, tables, bars, staging and soft seating are not just background items. They shape sightlines, traffic flow and how long guests are happy to stay seated. BE Event Hire holds extensive stocks of event furniture, which allows organisers to match themes and guest numbers without compromising on comfort or practicality.

Winter Event Ideas - BE Event Furniture Hire

Corporate and Professional Winter Events

Corporate events during the colder months often include conferences, staff parties and awards evenings. The furniture needs to support presentations, catering and social time, sometimes within the exact timetable.

Conference Or Workshop

Smaller conferences and workshops benefit from layouts that support both presentations and group work. Rows of chairs can still be helpful, but many organisers now use cabaret or cluster layouts so participants can talk and make notes more easily.

You can divide the room into:

A main area with tables and chairs for structured sessions
A small lounge zone with sofas or tub chairs for breaks
A refreshment point close to, but not inside, the main seating area

Suitable furniture from BE Event Hire includes:

Upholstered or padded conference and banqueting chairs
Wooden and rustic-effect tables for a warmer look
Sofas, tub chairs and modular seating for breakout areas

This approach suits training days, planning sessions and client workshops held in hotels, venues or temporary structures.

Awards Dinner and Gala

Awards dinners and seasonal galas usually follow a set pattern. Guests arrive for drinks, sit for a meal, watch speeches or awards, and then often enjoy entertainment. The furniture layout needs to keep sightlines clear and leave enough space for service.

Round banqueting tables are widely used for this type of event. They support group conversation and provide consistent spacing. Chairs must be comfortable enough for several hours of sitting. A simple stage area with a lectern is often sufficient for presentations.

From BE Event Hire, you might choose:

Chiavari chairs in finishes such as gold, silver or limewash
Round banqueting tables in a range of sizes
Staging, steps and lecterns for presenters
Bar units for arrival drinks and post dinner service

This creates a familiar format that venues, caterers and AV teams can work with efficiently.

Office Party

Many office parties now use an informal party format rather than a seated meal. Staff arrive for drinks, help themselves to food from stations or bowl service, then move between the bar and a dance floor.

A practical layout will usually include:

Standing areas around poseur tables for drinks and canapés
A clear dance floor in a central position
Small lounge pockets with sofas and armchairs around the edge of the room
A main bar that is visible from most parts of the space

BE Event Hire can supply:

Poseur tables and bar stools
Sofas, armchairs and coffee tables
Contemporary or illuminated bar units
Dance floors in a variety of finishes

This style supports flexible catering and keeps the atmosphere lively without relying on a formal dinner.

Themed Winter Events and Private Parties

Themed events give organisers a simple way to plan decor, furniture and entertainment. The furniture choices listed below help deliver each theme practically and consistently.

Après Ski Chalet Experience

An après ski theme works well for both corporate and private events. It suits barns, marquees and venues that already have timber features. The focus is on shared tables, casual seating and warm drinks.

Useful elements for this theme include:

Long rustic trestle tables for shared platters or buffet-style service
Wooden benches and vintage-style folding chairs for relaxed seating
A wooden bar unit for hot chocolate, mulled wine and simple cocktails
Barrel poseur tables or crate-style occasional tables for standing areas

BE Event Hire holds high volumes of rustic furniture from tables, benches and wooden chairs that work well in this style of setting.

Icy Winter Wonderland

An icy winter theme suits charity balls, gala dinners and elegant private parties. It relies on light colours, reflective surfaces and simple, controlled lighting.

Furniture that supports this look includes:

White leather or cube sofas with matching stools and coffee tables
Clear Ghost chairs or silver Chiavari chairs around white linen tables
Mirrored plinths, console tables or poseur tables
LED bars and tables to create focal points and help with wayfinding

These items keep the room bright and tidy, allowing lighting and decor to carry the theme without clutter.

New Year’s Eve Studio 54 Style

A Studio 54-style party is built around music and dancing. The space needs a strong central dance area, clear bar sightlines and compact seating points that do not restrict movement.

For this type of event, you might use:

Black and white or LED dance floors in a size suited to the expected numbers
Chrome cocktail tables and bar stools around the dance floor
Velvet or faux leather sofas in compact arrangements
Bar units suitable for steady, high-volume service of drinks

BE Event Hire provides dance floors, bar furniture and lounge seating that can be combined to suit a variety of venue shapes.

Planning For Winter Events

Temperature, ground conditions and lighting all influence winter event planning. Furniture and infrastructure choices need to reflect these factors to keep guests comfortable and safe.

Structures and Weather

Many winter events take place in marquees, barns and semi-enclosed spaces. These venues require proper flooring to protect guests and furniture from damp ground. Solid event flooring also improves stability for chairs, tables and bars.

Event furniture from BE Event Hire is designed for use on such flooring and withstands the demands of delivery, installation, and removal during busy winter periods. Coordinated planning between the structure provider, caterer and furniture hire company helps prevent access issues on the day.

Warmth and Guest Comfort

Heating must be planned around the way the room is used. There is little benefit in heating unused corners while dining and lounge areas remain cool. Furniture layout and heating plans should therefore be discussed together.

Points to address include:

Positioning dining tables away from draughty entrances
Locating lounge seating within effective reach of heaters
Using padded chairs and sofas for longer sessions
Avoiding layouts that block warm air flow

BE Event Hire can suggest chair and seating options that work well with typical winter heating arrangements in marquees and permanent venues.

Lighting and Layout

Short daylight hours mean that many winter events run entirely under artificial light. Lighting needs to support both atmosphere and safety. Furniture layout should work with that lighting plan, not against it.

In practice, this can involve:

Providing sufficient light over dining tables for food and conversation
Using softer light in lounge zones
Positioning LED bars and tables to act as wayfinding points in darker areas
Keeping walkways to exits, restrooms and cloakrooms clear and well-lit

Simple scaled plans showing chairs, tables, bars, and main lighting points can help avoid bottlenecks and dark corners.

BE Event Hire Winter Furniture Checklist

This checklist gives a starting point for planning furniture for most winter events. It can be adapted to suit the venue, guest numbers and event format.

Seating

Padded banquet and conference chairs for dinners and conferences
Folding chairs for ceremonies, extra rows or flexible seating
Sofas, armchairs and other lounge seating for social zones

Comfortable seating supports longer events and helps guests stay engaged.

Dining

Trestle tables for buffets, food stations and family style service
Round banqueting tables for formal dining
Bistro and cocktail tables for drinks receptions and canapés

Linen, tableware and centrepieces can then be chosen to match the furniture and theme.

Bars and Social

Mobile bars in contemporary, rustic or LED designs
Poseur tables and bar stools placed near bar areas and dance floors
Small side tables in lounge zones to hold drinks and plates

Clear bar and social layouts help service staff and reduce queues.

Staging, Floors and Finishing Touches

Staging for bands, DJs, presenters and awards
Dance floors for parties, galas and New Year’s events
Coat rails, rope barriers and suitable outdoor furniture for smoking or fresh air areas

BE Event Hire offers nationwide delivery and collection, with stock to support both single functions and longer winter runs. Furniture can be specified from a single supplier, which simplifies planning and on-site coordination.

Winter Event FAQ

Q: What furniture is popular for winter weddings
Many winter weddings use Chiavari chairs with round banqueting tables and neutral linen. Couples often add a compact lounge area with sofas or armchairs so guests have an alternative to the main dance floor.

Q: Which chairs suit all-day conferences in colder months
Padded banquet chairs and upholstered conference chairs are suitable for full-day use. They offer better support than basic seating and work in both theatre and cabaret layouts.

Q: How far in advance should winter event furniture be booked
Once the venue is confirmed and you have an approximate guest count, it is sensible to reserve furniture. Demand rises from late November through December, especially for chairs, banqueting tables, dance floors and bar units.

Q: What should be allowed for delivery and collection in winter
It is sensible to allow generous delivery and collection windows. Shorter daylight hours and weather can affect access. BE Event Hire will agree suitable times with your venue and plan routes so that furniture is installed and removed efficiently.

Q: Can furniture hire support barns, marquees and outdoor covered spaces
Yes. Event furniture is designed for use in barns, marquees and other temporary structures, provided there is suitable flooring and basic weather protection. BE Event Hire regularly supplies these venues and can advise on appropriate items for each layout.

Prefer an AI Summary?