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The holidays are here no matter how you may be gathering to celebrate with friends and family this year (virtual, in-person, etc), it’s the perfect time to spread joy and happiness.
As we quickly approach Christmas and the New Year, we wanted to share some holiday entertaining tips to reduce stress and make the most out of your gatherings.
Preparation
The key to entertaining and reducing additional stress is to create a game plan you can work from. This avoids last-minute runs, forgetting essentials, and allows you to really identify what you want.
Set aside a time to plan and think about the following things:
- How many people are you inviting?
- Are you going to have a theme (winter wonderland, bells, sparkle, etc.)?
- Is this a formal sit-down dinner, a cocktail party, family-friendly party?
- What types of food and drinks do you want to serve? Make sure if it’s family-friendly that you have options for both adults and kids!
- Do you need additional tables and seating?
Once you have your game plan, you’ll easily be able to divide it up and make a schedule for when and where you need to get everything without all the stress!
TIP: Prepare what you can ahead of time. Whether that’s food or decorations, the more you do upfront, the less stressful it will be the day before or the day of!
Keep it Simple
At the end of the day, people will notice your decorations, but everyone is really gathering for the company. Don’t stress out over every single detail and consider a more simplistic approach. Keeping it simple will also help your budget.
You may also want to consider a potluck-type holiday gathering, asking guests to bring a specific item. You can send them what you’d like them to bring and how many to ease the stress and again, keep your budget manageable.
Serving Stations
Depending on the style of gathering you’re hosting, determine how and when your food and drinks will be served.
For cocktail and hors d’oeuvres, make them easily accessible to guests as well as enough room for traffic flow so as not to create a crowd or long line. To do that, spread out your food. Use your dining table for larger platters and consider using a sideboard or buffet for other foods or as a drink station. If you have a bar or island in your kitchen, those can also be utilized for serving.
Even coffee and accent tables can be used for serving, especially for younger kids who can’t always reach up high.
Decorate
When decorating, think of things you already have that can be used. Instead of a floral centerpiece, consider wrapping some empty gift boxes of different sizes and placing those on tables. Ribbon by itself can be used along with tablecloths and runners to add some sparkle or even to tie around cloth napkins. Flameless candles are a great addition to any decor and can be used year-round! Or string up some lights around a fireplace mantel or around serving tables to brighten your event.
If hosting a small, intimate gathering, consider adding personalized touches like nameplates. And don’t be afraid to get out the nice china and drinkware for a sit-down dinner to add more elegance to your evening.
Use what you have and then add where needed or wanted.
Easy Clean-Up
Set up multiple small trashcans or bins around the rooms so it’s easy for guests to dispose of garbage and so you don’t have one overflowing can! Place one next to each drink or food station and in other places where guests will be sure to hang out. Make sure you line them for easy removal of the bags and clean up.
When it comes to holiday entertaining and gatherings, the most important is the people you surround yourself with. For all your furniture and fun needs, contact Watson’s and talk with one of our experts. From dining table sets and bars to sideboards, accent tables, and sofas, we’ve got it all to welcome guests and create a comfortable space to celebrate in.
