My love for entertaining began at a young age. My holiday memories are filled with the smells of food, the sounds of clinking crystal glasses and the beautiful porcelain pieces my mother brought out for her annual holiday party. 

This annual party was one that our family took days to prepare for. The kids were recruited for all sorts of tasks from ironing the embroidered napkins to polishing the silver. But my favorite moment was turning the small brass key to the china cabinet to reveal all the carefully stacked china inside. 

Those moments are some of my fondest holiday memories, but as anyone who’s ever hosted a holiday party knows, it isn’t always easy to make everything come together. Whether you’re hosting a big holiday dinner or simply want to plan a small get together with loved ones, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your event goes as planned. Keep reading for our 3 tips for easy holiday hosting, plus a few luxury table décor pieces you won’t want to forget! 

Set a Beautiful Holiday Tablescape

My all time favorite step to any holiday hosting is setting the table. Your holiday tablescape is your chance to incorporate special touches such as adorning the table with evergreen, decorating with candles and bud vases, or adding a holiday cookie to each place setting. Special touches not only create the perfect holiday mood, but they also have the ability to start conversation and make your guests feel special so this is definitely a step you want to put a lot of thought and effort into. 

Choose Your Holiday Color Palette

While red and green are classic holiday colors, they may not be the colors you want to choose as a holiday host. The good news is that you can still make your table feel festive while using a more simplistic color palette. White and gold table settings can feel just as festive and using gold as your accent color is a timeless choice, not to mention it’s also reminiscent of vintage china which adds the perfect touch of holiday nostalgia to your dinner table. 

Here at Pottery by Eleni, gold just so happens to be one of the things we are best known for. Our gold overglaze gives our products a luxury finish while still allowing the products to be durable enough for day-to-day use. That’s a win-win if you ask us!

Mix Old with New

Who says your table setting has to be all matching or brand new? There’s something to be said about mixing vintage pieces with luxury table décor. Shop your local flea market or vintage store for unique pieces that have meaning. You never know what you’ll find and maybe, those vintage pieces will one day become your own family heirloom. 

Play with Textures

One of the best ways to elevate your holiday tablescape is by mixing textures. If you have a smooth ceramic dinner plate, consider adding a linen napkin on top. If you want to go a step further, why not add a small, festive twig to your napkin ring? Mixing textures and combining elements such as wood, concrete, glass, ceramic, linen, and other organic materials will elevate your holiday table to the next level!

Don’t Forget Your Centerpiece

No table setting is complete without the perfect centerpiece! For a simpler design, place flowers in bud vases or arrange foliage across your holiday table to complement your overall design. Just remember to not overdo it. You want your guests to still be able to see and talk to each other across the table so make sure your centerpieces aren’t too big or too high. 

Give Your Guests a Take Home Gift

Your guests are sure to be wowed when they see their name on a placecard and a small gift for them to take home. You don’t have to overdo it with this step. Perhaps it’s a fresh baked holiday cookie from your favorite local bakery or a packet of homemade hot chocolate they can make at home in their favorite ceramic mug. No matter what you choose, a thoughtful gift can go a long way in making your guests feel special. 

Create a Specialty Cocktail & Stock Your Bar Cart

The holidays area a wonderful time to experiment with fun cocktails and drinks. As the holiday host, make sure to set up a bar cart or table ahead of time and prepare it with everything your guests will need to keep the drinks (and good times) flowing all night long. For easy hosting, make batches of your favorite drinks ahead of time, stick a bottle of wine in a ceramic wine chiller, and stock your cart with cocktail cups, ice cubes, garnishes, and napkins.

Set the Mood with Music

No party is complete without the perfect musical pairing to go with it! Music truly does set the mood so consider the type of event you’re hosting and the energy you want to create. For a fun and festive party with coworkers, think of the classic holiday jams. For an intimate candlelit dinner with friends and family, choose holiday music that is low and peaceful.  

While the holiday season is often a busy time of year, it’s also a wonderful time to pause and reflect on all the love around you. This year, whether you’re the holiday host for family dinner or you simply want to gather around the dinner table with a group of friends, take some time to reflect on what this season is all about. 

And, while you’re at it, shop our store for any luxury table décor pieces you’ll need for all your holiday entertaining. 

Happy Holidays!