design. simplified.
I’m wrapping up another year and signing off until 2019. As always, I’m so grateful for those of you who read my blog and allow me to keep doing this year after year. I hope you and your families have a joy-filled Christmas time.
I love to have company over during Christmastime. As a bonus, it has a way of making my house look better in a hurry. . . I’ve learned over time that nobody looks at my home as closely as I do. (Have you ever examined someone else’s floors for crumbs? Me neither.) It’s more about a feeling when you walk through someone’s door and less about the tiny details we tend to fret over. Here are a few easy ways to cozy up your home for holiday entertaining.
Christmas music! It’s easy enough and instantly makes your home feel festive. I like to stick this small bluetooth speaker in the corner of the kitchen and play Pandora. (A few of my favorite stations: Audrey Assad Holiday, The Christmas Song radio, Holiday Instrumentals, Jadon Lavik Holiday, and Michael Buble Holiday.)
Votive candles. They’re inexpensive and add a warm glow all around. (See more of how I used them in our living room here.) Buy the unscented so you don’t overwhelm your guests.
If you have the time or inclination to shop for a few new things, my top five would be: a small lamp (so versatile–the mantel, a entryway table, or even a bathroom), fresh pillows with down inserts, a cozy throw blanket (HomeGoods is a great source), new hand towels, and a yummy candle for the powder room.
An easy powder room update: add a patterned hand towel, soap in a pretty dispenser and a good candle. (I’ve found a lot of cute hand towels at H&M home lately.)
Fresh greenery with battery-powered fairy lights. Easy, fragrant and festive. I did this in our powder room since there was no place to plug in a lamp or Christmas lights.
Make coffee. The easiest way to make your home smell warm and cozy when guests walk through the door.
If you have the space, set up a separate beverage station in a room besides the kitchen. It’s nice when guests can help themselves to drinks, and it’s fun to spread the joy around the house!
What are you easiest entertaining tips?
This week is always the busiest of the year, between regular Christmas errands, finishing up work projects and our weekend-long production coming up at church starting Friday. (If you’re local to Charlotte, email me for info. I’d love for you to come.) So in the spirit of busyness and in an effort to save you time–and a trip to the mall–I’ve put together a quick list of some pretty winter pieces that could work for a holiday or work party or even New Year’s Eve. (I know I always like to dress up while I sit on the couch with the kids to watch the ball drop, and I’m sure you do, too.)
A few notes. . . I’ve had all kinds of luck with ordering shoes from Gap lately. My go-to dressy outfit is a pretty blouse, black pants (I’m especially happy if those pants turn out to be any kind of jogger) and tall pointy heels. And, my favorite purchase of the holiday season are those black Target pants with the stripe down the side. (They also come in the reverse–winter white with a black stripe down the leg.) I’m a big fan of the whole Who What Wear line. Hope this helps!