According to a very popular holiday song, "It's the most wonderful time of the year! There'll be parties for hosting..." If your home is the one hosting any of those parties, the stress of planning everything could take some of that "wonder" out of your holiday. Never fear, because John Elliott Interiors has a few helpful tips to share that will allow you to stay organized, be prepared, and enjoy the season along with the rest of your guests.

Make a List
...and of course, check twice to make sure you haven't missed anything! Having a plan and staying organized is the best way to get everything accomplished that needs to be done. Without a list, you may be rushing around last-minute taking care of things you forgot about.

As a matter of fact, you may need a few lists, but keep them together with the main to-do list either in a binder or with a digital program. Examples of list you'll need could be "Favorite Foods" that you want to gather recipes and ingredients for, "Family Traditions" you don't want to miss out on, "Guest List," "Rooms to Ready" if you'll be using more than the kitchen and dining room, etc... You get the idea. Once you write it down, it's a lot more likely to get done, plus it always feels good when you get to cross finished projects off of those lists!   

Get a Head Start
There are many tasks on your holiday entertaining to-do lists that can be done ahead of time at your own pace. That way they are ready and waiting when the guests arrive. Many foods can be prepared ahead of time and frozen, allowing you less time in the kitchen during the party and more time with your guests. If you tackle one room a day throughout your house, there will be no need for last-minute day-before deep-cleaning. 

Keep It Simple
Don't set your expectations higher than what you can comfortably accomplish. Design magazines and sites like Pinterest show off amazing holiday ideas, but realistically, many of those can only be pulled off by professionals. The goal of the get-together is to spend quality time with your family and friends. You don't need a big production to accomplish that, just good food, comfort, and great company. If you do want to try something that is going to involve a lot of work, don't be too shy to ask for help. Working with someone else can make it more fun and less stressful.


Stock Up
In addition to pre-planned holiday parties, this time of year it's not unusual to have people drop by with short notice or even none at all. Keep your kitchen stocked up with easy to prepare snacks. It can be as simple as cheese and crackers, a bowl full of nuts, or a tin full of cookies. Don't forget the drinks too. Coffee and hot cocoa can be whipped up quickly, and make sure your favorite spirits and mixers are stocked up for adult drinks. You may want to keep a few extra bottles of wine on hand too. Anything unused (and unopened) can even be given as a gift when you find yourself in need of an extra present.

Set a Timeline
As your event gets closer, set up a day-before and day-of timeline. List detailed information about when everything needs to be done so that your party can start on time and run smoothly throughout. Go easy on yourself with the timeline. Use help when it's available and allow a little more time than necessary for each task so you have some wiggle room if something doesn't go as planned.


Those tips will help you prepare to entertain family and friends in your home. If your home itself needs some decorative preparation, head on over to our luxury furniture store at the Lake of the Ozarks. Our showroom is filled with many styles of gorgeous furniture, decorative art, and inspirational layouts to show you how our home interiors can fit together to make a beautiful room. The last tip about the holidays we will leave you with today is to remember to enjoy every minute of them! As long as you are having fun, it's going to be a wonderful holiday season.