5 Tips for Opening Your Home for the Holidays
Blogmas Day 19
I am so excited for today’s blog post! It is written by my friend and sister-in-law, Alice!
Alice is creative, an incredible hostess, an amazing chef, and an intentional friend. When I was planning out Blogmas, I knew I wanted to include a post all about hosting for the holidays. I immediately thought of Alice. She opens her home with grace, went to school for hospitality management, and knows a thing or two about hosting others!
Once you’ve finished reading her tips below, don’t forget to follow her on Instagram @alicejoyeuse for more hospitality tips, wellness info, thrifting adventures, and more.
Whether it be a game night with hot chocolate, candlelit dinner with friends, a DIY make and take event, or a last-minute invite, this is the season to welcome others into your home. If you have been hosting for years or are planning your first gathering, just the idea of hosting can sound intimidating or stressful. Oftentimes, the expectations we place on ourselves when having people over drain the joy out of opening our doors.
No matter the time of year, welcoming people into my home is one of my favorite things, and I have developed some general ground rules for myself to lift the pressure I place on myself when hosting.
Here are some of the points that I think through or jot down on scrap paper when planning to host!
{ONE} Name what is important.
First, I name what is important to me for the particular occasion. Am I connecting with friends I haven’t had a chance to see in a while? Bringing people together to build community? Helping someone feel celebrated for their birthday or important occasion? No matter the reason, defining the main purpose of my gathering directs the focus of the time I am planning.
Then, when I think of the following details (food, the vibe, invitees, etc.), I am able to evaluate if each thing supports my overall goal. This “goal” doesn’t even need to be significant… it might just be to have a good time and win some board games! I usually don’t write any of this down, but if you are a pen and paper type person, just jot down a few thoughts as the very first step. Doing this before everything else simplifies the whole process of planning because you’re coming back to one overarching theme.
{TWO} Think about food and drinks.
Second, I think about food and drinks… If you want people to enjoy themselves, offering some type of food or drink is key! Some questions I consider might be: Do I plan to prepare everything ahead of time? Will I just have quick snacks and simple drinks or a full meal?
If I know I will be pressed on time or have a crowd coming, I think about asking others to bring something to share or prepping food ahead of time. One of my personal go-tos, no matter the type of gathering, is a charcuterie board. Most people enjoy cheese and meats, and it is a beautiful, easy way to feed people.
{THREE} Consider the vibe.
Next, I consider the vibe I’m going for. Environment is important to me and encompasses how my home or space feels. The vibe includes how my home sounds, smells, looks, and feels to myself and my guests, according to the main purpose that I stated above. Will I turn on a playlist, radio station, or other music? How does the space smell (fresh food, is my diffuser on, etc.?) What is the lighting like: candles, low lighting, daytime natural light, etc.? Will everyone be indoors or outdoors, and how will this contribute their comfortability?
Thinking about these elements elevates your time together to an experience with purpose. My favorite vibe includes the local classical radio station crackling through antique speakers, several tapers flickering through ow lighting, and the smell of spices simmering on the stove.
{FOUR} Consider the guest list and how you invite them.
Another important point that I consider are the people who I plan to invite and how I will invite them. At this point in planning, I evaluate the circle of family or friends that I would like to host: Am I sharing an open invite online? Will it be just close friends or a circle of friends from work or church? After this is decided, I think about the mode by which I will invite these people. With social media, the options are extensive… is it best to create a Facebook event, graphic to text friends, or a group chat? The way that you invite your people lets them know what to expect and sets the tone before they walk in your door.
{FIVE} Plan the agenda and focus on the details.
Finally, I think about how I would like the time to go while everyone is here, whether that be the order of eating, if there will be activities or games involved, and the general timeline. Considering the order of events, if you have one, can play a major role in the success of your time, while also managing your expectations from the start. Some questions to consider may be: How long after everyone arrives would I like to be eating? Are any kids coming, and what time will they be needing to wind down? How would I like to transition between eating and the next activity (be that dessert, games, gift giving, activity, etc.)?
When it comes to this category, I aim to hold my expectations loose enough to not be disappointed if something goes out of plan but tight enough so that we get to do all that I hoped to do.
At the end of the day, the most important thing you can do as a host is remember why you are opening you home in the first place. For me, my hope is that the people who come into my home feel welcome, comfortable, and cared for. When I focus on that main purpose, the small details don’t matter quite as much… I never want a spotlessly clean space, busyness of life, and any other excuse to stand in the way of extending an invite.
I hope this inspires you to welcome friends or family into your home this season, and I truly believe that the memories are made around a table.
Alice Betters - @alicejoyeuse
