Holiday Entertaining Tips

With all of the activities on your December schedule, here are some quick ideas to save time on setting up for holiday entertaining without skimping on style.

(1) Use your existing table settings but add a different bowl, holiday linens, and dress it all up with ornaments and greens.  Add an inexpensive clear bowl on top - in lieu of the matching soup bowl - and fill with an ornament, pine cone or holiday flower.  Have two sets of dishes? Mix up plates and bowls. For greens use a wreath, add small branches, a kit gingerbread house, wrapped presents, sprinkle ornaments around, and finish with bows, candles and place cards. 



(2) For a buffet dinner, create separate stations for food, drinks and desserts. It spreads the holiday cheer around your home.  Layer on a tablecloth or even a bolt of fabric (can be under $10 at big box stores), raise up areas with boxes or pots underneath, wind miniature lights around, and dress up with poinsettia plants, place mats, ornaments, and greenery. Keep your theme and colors the same or similar to the rest of your house and at each station to help make it easy.



 
(3) Place wreaths in your dining room windows, tie to shutters, or simply hang on the wall (use 3M Command hooks) to create instant ambiance. For under $10 you can find great looking faux wreaths that you can use for years, and change ribbons, add holiday picks and ornaments to customize to your decor as you have time.




(4) Hang holiday cards on a door, wall or even shutters by hanging a ribbon, and clip or pin cards on. You  can hang them vertically or horizontally.  Instant decor and a great way to track card-giving for next year!



 



(5) Dress up your dining chairs with ribbon.  Tie ribbon around the front and create a large bow at the back.  Have fabric and more time? Drape the fabric over the top of the chair and create a large bow at the back.