Decor | Entertaining | Holiday | Home Decor

Easy Entertaining Ideas for the Holidays

Do you get overwhelmed with holiday entertaining? Try these easy no stress ideas to make seasonal get-togethers a breeze!

Greetings! I’m excited to be back with Tool Box Divas to share some easy holiday entertaining ideas that are stress-free, on a budget, but totally chic. You can be the hostess with the mostess without even breaking a sweat!

Simple Holiday Entertaining

If we haven’t met yet, I’m Kathy from Up to Date Interiors.  I’m a recently retired military spouse who moved back to Texas after being gone 19 years.  I’ve perfected the art of rental decorating and overcoming challenges in small spaces the last fifteen years but now we are homeowners and have a new set of challenges! I love infusing colorful global style with DIYs and furnishings in our one-story 60’s ranch style home.

We’ve done a lot of entertaining for other military families over the last many years and as soon as we retired and moved to Texas, my family wanted us to host every occasion in our new house. I’ve had to come up with a lot of quick short cuts to make entertaining easy but reflect our personal style.

Easy Entertaining Ideas for the Holiday Season 

Depending on the crowd, setting up a bar cart or drink area is a necessity. My favorite tip for making this job easy is to use store-bought flowers in a decorative bowl or vase. Use whatever stemware you have! Choose a signature drink instead of worrying about a fully stocked bar. And shop your house for pretty containers that can be used for ice, garnishes, and nuts.

bar cart decorated for the holidays

Speaking of a signature cocktail, infusing spirits is a great way to have something fun to offer guests and is really simple to do! Just soak whatever fruit and spice in a bottle of vodka or rum for a few days, strain, add simple syrup, and it’s ready to go. Some of my favorite combinations; blueberry and cinnamon, cherry and vanilla, berries and mint.

holiday cocktail with berries

Whip up a quick dessert by dressing up store-bought cupcakes with fresh fruit and mint. This is a great idea if you need to bring something to someone else’s house or just want to cut down on cooking time for your own holiday meal.

cupcakes with berries and mint

Add instant holiday decor with printable art. There are so many free options out there and you can place it in any space to create a seasonal display. Use the same frame and switch out the print seasonally and your guests will think you are a professional!

christmas printable on a bar cartthanksgiving printable on a bar cart

Having a beautiful table centerpiece is a must for the holidays. Keep it simple by using a wreath and placing candles in the middle. You can decorate the wreath for Fall, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, or just keep it natural and not have to change a thing all season! This trick can be used for your mantel garland too.

holiday table with wreath as a centerpiece

Finally, if you are having out of town guests stay overnight and do not have a designated guest room try these suggestions; top an air mattress with a foam mattress topper, place extra pillows and blankets to make it cozier, and have a set of towels and sleep masks nearby. These don’t take much effort at all but can make a world of difference for your guests.

guest area set up with an air mattress and pretty bedding

I hope these tips and tricks inspire you to plan some holiday entertaining! Do you have any ideas for making the holidays easier? I would love to hear them!

Until next time, 

Kathy

 

 

For more holiday DIY ideas check out these:

6 Simple Low Cost Ideas to Create the Perfect Christmas Table Setting

DIY Christmas Tree Trunk Candle Holder

Amazing Staircase Idea For Christmas

 

 

 

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One Comment

  1. Thank you for sharing the great ideas! We don’t celebrate most holidays due to lost loved ones happening on some. But I love to do crafts to give away and your wood lanterns look like I have what’s needed to finish a couple. We are older and stuck between a rock and a hard place in our recently purchased home. Finances are small but we keep on trying despite what goes on. I’m in SOCAL so kind of your neighbor. My phone will be going away soon so may not be responding any more after January 1. No covid19 in our house, thank goodness! I hope you and yours stay safe too. Happy New Year and Merry Holidays if you celebrate! But Thank You for the fun place and ideas. 🙂
    Sage-. I’ll subscribe so I can find the fun again.

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