Make Room for What Matters This Holiday Season
The holidays invite us, or perhaps compel us, to make room on our calendars for the season’s full array of memory-making moments. Cookie swaps. Ice skating. Light displays. Holiday parties. Movie marathons. Shopping (so much shopping!).
If you invite friends and family to gather at your house, you may feel compelled to make another kind of “room” as well — an inviting space for your guests. Here are a few ways to create a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere in your home.
Set the stage at the door.
A clear walkway and a holiday wreath will offer guests their first greeting. Extend the welcome as they transition inside.
Make the first rush of warm air smell fresh by lighting a candle or diffusing a seasonal scent.
Clear clutter from the entryway to provide plenty of room for greetings.
Provide a convenient spot for coats, purses, and packages.
Let the festivities flow.
Think through the way you expect guests to move through your home.
Clear a path between the front door, gathering space, and food and drink stations.
Add extra chairs from other rooms to your primary gathering area if needed. Ottomans, benches, and even large pillows will work, too.
Arrange seating according to the type of gathering. Clustered seating invites conversations, while a larger circle accommodates gift exchanges and group party games.
Help guests feel comfortable by making sure every seat has a nearby spot to set a drink or plate.
Make overnight guests feel at home.
Provide a tray on the dresser or nightstand with a bottle of water, snack, charger, and the Wi-Fi password.
Offer a luggage rack or bench so suitcases don't have to stay on the floor.
In the bathroom, fill a basket of extras in case of forgotten items ... sample-sized toiletries, toothpaste, a razor, pain relievers, etc.
Readying your home now will help you enjoy your guests even more while they’re visiting. After all, while the holidays ask us to make room on our calendars and in our homes, it turns out we’re really making room for those we love. And for many, that’s what matters most.
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