Last-Minute Holiday Entertaining Tips

Hard to believe Thanksgiving is already here! ‘Tis the season to gather with family and friends, celebrate all that we’ve been given, and eat entirely too much turkey and stuffing. If you’ve ever hosted Thanksgiving, however, you know it can be a lot of work.

Between all of the planning, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and decorating, it can be difficult to find a moment to relax and enjoy the time you have with your guests.

But, hosting the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful if you follow these easy entertaining tips:

1. Be creative with your decorations and place settings – Don’t spend too much time decorating; instead, use what you already have. For example, create your own quick and simple table settings and accessories or use plates, bowls, dishes, etc. already in your collection. Don’t worry about matching – a full table is a festive table.
2. Be prepared for spills, messes and accidents – From spilled food and red wine to dripping candles, all holiday tied to eating is bound to have its messes. Have cleaning agents and tools on hand, and learn quick fixes for likely accidents. For example, heat spilled candle wax with a hair dryer and use a credit card to scrape away the wax.
3. Make the day a team effort – Get your kids involved (or keep them out of the way when cooking!) in your preparations, and delegate some tasks – like taking coats, mixing drinks, arranging and refilling dishes – to guests as they arrive.
4. Maximize your space – Consider the “feel” you’re going for, how many people you’re hosting and what type of food you’re serving, and stage your space accordingly. For example, pull furniture away to open up a space, group tables and chairs to create food and drink stations or split a large room into multiple small, intimate spaces.
5. Cover up unwanted scents –Mask unwanted odors (who knows how your house will smell after a full day of cooking!) with scented candles. Or, boil some cinnamon sticks in water to make your home smell delicious and inviting.
6. Remember the little things – Make a list of “Night Before and Morning Of” cleaning tips. If you’re cooking a lot of dishes at once, stay one step ahead with a Thanksgiving Prep Guide.