9 Tips to Ace Holiday Season Hosting This Year
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The Christmas tree is decorated with plenty of ornaments, your stockings for fur babies and family are hung, the outdoor lights are twinkling, but there’s still more to do around the house for holiday hosting! And with all the work that goes into planning meals and picking out gifts, it’s easy to forget that you needed to start prepping your home for your holiday party…yesterday. But no matter how far behind you feel, don’t worry—there’s still plenty of time to get your home in tip-top shape before guests arrive.
No matter how fabulous you are at entertaining, the truth is that we can all benefit from a few hacks to make holiday hosting go smoother. Even if you’ve been doing this for years on ends, there are always some extra thoughtful touches you can add to make this year’s holiday party better than the last. If you’re having guests spend the night, consider adding a towel warmer to the guest bathroom; if you’re hosting a big dinner, buy some beautiful serveware to display your feast. We’ve collected some of our favorite little tips you can add to make your holiday hosting the best one yet.
1. Prep Food Ahead of Time
If there’s one thing you can do to save yourself from stress while your guests are arriving, it’s prepping your holiday food beforehand. Any dishes that can be made a couple days in advance, like casseroles, stews, gravies, pies, and more, will help cut down on cooking time day-of. That way, you can just pop them into the oven before guests come over and focus more on the holiday party you’re hosting.
2. Curate Your Perfect Playlist
The perfect party deserves the perfect playlist! Collect your favorite holiday songs or classics and create a Spotify or Apple Music playlist. (Drew and Jonathan shared some of their favorite holiday songs here!) Start the playlist right when you wake up that morning to boost your mood—your guests will be rockin’ around the Christmas tree all night, and it’ll set the tone for a fun and festive evening as soon as they arrive.
3. Festive Party Favors
Are party favors necessary? Not always. But do they make the holiday party so much cuter for guests? Absolutely. Go with a themed candy, some fun and functional piece with a holiday motif, or even gift your guests with an adorable ornament keepsake. Adding in a festive party favor is a sweet way of saying thank you to your guests, and makes everyone feel special.
4. Declutter and Toss What You Don’t Need
While it can be tempting to hold onto the items you have tucked away in your closet for just the right occasion, odds are, if you aren’t using them now, you probably won’t use them anytime soon. The fewer random knickknacks and unfinished projects you have to juggle, the easier it will be to actually clean and organize the rest of your space. Be it adding in some underbed storage or finally tackling the kitchen cabinets, getting the clutter out of sight will help keep your space looking clean for guests.
5. Dig in and Deep Clean
When you’re switching between your normal and seasonal decor, take advantage of the transition time to vacuum, dust, and wipe down every surface. This is probably the barest your house has been in a while, so it will be easier to reach all the nooks and corners where mess likes to build up. A good quality vacuum or vacuum mop can take your home from clean to sparkling real quick.
6. Make a Good First Impression
No matter what type of get-togethers you have planned this season, every guest is going to have to pass through your entryway. So if your time is limited, deck the halls of your doorway so they feel the seasonal joy right away. This can be as simple as adding a festive wreath to the front door or placing a holiday doormat at the foot of the doorway. That little touch of holiday spirit goes a long way, and sets the tone for the rest of the evening.
7. Plan Well So You Can Party Hard
The more mouths you have to feed, the more important it is to make sure that any drinks and refreshments are easily accessible. If you don’t want to play bartender the entire night, then a well-organized bar cart can allow guests to serve themselves. Similarly, strategically placing serving trays around a space can keep crowds from clustering around just one or two spots.
8. Create a Place to Rest and Relax
Seating is another issue that can come back to bite you if you’re not prepared. While most guests will appreciate simply having a place to rest their feet, you can really make them feel comfortable by arranging different clusters of seats to suit their needs. Let those looking to keep the party going lounge in the room with the music and set up space near the fire for those having quiet conversations.
9. Tidy Up the Guest Room
If any of your visitors are staying overnight, then don’t forget to prep your guest room for the holiday season. On top of having clean sheets and a comfy spot to rest their head, we have a few extra tips on how to make them feel as if they have a home away from home. A few simple luxuries will make for a more peaceful stay, and the extra thoughtful touches are an easy way to show your hospitality.
