‘The Office’ Star Angela Kinsey Shares Her Real-Life Approach To Party Planning

Katherine PolcariSat, August 22, 2026 at 3:42 PM UTC

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Credit: Michaels

If Louisiana-born and Texas-raised Angela Kinsey welcomed you into her home, you may not recognize her right off the bat, despite her well-known role as Angela Martin in The Office. Kinsey could not be further from the shrewd Dunder Mifflin accountant who keeps coworkers and loved ones alike at arm’s length. Don’t expect to see her character’s signature scowl, as Kinsey is rarely without a bright smile on her face.

She’s the type of person who creates handmade wreaths for her front door and changes them out depending on the season, and she invites guests over without a second thought. But the thing these two do have in common? They both know how to throw a party—and appreciate the value of a good theme.

Her “The More The Merrier” Approach

With three teenagers at home, Kinsey forgoes formality and prioritizes fostering an atmosphere that feels joyful, welcoming, and safe. “We wanted our house to be the hangout house…so we made it really just cozy, and it’s relaxed. It’s not pretentious,” says Kinsey. “All the kids bring their friends over. [Sometimes] so many kids are here that people are putting cushions on the floor.”

Even during our interview, Kinsey mentions the get-together she has planned for that night. “I play ladies’ doubles tennis, and we take turns hosting every week,” she says. “Tonight, I’m hosting everyone for cheese and wine and little apps before everyone goes out to dinner.”

How She Hosts On A Budget

There’s one celebration in particular that gets an extra dose of happy. “All three of our kids were born in May, so we call it ‘Birthday Palooza,’ ” Kinsey says with a grin. “Every year, the kids want a theme—still! So, this year, it was actually really easy. This year it was a beach theme.” This is where Kinsey’s character from The Office may not be able to handle all the joy Kinsey infuses into her gatherings. In real life, Kinsey’s version of the “Party Planning Committee” is a jaunt to Michaels with her family.

“I love Michaels. I have been a longtime Michaels shopper. It’s just the perfect place to go when you’re hosting,” says Kinsey, who was recently appointed the official Director of the Party Planning Committee for the brand. “It’s got all the fun, festive stuff, and it doesn’t break your bank account.” And with a name like Birthday Palooza, she needs to be able to go all out. “[I found] beach ball paper plates, and then I got the napkins. I had balloons and little cute floaties for the pool, and I had all the stuff for the tabletop,” she adds. “It doesn’t take much. You can really do it on a budget and make everything feel fun and festive.”

Credit: MichaelsHow To Make Every Occasion Special

“It starts at your front door,” Kinsey says of setting the right tone. “As you walk in, you know what you’re walking into.” For their beachy Birthday Palooza, that meant bundles of bright balloons and a themed welcome sign on the front stoop. Once inside, she likes to cut back on visual clutter, but she isn’t too precious about it. “[I live in] an older house, and so you kind of can see everything right as you walk in…and that’s where all the kids’ shoes and backpacks are, so I’m a big fan of ‘shove it in a drawer,’ ” Kinsey says with a laugh.

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Even without something to celebrate, Kinsey finds ways to add flair. “A little seasonal throw pillow on the couch, maybe a candle to match…I love it,” she says. But come the holiday season, she takes it up a notch, happy to lean into a built-in theme. “I think that’s why I love the holidays so much, because my house is, like, full throttle,” Kinsey says. “At Christmas, we do the Christmas village, and so me and the kids go to Michaels, and they get to pick out something new. Even if it’s just...little lampposts and little people ice-skating…. We decorate together, and it’s just really special to me.”

What She’s Learned From Her Mama

“My mom is Southern, and so she’s always like, ‘Y’all come over.’ So we sort of joke that the front door is a revolving door. There’s always someone over, whether it was her ladies’ Bible study group or my whole tennis team,” Kinsey says. “My sister’s a schoolteacher, and she would come over. You know, she decorates her classroom, so she would bring a stack of construction paper and scissors, and we’d be cutting out little crayons to decorate her door to her classroom.”

“My mom is a huge crafter,” Kinsey adds. “Walk through her house, point to something, and she made it.” And these pieces are so much more than decor. “We spent a lot of time crafting together as a family. My sisters and mom and I, and it’s really bonding. You’re not on a screen. You’re not on a device. You’re together, you’re talking, and you’re making something,” Kinsey says.

The Etiquette Rules She Never Breaks

Beyond crafting and hosting, Kinsey’s mom taught her the art of being a good party guest too. “My whole family’s a big Southern family, and I’ll tell you one thing, this started with my grandmother Lena Kinsey—Lena Mae, that’s what we all called her. You never show up empty-handed—ever,” Kinsey says. “And at the end of the party, when you’re leaving, you go up to the host, and you say, ‘Thank you for having me.’ That, I think, is that Southern hospitality: Show up with something, and say thank you when you leave.”

And just as we were wrapping up our conversation, Kinsey jumped in to say, “Years ago, Southern Living did a cookbook, and I got to put a recipe in it. I did my mom’s corn casserole.” With a little sleuthing, I found a copy in our archives. Bertie’s Corn Casserole was published in our 2013 No Taste Like Home cookbook (page 92, for those of you who have this book at home) along with a little background on Kinsey’s connections to the South.

“My mom still has the cookbook,” adds Kinsey. “And my sister has it on her kitchen counter propped open to that page. She kind of made it part of her decoration. Southern Living has been a big part of my family. You know, we’re big fans, so this was really fun.” I couldn’t help but notice that even in our quick chat, Kinsey followed Lena Mae’s advice and made sure to say her thank-yous on her way out.

on Southern Living

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”