Entertaining for the Holidays...and All Year Long

Getting ready to host a holiday party can be a fun albeit stressful time. You might have a to-do list that’s a mile long, but there are a few items that can make your holiday soiree go a bit more smoothly. The added bonus is that you’ll be ready to throw fabulous shindigs all year long as well!

Greet Guests with a Welcoming Entry

The home’s exterior and first interior moment are responsible for first impressions. Whether your house is the kind where friends and family burst through the door in a flurry of activity or the kind where they ring the doorbell and wait (patiently) to be greeted, first impressions are made in this seemingly brief moment.

Outdoor Lighting is Essential 

Keep your guests in mind from the moment they approach your home by making sure there’s plenty of outdoor lighting, especially along pathways and any stairs that lead to the home. Overhead porch lighting and exterior wall sconces are among the most popular options, but there are also a variety of landscape and pathway lighting options that take just minutes to add and can help ensure a safe passage along your property for your guests. Choosing solar lights for along your walkway means you don’t even have to remember to turn them on at night.  

A Thoughtful Entry to Your Home 

You want guests to feel warm and welcomed in your home from the very beginning. If you’re a shoes-off household, provide a bench or chair where guests can sit to remove their shoes and keep other shoes neatly lined up where you would like guests to put theirs. When temperatures drop, guests will likely wear coats to your home. Have a coat rack or other place for them to hang their outerwear. A small table next to your seating solution provides a place for them to place purses, keys, and other loose ends. 

Creating the Ultimate Beverage Center

When guests come in, welcome them with a beverage. Whether you’re serving iced tea and coffee or a beautiful cocktail creation, being set up for entertaining is key.

Drinkware 

Every drink you serve needs the appropriate glass or drinkware. Consider what options you want to provide to guests and make sure you have any of the necessary drinkware readily available. Place them on a decorative tray on a counter or create a separate beverage center with everything you need to entertain.

Ice 

When you’re spending a whole night serving cold drinks, it’s easy to run out of ice. Store extra ice for days in advance in your freezer or add a countertop or under-cabinet ice machine to your kitchen if you’re an avid entertainer. You can even choose ice machines that make specialty cubes, such as nugget ice.

Beverages 

Take a moment to consider the drink preferences of your guests and make sure you have those items in stock. When you entertain, space in your refrigerator can be tight. Adding a secondary beverage refrigerator, kegerator, or wine cooler to your kitchen or dining room makes it easy to keep bottles and cans perfectly chilled and ready for your guests.

Serving a Festive Meal 

As guests sip on those thoughtfully curated cocktails, you can focus on adding the finishing touches to a festive meal. When you’re designing a kitchen with entertaining in mind, there are some convenient appliances that can turn this task from a chore to a true pleasure. If you’re the kind of host that loves large gatherings, consider a couple little upgrades to your kitchen design.

Spacious Refrigeration 

A lot of guests mean a lot of food. Keep all those ingredients fresh, organized, and ready for friends and family in a spacious French door refrigerator. If you need even more space, column refrigerators and freezers are a phenomenal choice as well.  

Double Ovens 

Cooking the main dish and multiple side dishes at one time can be challenging and result in some items being finished long before others. Make timing your meal a little easier by opting for a double oven in your kitchen design.  

Warming Drawers 

When you want to cook in advance and enjoy time with your guests once they arrive, having a warming drawer can be the answer.  

Dishwasher 

Some people hesitate to buy appliances they deem as “strictly for entertaining,” because they don’t think they’ll get much use out of them outside of the holiday season. But you’ll be much more apt to invite guests over when you’re always  prepared to entertain. Investing in a high-capacity dishwasher will save you both time and energy every time you’re cleaning up from a dinner party or impromptu get-together. 

Large Dining Table 

Whether you need seating for 4 or 14, you have a gorgeous and spacious place to present all of your edible creations (and libations!) at your dining table, with enough seating to suit your needs. If you don’t want a large table on display year-round, consider an extension dining table with leaves you can use when you’re entertaining friends and family.

Making Your Home a Comfortable Space to Gather 

To make sure you’ve got plenty of comfortable accommodations for your guests, both tonight and throughout the year, you always have plenty of seating in your entertaining area. Because you are the consummate host, everyone has a spot to place their drink as well as a coaster to place under it.

As this is a holiday party, you’ve got your decor placed tastefully around the room. From the tree to the lights to the strategically placed mistletoe, everyone is feeling festive thanks to your efforts. 

And you feel fantastic knowing you’ve pulled off another successful soiree. Now that you’ve got everything you need, you’ll be ready for drinks with friends, an intimate dinner, or a celebration anytime.