Like any good get-together, a guest-impressing brunch begins with planning. First, decide which foods you'll serve and whether these are items you'll whip up yourself or purchase already made. Picking up a few items, like baked goods or desserts, at your local bakery or grocery store can reduce your pre-party stress and free up time to focus on decorating.

Once you've planned the menu, pick the location. Here, we opted for the kitchen island because it's easy for multiple guests to help themselves at the same time. The island's close proximity to the fridge and stove also makes it easy to replenish brunch items as they run low.

For a brunch get-together that feels a bit more formal, set the table with your prettiest plates, linens and silverware, then place brunch menu items, like these homemade lemon-blueberry cinnamon rolls and strawberry-rhubarb scones, on the table so guests can help themselves.

Ditch flimsy, disposable plastic, foam or paper plates in favor of your prettiest dishware. This is a party after all and everything tastes better off nice china — especially when there's no chance of your meal ending up in your lap.