5 Ways to Get Your Living Room Ready for Entertaining
Whether you have a week for party prep or just a couple of hours, here's how to set the scene for comfort and fun
If your space isn't set up for guests, your holiday dinner party can go from fabulous to awkward as soon as the party moves to the living room. Even if you have just a spare hour to clean up, focusing on a few basic areas will get your room holiday-ready in no time. Here's how to make your guests feel at home — and keep yourself from stressing about the state of your gathering space.
2. Clean and pick up clutter. More than anything else, you want to make sure your living room is fresh, clean and comfortable. If you have the time, do a big cleanup. Start at least a few days before to avoid stressing out, or having your guests arrive while you're still scrubbing the floor. Sweep, vacuum, dust and polish. Check behind cushions and underneath pillows. You don't want a guest to be the one to find that missing popsicle from last summer.
If you've left cleaning up until the last minute — don't worry! As long as it's out of sight you'll be OK. Take a big bag, sweep clutter into it and store it in the garage or another unused room until after the party. Fluff the pillows, and you should be fine.
3. Seating. Make sure your furniture is organized in a way that's conducive to group conversation. You want your party environment to feel natural, and let the conversation flow smoothly. Make sure that most of the chairs are at the same height so guests can see eye to eye.
Set up multiple conversation areas so that people can have private conversations, but join the group again with ease.
Don't worry about things matching! If you don't have enough seating, feel free to bring in other tables, ottomans and chairs from other parts of the house. Pillows are your best friend when entertaining. Pillows can correct too-deep sofas, or serve as impromptu floor seating.
Set up multiple conversation areas so that people can have private conversations, but join the group again with ease.
Don't worry about things matching! If you don't have enough seating, feel free to bring in other tables, ottomans and chairs from other parts of the house. Pillows are your best friend when entertaining. Pillows can correct too-deep sofas, or serve as impromptu floor seating.
4. Safety first. Keep hot drinks away from where children can reach them, and places where they can be easily spilled. Always keep a first-aid kit handy, and make sure the batteries in your smoke and CO alarms are fresh.
If young children are visiting your home, it's a good idea to talk to their parents beforehand to see what you need to do to prepare for them. Plugging up outlets with safety mechanisms might be necessary. Make sure chemicals, candles or breakables are out of reach. If needed, put safety gates at the top and the bottom of staircases.
If young children are visiting your home, it's a good idea to talk to their parents beforehand to see what you need to do to prepare for them. Plugging up outlets with safety mechanisms might be necessary. Make sure chemicals, candles or breakables are out of reach. If needed, put safety gates at the top and the bottom of staircases.
5. Decorate for comfort. Fresh flowers immediately change the look and feel of a room. Make them extra-special and place a bouquet in a unique container — maybe an antique pitcher or vase you have on hand.
Light scented candles to make the room fresh and festive.
Light scented candles to make the room fresh and festive.
If this is a cocktail party, consider making a mini-bar or drink station. It makes things more casual, and allows guests to mix drinks just the way they like them. Pre-dinner snacks are always a good idea too — just be sure to take any allergies and food preferences into account.
If you have a fireplace and plan on using it, make sure it's ready to run all night. Check out this guide on how to get your fireplace ready for the season.
What is your no-fail party-prep tip? Please share it with us in the Comments section below!
More: Creating Rooms with Multiple Conversation Areas
How to Arrange Your Room for Entertaining
A Lived-In Home is Great for Entertaining
How to Make Your Kitchen Party-Ready
If you have a fireplace and plan on using it, make sure it's ready to run all night. Check out this guide on how to get your fireplace ready for the season.
What is your no-fail party-prep tip? Please share it with us in the Comments section below!
More: Creating Rooms with Multiple Conversation Areas
How to Arrange Your Room for Entertaining
A Lived-In Home is Great for Entertaining
How to Make Your Kitchen Party-Ready
If you don't have lamps to bring in, dim your overhead lights and light some candles. It will look and feel much more cozy.