Gift giving and hosting are two things that I am not naturally talented at. While the topic of gift giving is a matter for a different day, I know in my rapid approach to middle age that I have had the time to learn that hosting doesn't have to be stressful. I have learned the value of creating a home that is easily ready for both unexpected guests and those who have properly RSVP’d (how about that topic for another day).

The focus and intent behind hosting guests for the holidays should only ever be on leaving a good lasting impression. A lasting memory can be made through a hilarious toast, a beautiful roast (turkey, I do mean), or through the comfort and happiness you created in the setting of your home. While I cannot write your punch lines, and I would only refer you to Barefoot Contessa for the roast, I can offer you some tips on how to design & organize a home fit entertaining.

To us, nothing brings joy quite like a home that’s always ready to welcome guests at a moment’s notice.  Whether the occasion is a drop-in cup of coffee with a friend or a holiday soiree, these tips are meant to equip and inspire you to open the doors to your home with confidence this season!

Tip #1: When Furnishing Your Space, Select Multi-Functional Storage Pieces

In my practice, like Katy Kelly of Refresh Organizing, I always plan for pieces in the homes I design to provide function first. Katy and I both share the mindset that everything in our homes and life should serve us and bring us joy.

While you may not look at a piece of furniture, such as a sideboard or buffet table and think, "Golly! I've never felt so happy in my entire life as when I look at that buffet," we encourage you to. Making room for pieces such as these in your space will serve to enhance your hosting if you see them as adding beauty to the space, completing the design of the room, AND having your back when it comes to the itinerary.

Imagine the evening where you open a bottle of wine to find that it needs to breathe, but you cannot find the decanter because you haven't taken the time to intentionally design and organize your space. Could there be anything worse? Well, maybe, but either way, we cannot let that happen to you on our watch.

Having a home that is built around the idea that each piece has meaning and function would solve this dilemma. You'd sachet over to your beautiful cabinet, reach for the Waterford, swirl and sip, all in a blink. Trust us, our items want to be used. 

Furniture with functional storage allows you to keep any special occasion linens and serving items in a designated, yet convenient location for easy retrieval during holiday entertaining.  Just remember it’s also okay to pull these items out for an impromptu fancy family weeknight dinner!

When storing your entertaining items, think carefully about how many of each item you actually need and use.  Make edits where needed.  Store like-items together and in a manner that allows you to see all you have at a glance.  This makes entertaining preparation and clean-up a breeze!

Tip #2: When Arranging Your Room, Make Several Seating Plans

This tip is where I can take a dive into the nerdy and tell you the proper space allotment for each chair at the table (it’s 24 inches, by the way), and I could go on and on about numbers and bore you to tears— that would not make a good host of this blog post. What I can leave you with is encouragement to make an everyday seating plan AND a plan for hosting extras.

While it might seem excessive to plan for buying a couple of extra dining chairs, consider if having a few extra seats and a table that extends would enhance the likelihood of success at your next gathering OR if you'd rather be the host that has people bellying up to the table on turned over trash bins (if so, don't worry about sending me an invitation, darling).

When planning a major kitchen remodel or just refurnishing the dining room, don't just think about the everyday seating arrangements. Think about how your beautiful home would look full of guests and how you'd want them to sit. Plan well in advance for rearranging spaces to make even the mingling spaces free of too much furniture or tripping hazards.

In advance, create a seating plan file for different numbers of guests. Place the extra dining chairs in a convenient location where they're easy to grab when needed last minute, and go the extra mile to make sure that your storage areas in your home are ready when you need to move things out of the way. Plan ahead.

Tip #3: When Decorating Your Home, Add Simple Seasonal Accessories

This one is a big struggle for me to write about because I'm not keen on seasonal decor. I know that these are my own personal feelings, however, and that I live in a world full of people making quaint little pumpkins out of toilet paper (stop it) and hanging spiders and witch hats from the ceiling (I'll allow it). I've relied heavily on Katy for her input when it comes to the perfect solution to organizing and storing your holiday themed decor.

Katy’s Advice:

• Create space to decorate.  Make a plan for displaying your items, then remove any day-to-day objects that may distract from the atmosphere you’re trying to create.  Place these items in temporary storage.  This allows you to maintain a tidy space even with the addition of seasonal decor.   

• Where possible, use natural elements.  Opting for the real deal over faux decor creates a festive aesthetic, smells lovely, and doesn’t require storage during those other eleven months of the year. 

• The best time to edit your decor is now.  A lot can change in 365 days, so as you unpack annual holiday items, pause and ask whether they still bring you joy.  Gratefully let go of any holiday objects that no longer serve a purpose in your home. 

• When it comes to storage at the end of the season, group like-items together and store in clear plastic bins so you’re able to see the contents at a glance.

In conclusion, Katy and I agree, always, always, focus on JOY.  Less but better is a phrase we love around our homes.  Imagine your home filled entirely with decor that has meaning and brings you joy! 

Entertaining Confidently

May your holiday season be filled with less clutter, less stress, and more time spent soaking up the precious holiday moments with those you love. And if you just can't get there on your own, call Katy for professional organizing help or me for help making selections for pieces in your home that are meant to last and that will earn you the title of Hostess with the Mostess quicker than you can say Dom Perignon.

If you're ready for a professional you can trust to make your home beautiful and functional, we'd love to help. Click the button below and book a free call.

Cheers,

Jamie