Home for The Holidays: Your Guide to Entertaining this Winter

There’s a chill in the air, the leaves are turning colors, and the holidays are approaching. This means family and friends are coming together to celebrate so many things. The kids are home for winter break, the (almost grown) kids are returning home from college, and people are flying from across the country, and even world, to be together.

If you’re entertaining this winter, here are some tips to make sure your house is prepared for a warm and welcoming event.

Gather around the table. It’s the holiday season, and it’s no secret that, when entertaining at this time of year, guests are expecting a big, family feast. That means a table fit for kings. The Sorella rectangle dining table is just that. With two large leafs, this can feed a feast when entertaining, but also works as a functional family dining table. There’s nothing better than having your entire family around the table at this time of year.

Cheers. In the hustle and bustle of meal prep, it’s sometimes easy to forget that all of your entertaining won’t happen at the dinner table. Designate social spots for your guests to mingle, and vary these areas so they can spread out. Global Views offers small bars that are a simple solution to creating a refreshment or appetizer space. This will allow your guests to move around, talk to one another, and be comfortable in your home.

Serving space. Nobody likes a long, congested line when it comes to serving up holiday meals. Avoid the headache and plan for a buffet-style meal service. This not only allows for guests to pick and choose their own favorites, but also keeps the crowd moving. Try to alternate serving space, using both counters as well as buffet tables like this stylish one from Stickley Living.

The more the merrier. Seating can be tough when entertaining for the holidays. With a house full of family and friends, it’s important to have enough seating for mealtime that is also not interfering with your guests moving around the house. Canadel offers many styles of bench seating that, when not in use, can be conveniently stored under tables.

Wide open spaces. With a crowded house full of holiday cheer, spaces can seem smaller than they actually are. There’s a simple solution to open up your space and keep your guest feeling comfortable — mirrors. Here’s a festive and decorative option from Bernhardt.

With these simple tricks to mix your everyday furniture and your winter entertaining needs, we’re sure you’ll have a happy holiday season, and so will your family and friends.