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    Decorating Advice | Holiday | Decorating & Design

    December 16 2016

    Editor’s Advice: Joel Bray’s Top Tips For Holiday Entertaining

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    Design Editor Joel Bray shares the holiday entertaining tips he presented on The Marilyn Denis Show. 

    Joel-Bray-FeaturedImgI’ve been thinking a lot about holiday entertaining recently, and I’m sure you have, too. In the coming weeks, we’ll be welcoming crowds of family and friends into our homes — and for many of us, this equals a fair amount of stress! So to make things a bit easier, I rounded up some simple, no-fail entertaining tips and presented them on yesterday’s episode of The Marilyn Denis Show. If you missed it, here are some of the things you can do to ensure your next gathering is fun, festive and goes off without a hitch.

    1 of 9
    Light The Path With Lanterns
    1 of 9
    Set A Scented Candle By The Door
    1 of 9
    Set Up A
    1 of 9
    Set Out A Punch Bowl
    1 of 9
    Clear Off Your Surfaces
    1 of 9
    Reorient Your Furniture
    1 of 9
    Lay Out A Floor-Length Tablecloth
    1 of 9
    Add Flowers Wherever A Guest May Go
    1 of 9
    If Necessary, Hire Some Help
    1 of 9
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    Light The Path With Lanterns

    Set the scene the minute guests set eyes on your front door by illuminating your front steps or walkway with lanterns. Opt for safe and wind-resistant battery-operated candles like these ones from Pottery Barn.

    Source:
    Pottery Barn
    Products:
    Park Hill lantern, from $49US; Premium Flicker Flameless Outdoor Pillar candles in Ivory, from $40 each
    Set A Scented Candle By The Door

    Offer guests a warm welcome with something that smells like quintessential Christmas, like this Frasier Fir candle from Indigo.

    Source:
    Indigo
    Products:
    Thymes Frasier Fir Poured candle, $25
    Set Up A "Coat Check"

    Think beyond the bedroom coat pile! Setting a simple rack in the entry, like the Turbo clothes rack from Ikea (shown), is an easy way to keep guest’s jackets neat and accessible. Take things a step further by numbering hangers and giving guests corresponding tickets. (This works even better when you’ve got someone to help retrieve coats when guests head out for the night.)

    Source:
    Design Sponge (left); Joanne Sites via Pinterest
    Set Out A Punch Bowl

    The punch bowl is making a comeback, and is an easy way to offer guests their first drink while welcoming others at the door.

    Source:
    CB2
    Products:
    Punch bowl, $32
    Clear Off Your Surfaces

    Edit your living spaces by removing any non-essentials from your tables and ledges (without making your home feel too spare) so guests feel welcome to set down glasses and plates.

     

    Photographer:
    Angus Fergusson
    Source:
    House & Home December 2010
    Designer:
    Morgan Michener; Kathryn Bala
    Reorient Your Furniture

    Remove any nonessential furniture that might make rooms feel crowded when they’re full of people. For example, for a cocktail party where the dining table will be used as a buffet, remove the bulk of the dining chairs for better flow (keep a few pushed back around the perimeter of the room for those who want to sit).

     

    Photographer:
    Angus Fergusson
    Source:
    House & Home December 2010
    Designer:
    Morgan Michener; Kathryn Bala
    Lay Out A Floor-Length Tablecloth

    Whether it’s on the dining table or console, a full tablecloth looks elegant and festive. It also creates the perfect hidden spot for stashing extra wine bottles and bussed glassware.

     

    Photographer:
    Angus Fergusson
    Source:
    House & Home December 2010
    Designer:
    Morgan Michener; Kathryn Bala
    Add Flowers Wherever A Guest May Go

    I’m always a fan of a pretty vase in the powder room. This kind of attention to detail won’t go unnoticed.

     

    Photographer:
    Michael Graydon
    Source:
    House & Home March 2013
    Designer:
    Mandy Milks; Mazen El-Abdallah; Stacey Smithers
    If Necessary, Hire Some Help

    Ideal for larger affairs, professional servers make it easier for you to enjoy the party, too. At the beginning of the night, station one server at the front door so each guest receives a warm welcome.

    Source:
    Daniel et Daniel
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    Author:
    Joel Bray
    Tags:
    Holiday Entertaining Joel Bray The Marilyn Denis Show
    • Dusty Ling

      Great advice. I do all the above.

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