Hosting a Holiday Party: Tips and Tricks to Nail It
Thanksgiving is over; cue holiday music. Yep, it’s that time again – so get ready for the roller coaster ride that is the end of the year. To help you out while you navigate the madness (and the fun), we’ve pulled together some tips for throwing a holiday party. Because if you have to live through another December, and another holiday hanging with your noisy relatives, you might as well throw an awesome party for you and your friends. Take care of yourself, boo.
Set the Stage with a Festive Entrance
The simplest way to let your guests know that the party is here is to hang a wreath on the front door. You can find a ready-made, traditional wreath on the shelves of any home goods store, or go with something more unique. Do you live in a colder, Northern climate where ice skating is a regular winter activity? Hang an ice skate filled with greenery and finish it off with a bow. Or grab an over-sized cardboard letter, a couple of sheets of moss and some ribbon and glue from a crafts store. Adhere the moss to the letter with some spray adhesive, then secure the ribbon to the back of the letter with a staple gun. And display your personalized wreath for guests to admire.
Get in the Spirit and Decorate
Carry the festive mood throughout your home with easy DIY décor. Fill an over-sized vase with ornaments and pine cones. Re-create the look throughout your home to keep the design cohesive. Choose vases and bowls of varying sizes to fill with coordinating ornaments and pine cones.
Take Care of Your Guests
Once the stage is set, you’ll want to make sure your guests have a place to store their coats and bags. No hall closet? A coat rack occupies a small footprint and provides plenty of storage. Better yet, put a coat rack next to the front door and free up precious floor space.
Cook Ahead
If you’re serving food at your party, make it easy on yourself and choose dishes that can be served cold or at room temperature and food that can be prepared ahead of time and heated up just before guests arrive.
Stock Your Bar
Bar carts are a must-have for today’s design conscious dweller. If your floor space is maxed out, carve out space on a buffet or credenza for a make-shift bar. Keep it simple and limit your cocktail menu to one or two specialty drinks, beer, wine and champagne. But most importantly, enjoy the festive mood you’ve worked so hard to create with your friends and family. Happy holidays!
