Our Best Organization Tips that Make Last-Minute Hosting a Breeze
It's that time of year again! Families and friends come together to celebrate tradition and great food! But with all the joy comes the stress of planning the parties! Having a well-prepared home organized for pop-up festivities leaves you running around less and enjoying the conversation at hand!
Today, I’m sharing some tips for being the hostess with the mostess! Let’s go…
1. Select Furnishings with Multi-Functional Storage Options
Always have a special, dedicated place to store all your table decor like linens and serving ware. The most logical place in any home is to have a long credenza or sideboard near your dining room table. Organize the interior with labeled bins for napkin rings, candles, and centerpiece accessories.
Keep the elements organized in the order you set your table, so you have a built-in assembly line. The credenza can also function as a serving buffet. I often recommend having a glass or Plexi top made, so you have no fear when your Aunt Sue plops down her burning hot apple pie!
2. Make Multiple Seating Plans Possible
When designing a home, I always think of all the different scenarios that could occur. One of them being a party larger than your immediate family.
When selecting a dining room table, look for options that offer extensions. I particularly like the tables you just pull apart, and presto, you can seat four more people. If your table doesn't have extensions, look for a card table that matches the width and height. You can store it in a nearby closet so that you may quickly bring it out to accommodate extra guests.
In addition, when purchasing your dining room chairs, always buy more than what fits around your closed table. Then put the extras in various rooms of your house. For example, do you have a hall table that you can flank with two dining chairs, or perhaps there is a room that needs a desk chair? Dual functionality is the name of the game!
3. Decorate with Thoughtful Seasonal Accessories
Last but not least is the wrap-up of the holiday season. You’re tired and ready to return to day-to-day activities, but you have all those decorations to put away. My suggestion? Create bins and labels before you take them down after the holiday. There are always good post-holiday sales on storage containers. Try and sweep those up, so you are prepared for the following year.
Another fun thing to do is when you are feeling the urge to do some spring cleaning, have a mini-summer Christmas, and do a clean out of all your holiday gear. Throw out the string lights that don't work! Take extra time to re-organize, and you will be thankful next season!!
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Cheers,
Lori