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10 Tips for Stress-Free Holiday Hosting
Simple steps to make sure entertaining is easy — and fun — from prep to cleanup
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
If the thought of hosting a party this holiday season has you feeling more stressed than excited, it's time to slow down and simplify. With a little smart planning and a few quick decorating tricks, you can have a bash that looks elegant and still allows you time to actually sit down and enjoy yourself.
Read on for 10 fabulously simple tips that will make your next party a breeze.
Read on for 10 fabulously simple tips that will make your next party a breeze.
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1. Do monochrome bouquets for an easy, elegant look. Instead of trying to fiddle with those multi-hued market bouquets, just grab a bundle of flowers in a single color and plunk them in a few different containers. Smaller vases are easier to arrange and easier to see over at the dinner table, so it's a win-win.
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2. Stock up on go-to hostess gifts. Instead of scrambling to pick up a gift every time you have an event, stock up on a few favorites so you are always ready to go. Specialty food items (like fancy salt or top-shelf olive oil) are always welcome, and less expected than flowers or wine. And if you really love a certain product, buy it in bulk and make it your signature gift — you will save loads of time, and people will come to expect (and look forward to) it.
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3. Dim the lights. If the ambience in your abode feels a little lackluster, adjusting the lighting is an easy fix. Turn off any glaring overhead lights, relying on the softer glow of table lamps and candlelight instead. If you have dimmer switches, lower the light until the space feels warm and cozy. Bonus: Guests feel more at ease in a dimly lit room, so conversation should flow.
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| 4. Plan seating arrangements with fun in mind. If you are hosting a sit-down dinner with eight or more guests, it's usually a good idea to assign places. Seating couples separately usually inspires more conversation (they do talk to each other all the time, right?), and seating your most charming guest next to a wallflower can help the shy one open up. And if you want to create a livelier atmosphere at your next shindig, reach beyond the usual suspects — invite a new neighbor or recent acquaintance, or ask a friend to bring a guest. |
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5. Know when to buy and when to DIY. You can save money and time (spent shopping) by creating your own place holders with whatever materials you happen to have on hand.
The ones shown here were made using recycled paint chips, but you could use pretty gift wrap, sections of your child's artwork, old family photos (originals or photocopies), or plain craft paper tags tied with string.
But if DIYs leave you feeling more stressed than inspired, let yourself off the hook and buy something great instead.
The ones shown here were made using recycled paint chips, but you could use pretty gift wrap, sections of your child's artwork, old family photos (originals or photocopies), or plain craft paper tags tied with string.
But if DIYs leave you feeling more stressed than inspired, let yourself off the hook and buy something great instead.
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| 6. Get guests involved in the meal. Break the ice (and ease your workload) by inviting guests to assemble their own crostini, knead pizza dough or shake up cocktails at a DIY bar. Pitching in will help your guests feel at home — and when everyone has a stake in the dinner, you don't have to feel terrible if something doesn't come out as planned. |
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7. Try easy, chic updates for your table. If you have a basic set of white dishes, stemless glasses and flatware, you can build nearly any table setting. Add one or more of these ideas to give your table a fresh look:
How to make a simple table runner
- Let nice tea towels stand in as napkins.
- Use burlap from the garden store as a rustic runner.
- Float flowers in small bowls; intersperse with tea lights down the center of table.
- Use cake plates to arrange a display of seasonal fruit and nuts.
How to make a simple table runner
| 8. Set up your kitchen for easy cleaning. Before you start cooking, put a big bowl on the counter for garbage, and fill a dishpan (or the sink) with warm, soapy water to soak dishes as you use them. Line your baking sheets and pans with aluminum foil or baking parchment before using and you'll hardly need to clean them later. And if someone offers to help, let them! |
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9. Play to your strengths. Refuse to volunteer to host a gathering that is just not your style. If formal sit-down dinners stress you out, plan a cocktail party, potluck, brunch or open house instead. Or break with tradition and entertain at a favorite local restaurant!
| 10. Let guests go with gentle cues. If you're ready to go to bed but the guests are still going strong, try one (or more) of these friendly (yet clear) signs it's time to go.
Tell us: What is your all-time best easy-entertaining tip? |
Comments
T H I strive to make entertaining special, rather than relaxed, I go for traditional and fancy. I use Project Plans in Excel to make to-do lists, set timelines, create shopping lists, recipes/ingredients with many tabs for my Entertaining Spreadsheet. I revel in beautiful table settings with fine china, linens, cloth napkins, enjoy creating gorgeous flower arrangements. With our family, a 'small' Thanksgiving is 25 people, and the largest has been 55 - for that I do good plastic plates and the heavier silver-colored plastic utensils. But I pull out beautiful serving dishes and my best utensils, put out cloth tablecloths and decorate like crazy. Thanksgiving is a group effort, brother brings two smoked turkeys, everyone brings side dishes or something, even cash contributions. But when I do parties, I insist that guests don't bring the food [I think it is insulting to invite someone over AND expect them to bring the food. what??]. I want to treat my guests and have them arrive with no cares, and I lavish them with drinks in clinking sparkling glassware, all kinds of delicious foods from simple meatballs, to shrimp on ice, to smoked salmon, delicious beef and horseradish, and intense flavorful dips. I put out the best silver, linens, create fabulous decor and indulgent flower arrangements. Its a party, you are the guest! Dress up! I even hire a piano player. Oh. and light tens and tens of candles throughout the house. People LOVE to be treated specially. oh and don't get near the dishes. That's not why you are here. Stay out of the kitchen. grrrr. Enjoy yourself, drink and eat. I love you and want to make you happy and relaxed!
7 months ago · Like
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olldbobbi Laura, this is a wonderful ideabook! Stress free holiday hosting sounds like an oxymoron to me given my lack of cooking prowess. I would so much rather be a helpful guest than a harried host. But if I were to be brave and take the plunge, these are some great ideas. Are we all invited to your holiday party?
7 months ago · Like
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madeleinejs One of the best investments I ever made was to buy 100 wine glasses and 100 water glasses made by Bormioli. They were really cheap (I live in Italy) and had a form that went with anything, from formal to casual and worked well with any type of wine(they have a low pedestal rather than a stem). Real glasses are more festive; they make less expensive wine seem better and what I have saved by not buying paper or plastic has allowed me to have better food and wine. I never bought paper after that. I always had enough glasses and when they got low, we washed them quickly by hand. Doing a dishwasher full of them was no harder than throwing away paper or plastic. That was 15 years ago, and I'm down to about 75 left. As soon as they are washed, they go right back in their box and back to the basement. Yes, washing takes energy, but I'm sure this is more sustainable than petroleum-based plastics that fill landfill. And definitely more elegant.
7 months ago · Like
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Marina Klima Goldberg - Klima Design Group I love hosting a party, and I can now save time and money with these stress-less secrets for holiday party. I can create a meaningful memories that will not drain my energy. Timeless color for a more traditional style, the dazzling table settings and centerpieces for elegant inspiration for this holiday season are all awesome. These are good ideas.
7 months ago · Like
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Bonnie I like to bring out the nice china and wine glasses for the holidays. If there is anytime to treat yourself and guests to a pretty table, I think it is the holidays. I will usually set my dining table days ahead of time. Most recipes will be prepped as far in advance as possible so on the "day of" it is really just assembly of food and some minimal cooking. For centerpieces, I like to go in the yard and clip greens here in there and arrange them in a pretty vase or other vessel. I might also add a few sparkly ornaments on the table and then I am ready for Company! When I throw a party, I prep ahead as much as possible so I can relax and enjoy the company.
6 months ago · Like
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Ideabook published on Oct. 25, 2012.
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