The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means you’ll be doing more entertaining, cooking, shopping and cleaning than usual. For hosts and hostesses, entertaining around the holidays can become stressful — but it doesn’t have to be. If you start planning now, your home can be an appealing, inviting, stress-free entertainment zone.
Big Holidays Mean Big Meals and Big Dining Room Tables
With big holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, you first need to make sure you have a large enough dining room table and enough chairs for everyone to be seated comfortably around the table for the blessing, the toast, giving thanks and enjoying the sumptuous feast. If you don’t have a large enough table or enough chairs, now is the time to start shopping. Quality, hand-made dining room furniture often needs to be ordered in advance, so you should allow between 1-2 months for delivery.
When shopping for your new dining room table and chairs, consider the space you’ll be using. Measure the area where your new dining room set will be placed, taking into account how many people you want to sit at the table and also allowing room for people to comfortably walk around the table.
Outfitting Your Dining Room
Once you have determined the size of the table you want, then it’s time to look at the style of furniture that you prefer. From here, your choice will depend on your personal decor preference. Is your home more on the modern side, classic, or a nice mix? There are many quality and stylish finish options available, such as wood, glass, or metal. No matter which option or style you choose, make sure it is high-quality handcrafted furniture made in the United States from reputable manufacturers. Because your dining room furniture is in the room where you have your most elegant and significant functions, you want it to make a statement about you, about your values and about how you treasure your friends and family. Look for time-tested building techniques, like tongue and groove glue joints, hand scraped solid wood, traditional woodworking materials and impeccable tailoring. Many furniture artisans (such as those who craft Amish furniture) add a signature to their work.
Create a Gathering Space — Away from Your Kitchen
The living room is another area that may need attention prior to the holidays. To keep your guests out of your kitchen, you need to give them a great place to gather, lounge and relax prior to your feast. Could you use a nicer, larger sofa? Would a couple of comfortable chairs add much-needed seating? Do you have enough small tables for people to rest their drinks and hors d’oeuvres? Sectionals can create an instant gathering spot while also allowing for additional seating. A couple of oversized chairs can make your guests feel honored. Adding a couple of accent tables and a nice coffee table gives you a place to serve pre-dinner appetizers.
Shopping for Living Room Furniture
Just like with your dining room set, you need to be sure you invest in quality furnishings for your living room. You want to look for quality pieces that will withstand the rigors of daily life and lots of guests. Manufacturers who specialize in bench-crafted upholstery, fine tailoring and distinctive trimmings, using only the best materials, are your best bet. Be sure the furnishings are made in the United States, to avoid toxic materials that can often be present in furniture that is manufactured overseas.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and each of us should have many things to be thankful for this year. Kick off this year’s holiday season knowing that your home is stylishly and comfortably equipped to handle all the guests on your list, and rest easy knowing at least one item is crossed off your list. Make this a year where you will enjoy the holiday season as much as your guests.