Celebrating the holidays with your loved ones in the comfort of your own home is one of the best parts of the year. While hosting and entertaining guests at your house is certainly an enjoyable experience, preparing your home for guests can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t entertain often. Luckily, getting your living spaces holiday-ready is easier than it may sound. Check out these easy tips from the design team at Sam Levitz Furniture to make hosting guests as simple and fun as possible this holiday season.

Focus on the essentials

Before you start planning what meal you will serve at your holiday get-together, you should first consider what type of event you are planning. Recognizing the purpose of the gathering, the theme and how many guests you plan to invite will provide a concrete idea of how to prepare your home. While a dinner party may take place primarily in the dining room, a gift exchange may require more time and attention in your living room. 

When you have a clear vision of where the gathering will take place and who will be in attendance, you can prepare your home accordingly. While you may love the furnishings and decor that make up your home ordinarily, they may take away from your holiday party. If a piece of furniture isn’t serving a specific purpose during your get-together, it should probably be relocated. Providing plenty of space to walk freely and mingle will make your event comfortable and enjoyable without guests bumping into things.

Rearrange furniture

After your living spaces have been cleared of any unnecessary furnishings and decorations, consider the layout of the room where you’ll be hosting visitors. Ask yourself if there is a better way to create more walking space and allow folks to move more easily from room to room. If sofas, tables, floor lamps or other items are in the way, move them to a more appropriate location. You can’t go wrong with positioning bulky furniture against the walls of the room to allow plenty of space to walk and hang out. Whether your home is large or small, maximizing the space where the holiday gathering will take place is a simple way to make guests (and yourself) feel relaxed and comfortable.

Clean, clean, clean

If ever there was a good excuse to shampoo your carpets or deep clean your fireplace, it’s when company is coming over. Giving your living spaces a good cleaning before your guests arrive will not only help you make a good first impression but will allow you to relax and enjoy your holiday event as much as your guests. If it’s been a while since you’ve done more than straighten up your living room and dining room, give it a once over to see what really needs to be done. Chances are that you’ll notice tasks that aren’t usually on your daily to-do list, such as dusting blinds, wiping down floorboards and cleaning under furniture. You may be surprised by how much better your home looks and feels after giving it a good cleaning. 

Let your holiday accessories shine

Your ordinary living spaces, such as your living room and kitchen, may feel bare if you have to remove or rearrange furniture to make for a more comfortable holiday party. If this is the case in your home, don’t worry. Incorporating a few eye-catching decorations can make your home feel warm, inviting and, most important, holiday-ready. Here are some ideas to help make your home feel festive this holiday season.

• Place twinkle lights around the room or on your patio to create a dreamy atmosphere.
• Set candles on your fireplace mantle or kitchen bar for an elegant vibe.
• Hang garlands to make empty spaces look special without overcrowding them with furniture.

Create a drink station

Whether you’re hosting a sit-down dinner in your dining room or a casual holiday happy hour, designating a specific place for your guests to make and grab drinks is a good idea. Luckily, you don’t need a bar in your home to create a spot that makes mixing your favorite cocktail a breeze. Here’s how to make the perfect holiday bar in your home this season.

• Cover a table with a plastic tablecloth or butcher paper to protect it from spills.
• Remove any nearby area rugs or furniture that could get damaged.
• Put out drinkware that is festive but user-friendly, such as plastic wine glasses.
• Don’t forget to include cocktail napkins and ice.

Provide comfortable seating areas

Regardless of whether you’re expecting a handful of guests or a large gathering of friends at your holiday get-together, providing plenty of seats for everyone on your list is a no-brainer. If nothing else, your friends should feel comfortable chatting and mingling at your party, which means intimate seating arrangements are essential. Along with having an open chair for everyone at the dinner table, be sure to provide ample seating options in the other areas of your home as well, such as your living room and outdoor area. If your sofa or sectional alone isn’t big enough, don’t hesitate to bring in additional folding chairs or benches from other rooms. Your guests will feel much more comfortable sitting down and visiting than being forced to stand up.

You deserve to have a fun, relaxing holiday season this year, even if you are the one hosting guests. To ensure that your home has everything you need to make your holiday party one that your visitors won’t soon forget, the design experts at Sam Levitz Furniture are here to help. From living room seating arrangements and dining room sets to light fixtures and accessories, we have a large selection of quality home furnishings that are sure to make your home feel special all year long. Visit us online today or stop by our convenient showroom location in Tucson to see how simple elevating your living spaces this holiday season can be!