It’s the most wonderful time of the year… for gathering with family. Maybe your in-laws are coming into town or you need to plan a holiday party. Here are some hacks that will solve your holiday season problems and ensure everyone has a great time during the holidays, including all of your introverted guests.
One Room for All of Your Functions
When guests come in, there’s a tendency to scatter them across the house so they don’t take over an entire room. But having everyone separated makes it difficult to have any large events or parties. Plus… It’s no fun being alone on a holiday.
Instead, try planning one giant event in one room. This works best with smaller gatherings of 20 or fewer people. You can have a sit-down dinner or even put out snacks and drinks for cocktail hour. Make sure the space is warm, inviting, and cozy to get everyone mingling.
Keeping Everyone Entertained
Of course, you want to spend time with your family but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your guests. When you have everyone in one room, it’s easy to keep the entertainment options open.
Hire a bartender for cocktails and serve punch. That way, there will be something alcoholic for people who drink and non-alcoholic drinks for those who don’t want anything to drink or are driving. Have some pre-mixed drinks on hand for everyone to have exactly what they want at their fingertips.
Some options include spiced apple cider (add some bourbon), mulled wine, and hot buttered rum (so good with the holidays). Do a Google search for punch recipes to find even more.
Set up some board games or cards in an adjacent room. Then you can go back and forth between the two rooms, spending time with all of your guests in one place.
Decorations
The decorations for your holiday party don’t have to be extravagant or expensive. In fact, most people probably already have a lot of these things lying around their house from previous holidays. Use what you have to make your party memorable.
Holiday lights are always a great way to add some festive cheer, especially in the winter. Turn off the overhead lights and spotlight some pretty colors around the house. People will love seeing where they’re going in this glow.
Add candles to every room for a cozy atmosphere and set out mistletoe so people can steal a few kisses.
Lastly, go ahead and decorate the table with some dishes and flowers. You don’t have to make it too fancy; using green plates and clear glassware will put everyone in the holiday spirit.
And if you really want to impress your guests, use fake snow or fake ice (inside.) that has a light underneath.
In Conclusion
Holiday season family gatherings are great for getting together with your loved ones and you don’t have to spend a lot of money or time planning. Use what you already have at home, decorate the space, and have some fun with your guests.