It’s already sweater weather and soon the holiday season will be upon us. This time of year means a lot of different things to everyone, but one thing most people do is get together with loved ones. Here are 10 tips to preparing your home for holiday festivities.
1. THEMED INVITATIONS
Everyone loves to be invited to something, and with modern technology it’s fast and easy to create a cute and fashionable invitation card. Websites such as Vistaprint have templates where you enter your address, date, name, and other information and it automatically produces a seasonally designed invitation. It is recommended to send invitations 3-4 weeks in advance to give guests time to prepare.
2. WINTER THEMED DECOR
When planning a holiday party there are many themes that can apply. Pick your theme, and roll with it. There are large inspiration boards on Pinterest boards as well as articles helping in making these decisions. Often the best ideas are the simplest. One idea is purchasing a bundle of holly and some wreath from a local nursery or garden center, and dispersing around your home. Not only does this increase ascetic but it also will make your home smell delightful.
3. SELF SERVE SEASONAL BEVERAGE
No party is complete without proper beverages, and last thing anyone wants to do is throw a party and spend their whole night making drinks. Consider a self serve beverage bar that is stocked with pre cut garnishes and fruit infused vodka as well as one or two pre mixed drinks. There are plenty of online recipes that would make a splash, we enjoyed this locals favorite list by Minnesota Monthly. Ensuring you have provisions for both children and adults is important as everyone needs something to warm them up. For children or non drinkers consider a hot apple cider or craft hot chocolate. There are many more online recipes you can create in 20 minutes that truly taste amazing.
4. AMPLE AND CASUAL SEATING
This is a tricky one, as most homes are not made for entertaining large groups of people. Consider throwing a blanket or quilt over of you entry way bench for additional seating. Think about where you want people congregating / how many attendees you expect and plan accordingly. You have an opportunity to direct foot traffic as to where you locate your guests, so consider keeping key areas like the kitchen away from the main action.
5. HOLIDAY THEMED PLAYLIST
This is a fun one but important one. Think about your crowd and what your personal taste is, then research a few playlists accordingly. If you have a streaming service like Apple Music or Spotify, consider making your own with your favorites taken from a few playlists to avoid repetitive content.
6. WARMING ESSENTIALS
As it is quite cold outside, it’s nice to have warm and fuzzy blankets placed around in case guests get cold. Consider using this tip to also spruce up your decor, as often a blanket can make a perfect addition to your themed decor . In addition to blankets, If you have a fireplace make sure it is on to create heat and improve ambiance.
7. FINGER FOOD
Depending on the theme and style of your get together, there are many ways you can go with food. Even if you are serving a main dish, consider a few finger food appetizers in case guests are still hungry. As the night goes on people may get hungry again so having small appetizers set out in the kitchen or serving area is essential to content houseguests.
8. SEASONAL GROUP ACTIVITY
Although often guests will find their own entertainment weather its conversation topics or some sort of entertaining media, there are many back up activities that may prove useful if guests are unsure how to spend their time. Traditional board games often have holiday versions that are entertaining, such as holiday scrabble or cards against humanity. There are also a great deal of holiday takes on traditional party games such as Candy Canes (Spoons but with candy canes) or holiday themed Two Truths and a Lie (can be anything from your favorite Christmas memories to the worst gifts you’ve ever been given). Another classic is having guests guess how many ornaments are on your tree upon arrival. Closest guess receives a mystery gift.
9. CRAFT SERVING TRAY
Although not essential, there are some little things that help you go above and beyond as a host. There are lots of great serving trays that cost very little but make a large impact. Live edge wood trays are trendy as well as affordable, and are sure to be a crowd pleaser.
10. COZY AROMA
In addition to decorative holly and garland, there are many ways to get the perfect holiday scent for your guests to enjoy. A classic holiday smell that is easy to make pretty is cinnamon sticks. Buying bulk and placing in mason jars with a few holly branches is sure to make your home smell like St. Nick is on his way.
Here at Mom’s Design Build we cherish and understand spaces and their inhabitants. Planning and designing your spaces can be difficult and frustrating. Schedule an consultation with one of our award winning designers to learn about your homes potential.
