Have you been nominated to cook Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family this year? Perhaps you’ve got long-distance relatives coming into town who need a place to stay. Whatever your reason for hosting, you’ll want to make sure your home makes the best impression on your guests. Here are a few considerations to help you get your house ready for holiday visitors.
First, you’ll want to make sure your home offers plenty of comfortable seating for everyone.
“It’s a good idea to consider stain-resistant fabrics for cranberry juice and red wine spills,” said Nancy Smith, owner of Saratoga Signature Interiors.
Decorating with fresh flowers and greenery is an easy way to establish instant seasonal ambiance. Candles, soft lighting and soft music playing in the background also go a long way toward making gatherings feel special.
“If you have a fireplace, light a fire and set up some cozy seating nearby,” Smith said.
The food, of course, is a main attraction at any holiday party. The best way to approach serving depends on how many guests you’re expecting and the vibe you want to create. Short on space for a big family dinner? Seat grown-ups and kids at separate tables and make the meal fun for both groups with themed centerpieces and personalized name cards at each place setting. Or go another direction entirely by letting guests serve themselves from a buffet.
“Creating stations for food and drinks can help alleviate the stress that comes with plating in the kitchen,” Smith said. “It also opens up the table and keeps spills to a minimum. It really all comes down to how formal you want your dinner to be.”
Whether you opt for sit-down or buffet-style, the holidays are the perfect time to pull out all the stops.
“Use grandma’s china, if you have it,” Smith said. “Everything doesn't have to match exactly, but it’s certainly nice to have a cohesive look or theme. And cloth napkins are a must.”
If you choose to include a floral centerpiece, keep it low enough for guests to talk freely across the table, and stick to unscented candles that won’t interfere with the aromas of the food.
To prep your guest room for overnight visitors, make up the bed with clean sheets and leave out a set of towels and a welcoming basket of toiletries.
“To truly see how comfortable your guest room is, spend a night in it yourself,” Smith recommended. “Maybe you’ll find that there’s too much light coming in the windows. Switching to blackout shades would help to alleviate that. Or you might realize you need to add a small bedside table or chair.”
No guest room? No problem. Sleeper sofas and chairs do double duty as seating by day and beds at night.
With a broad inventory of furnishings, window treatments and accessories, plus professional interior design services available, Saratoga Signature Interiors is ready to assist with any holiday hosting needs. If you can’t find the perfect item on hand, the staff can order pieces to arrive in plenty of time for your big event. And bonus — there’s a big dining room sale going on now through the holidays.
“We have comfortable in-stock furniture that's ready to be delivered as soon as you can receive it,” Smith said.
For more information, call 518.581.0023 or visit saratogasignature.com.
