Decorating Your Home for a Holiday Party

Once you’ve decorated your holiday mantel, created your holiday centerpiece and created your holiday place settings for the dinner table, all you need to do is add a few simple touches to tie your home together in a festive way. Prepare your home for a holiday party, however simple or festive, with a few short steps. 

Deck the Powder Room.

“Add holiday fingertip towels to the powder room along with pine scented candles,” said David Yates, interior designer and a member of the HomeAdvisor network. These small changes will make even the smallest spaces in your home feel cozy and festive.

Add Seasonal Scents

Add warm, seasonal scents to the home with candles, cinnamon sticks and fresh pine. If you’re in the artificial Christmas tree club, you can still make your home smell authentic. Take cue from our friends at First Home Love Life and boil in a medium sized pot: vanilla, apple cider, oranges, lemon, cranberries, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary and fresh Christmas tree or wreath stems (which you can pick up at a Christmas tree lot or craft shop). 

Go for Garland and Lights

Two of the most inexpensive, low-effort ways to make your house festive and fun for the season are available at your local Target or home store. Fresh or artificial garland and holiday lights can both be used in a multitude of ways. Yates’ favorite? “Wrap your staircase or pillar candles in garland and lights,” he said. Both are easy ways to utilize extra decorations and a great way to use up extra supplies that don’t fit on your tree or outdoor landscaping.

Don’t Ignore the Windows and Doors

If you plan to decorate inside and out, start with your doors and windows. “Hang evergreen wreaths with red ribbon outside on the doors and windows,” said Yates. You can make your own wreaths and adorn them with ribbon, cranberries or fresh flowers. Some home decor experts choose to create a statement wreath for the main entrance of your home and smaller ones for the windows, as simple accents.