5 Ways to Maximize Your Space for Holiday Guests
Our homes are perfect for entertaining this holiday season, but even though our spaces are big, your extended family may be even bigger! Here are 5 great tips and tricks to maximize your space and enjoy smooth sailing as you host this year’s festivities.
Reroute the crowds
Just like food is the centerpiece of the holidays, the kitchen the centerpiece of your home. During the holidays, your kitchen is almost constantly in use, which means people tend to also gather here to socialize. This can make it hard to maneuver around your kitchen to prepare and set up food, which is also why it’s a good idea to prep food ahead of time.
Reroute your kitchen crowd by providing places to sit or stand that are out of the way. Bar stools are an easy and visually appealing way to do this. If you want to encourage guests to mingle somewhere other than your kitchen, place drinks and snacks in the desired area. A cooler or mini fridge is the perfect way to make sure guests have what they need without needing to come into the kitchen. You can even set up a make-your-own-drink station with drinks, cups, straws, napkins, and anything else they may need to go to the kitchen for.
To keep kids from getting under your feet, designate a spot for them to hang out, play games, or do arts and crafts. Set up a table and chairs inside or lay out a picnic blanket outside to give them a space out of the way of traffic. To take even more stress off of your kitchen, plan recipes that can be done on the grill!
Buffet Style
Although not a traditional way to present your holiday meal, serving dinner buffet style is a huge stress reliever for space and clean up. Declutter your dining table and avoid the often disorganized “pass the butter” procedure, which typically results in a lot of leaning across the table and attempts to move hot dishes. All you have to do is set it up, and the food is ready for your guests to enjoy! Putting food on chafing dishes and warmers will ensure they stay warm and fresh throughout the night if your guests are eating at different times or go for multiple rounds. Aluminum buffet pans make cleaning a breeze and food easy to store once the meal is over.
Eating arrangements
Odds are you may have more family and friends than you do chairs at your dining room table, so take the party outside! Even the smallest outdoor space can be used to seat your guests. Set up plastic tables in any way that fits your space and seating needs, you can even set up a separate place for kids to eat. If you would prefer to stay indoors, prepare for extra seats to be added to your dining room table or let your guests scatter. Some of your guests may choose to sit at a kitchen or dining room table while others can take their plates to the living room. Be flexible and prepare for your whole house to become a dining space!
Making a home for overnight guests
If you have more overnight guests than rooms, start grouping. Put all your little guests in a room together with small air mattresses or sleeping bags. You can even give them pillows and blankets to create a fort in the living room to sleep in.
For your older guests, put them in a private room that is downstairs and easily accessible. For everyone in between, group close family members in a room with air mattresses and/or sleeping bags. One of the best ways to streamline bathroom use is to have immediate family members all use one bathroom and split the other bathrooms up between your guests. This way, all of your guests have a single place where they can place their toiletries and bath items. Make sure you have extra towels ready for those that get mixed up in the daily shower frenzy, as well as stay stocked on extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, and other necessities your guests may have forgotten.
Plan activities
After dinner, suggest a game of kickball in the backyard to give you time to clean up the kitchen and prep the living room for a movie night afterwards. Moving activities outdoors opens up windows of time where you can prepare for the next thing or clean up. If you want to prep for a group movie night, move your coffee table out of the way and open up floor space for kids with pillows and blankets. To coordinate a cooking or baking project, set up all the necessary ingredients and tools at your kitchen table for more space and a contained mess. Preparation is key for any activity!
There are many ways for you and your home to best adapt to anything the holidays may bring. These tips and tricks will help you prepare for a relaxing holiday season with your family!
Let Us Build Your Dream Home
We want you to be in your dream home this holiday. Call us at (352) 472-5780 to schedule a tour of one of our three communities of custom homes, or visit our website to learn about the unique benefits that each of our neighborhoods offer.
