Decorating Den

By Decorating Den

While it’s hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us, there’s no time to waste if you’re hosting this year! Beyond decorating and turning your living space into a winter wonderland, there are various factors you need to consider if you’re throwing a Christmas or New Year’s Eve party. Your home should look amazing, of course, but you also need to consider how you can make your guests feel more cozy and welcomed the second they glide through the entryway.

If you’re feeling frantic and think your house needs a little pick-me-up before St. Nick shows up, here are a few ways to prepare your home for the winter holidays:

Declutter

Every new and improved design scheme starts with getting rid of the things that clutter the room. House Logic recommended going through the guest room, living room, den, dining room and the kitchen to remove anything that’s taking up space and causing an eye sore. You’ll feel better knowing your guests don’t have to look at those loose papers that were stacked on the countertops for months.

Find ways to make more space

You need to ease traffic flow throughout your home if you plan on hosting for a lot of people. This would be an ideal time to reconsider your current furniture arrangement – is it in the best possible structure for your guests? Perhaps you can benefit from moving that trunk that sits next to the couch to the foyer for the night.

Spruce up your furniture

It might be too late to invest in new furniture to wow your guests, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spruce up what you already own. A few design elements can make an old, outdated sofa look like a trendy new piece that just came off the market. Use throw blankets and pillows, perhaps in colors of bold red or deep forest green, to add a cozy and festive vibe to your living space.

Intimate lighting is ideal this time of year.

Update your lighting

New, intimate lighting is another way to help your guests feel more comfortable. Make it a point to rely only on the Christmas tree lights and another set of string lights to keep the room dim lit and romantic.

Add a fun entertaining element

Looking for a way to “wow” your guests this year? A new and exciting element for entertaining, such as a bar and beverage area, can take your living space to the next level, according to designer Jodi Morton.

“I always include vintage glassware from local antique shops when styling a bar,” Morton told Forbes contributor Dering Hall. “I love their patina and mixing shapes and colors. Vintage pitchers also work beautifully as vases and I prefer leaves and greenery to flowers. Of course, you can never have too many bottles of spirits and liquor, which are beautiful in their own right.”

Take it a step further and stock up your bar with delicious ingredients to craft your own signature holiday cocktail this year.

Christmas is right around the corner!