If you’ve been charged with hosting the family get-together this holiday season, you’ve probably been researching recipes and scouring the internet for festive cocktail ideas.
Having an amazing dinner is a huge part of playing the perfect host. A close second, however, is creating a warm and welcoming environment that offers both comfort and practicality.
This can be challenging if you’re worried about the size of your dining area. Read on for tips on how to elevate your dining room in ways that will not only delight your seasonal guests, but will also give the illusion of more space.
Embrace Seasonal Accessories
While your overarching theme is likely ‘the holidays,’ you can narrow this down slightly and pick a color theme or a pattern (think blues and silvers versus traditional reds and greens — the choice is yours)! A sense of unity will not only look slick and stylish, but it will also make the room appear larger.
Accessorizing with color-coordinated napkins and table runners is an easy and effective way to transform your dining room for the evening.
Create Stations
While you’ll likely serve a seated dinner, create standing stations for finger foods and pre-dinner snacks in other areas. This allows you to keep the dining table clear of debris and clutter — which will crowd the space — to encourage your guests to move around and mingle.
Treat Yourself — It’s the Holidays, After All!
If you’ve been planning on getting a more size-appropriate dining table and chairs, what better opportunity to indulge — it’s the holidays, and you’re hosting a family dinner?
In the spirit of treating yourself, seek out quality products that are made to last. For example, if your dining table isn’t quite right for your space, and you’ve been hoping to update it, look to companies like Woodcraft, who specialize in signature, solid wood furniture in various sizes and configurations. Look for furniture that will transcend design eras for decades to come — setting you up for many happy family gatherings in the future.
This isn’t to say that you must completely renovate and overhaul your dining room. But if you’ve been procrastinating on revitalizing a component of your dining area, what better time to do it?
Think About Service Ware
On the other hand, you likely won’t want to buy a brand-new set of extensive service ware for one meal. A 57+ service set will undoubtedly take up valuable storage space. Why not see if a local rental company can provide the essentials? Or, ask a family member or post on a community board to see if you can borrow plates and cutlery for the day.
Layer Lighting
Light is so important in our homes throughout the year — it can truly set a tone. This is especially important when you want to foster a cozy and relaxed environment during the holidays.
Layered lighting is fantastic for this reason. Turn off the overhead ceiling lights and instead opt for lamps in corners and near your serving stations. Run festive string lights or tapered candles down the center of the table to create a sparkly and festive ambiance.
Setting lighting nooks will create small pockets of interest which really open a room up.
The Takeaway
By investing when it’s warranted, adding cozy touches, and leaning into a cohesive color scheme, you’re well on your way to creating a wonderfully festive space that feels both spacious and comfortable, setting the tone for a lovely holiday season ahead.
