It’s the season of giving…or throwing holiday get-togethers. Here are some tips and tricks for rearranging the furniture in your house to be more conducive to parties and gatherings.
Repurposing furniture
There are many ways to organize your existing furniture to perfectly set the scene for a holiday party, you just have to get creative. Purchasing one or two new pieces of furniture could also be a great idea. If you’ve been waiting for the excuse of the holidays to purchase a new dining room table, it’s the time to buy. Perhaps keep your old table, for overflow seating, or use it as a kids’ table for a holiday meal.
The Entryway
De-clutter your entryway. Guests should feel comfortable as they enter your home. Make sure the entryway highlights the route that they should take to the main gathering area. If your entry way is separated from the living room or kitchen, it can be helpful to leave guests space to hang coats or set down bags.
Make sure that there are areas for flow of traffic. Make sure that dining room tables or couches are moved out of the way of the main walkways in your home.
Areas for Food and Drink
Keep food and drink stations separate to avoid traffic jams in one area of the home. Giving guest two destinations to hit, ensures that people will circulate through the house. Tapas, hors d’oeuvres or buffet-style serving is best for larger holiday parties. People typically don’t expect to sit down formally, and will be used to eating small bites or with a plate on their lap.
Get people to mingle by placing small appetizers on pub or bistro tables. It’s easier to mingle at a higher table, and doesn’t require the commitment of finding a seat.
Seating areas
Create seating areas for smaller groups of people to gather at. Be sure that there’s enough seating, but not too much. If there are too many seats, people will tend to never leave their seat, and never mingle with the rest of the party. A good tip is to not set furniture too far apart from each other. You don’t want guests leaning across coffee tables to try and hear one another.
