Hosting a festive event can be a daunting task, but with the right planning and mindset, you can create a stress-free and enjoyable festive entertaining experience for both you and your guests.
So whether you're hosting a dinner party, an alfresco picnic, or a day-into-night holiday gathering, we trust that the festive entertaining tips shared here, excerpted from our e-book "The Festive Styling Guide by Suzie Anderson," will guide you in crafting a memorable and enjoyable occasion for everyone involved.
You can download a printable copy of this guide at the bottom of this journal.
$29.99
“The Festive Styling Guide: 6 Christmas Themes to Inspire your Holiday Decorating” is the first e-book by Suzie Anderson that can be downloaded or printed as you wish. The book is a comprehensive 111-page guide to planning, styling, and creating everything you… read moreThe Festive Styling Guide: 6 Christmas Themes to Inspire your Holiday Decorating | Suzie Anderson
Table of Contents
Photo Source: Suzie Anderson Home
The Festive Entertaining Guide
When it comes to planning your festivities both year-round and specifically for the Christmas period, start by asking the following questions:
SHOP THE FESTIVE ENTERTAINING COLLECTION
Festive Entertaining: Fundamentals
Location
Will it be an indoor or outdoor event? Will you be hosting at home, or booking a venue in advance?
Climate
What is the season where you are? This may influence the location, colour palette, choice of textiles, lighting, food, drinks, and decor.
Time
Will it be a breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktail party or an all-day-in-to-the-evening event?
The Dress Code
Will it be a formal, semi-formal, holiday festive, or a casual event?
The Guest List
Is it a mix of ages or an adult gathering?
Photo Source: Aerin Lauder
Photo Source: Jenni Kayne
Photo Source: Suzie Anderson Home
Festive Entertaining: Decor
Areas to Decorate
Are you looking to expand your theme throughout the home or will it be limited to your tablescape, entryway display, or living room?
The Tree
Will you have a Christmas Tree? If so, what will your style of Christmas tree be?
For example, is it a real tree, a faux tree, or a foraged branch tree? Where will you position your tree? Will you have more than one tree display?
Visual Interest
Where will the main energy & visual interest come from?
It may be your Christmas tree, the ornaments, the textiles, the decor, the tableware, or even the lighting.
Do you want these elements to be subtle and streamlined, or are they designed to add impact, with bold colours, patterns, textures, and shapes?
The Theme
Are you continuing an annual tradition or are you wanting to explore a new theme?
Here is a link to our festive styling playlist for ideas.
Photo Source: Jenni Kayne
Festive Entertaining: Games + Gifting
Festive Activities
Do you need to craft out space in your home for certain activities?
This may include a pre-lunch/dinner gathering space or an area to play games such as boules, a children's scavenger hunt, or board games.
Gifts
Are you planning to exchange gifts this year? If you are, will it involve a Secret Santa for both adults and children? Are there specific budget constraints or themes for the gifts?
Additionally, do you intend to give small welcome or parting gifts?
Gift Wrapping
How will you wrap and embellish your gifts and table settings?
Will these embellishments match your festive theme?
Are there personal touches or family traditions you would like to include?
Tableware:
Are you using your existing tableware or are you looking to refresh and update your collection?
If you are catering for a crowd, do you need to hire in tableware?
Tip
One fun idea is for each guest to bring a vintage/thrifted plate as a useful gift for you to use and keep, perhaps with a set colour in mind so you can create a wonderful collection that can be used each year.
Want more stress-free festive entertaining tips? Watch last year's video below.
Photo Source: Suzie Anderson Home
Introducing our 5 L’s of Styling
To achieve balance and a look that is uniquely yours, consider implementing our 5 L’s of styling to ensure that your overall theme is harmonious.
Something Loved
Do you have any special festive items, artwork, or objects you love that tell a story, showcase your personality, spark memories, or reflect traditions? Can you find ways to incorporate these smaller touches into your festive decor?
Example: My Loved Festive decorations.
I didn't have a Christmas stocking or Santa sack growing up but I had the same striped pillowcase which only came out at Christmas.
There was nothing more exciting than putting out that empty pillowcase before bed and finding it filled with treasures the next morning!
My sister-in-law has a magnificent tree that displays every decoration she has ever gifted her two now adult sons since they were born, amongst others from her travels and those she has been given over the years.
It is a definite decorative centrepiece of family gatherings!
Decor Ideas
☐ A Festive Playlist
For example, I love to hear Bing Crosby, Dean Martin & Nat King Cole at Christmas!.
☐ A Festive Fragrance
Is there a fragrance that you only introduce at this time of year?
Some of my loved scents include pine, fresh-picked gardenias, oranges dotted with cloves and cinnamon, or an open fire.
☐ A Festive Taste.
What is your most-loved Christmas dish?
Perhaps it is Christmas pudding, shortbread, handmade chocolates, fresh fruit platters, gingerbread, or Pavlova.
☐ Add Depth and Dimension
We recommend selecting items of different shapes, sizes, heights & scales to create depth, dimension, and energy.
This can be achieved through the varied positioning of your selected garlands, finials, candlesticks, glassware, and standing Christmas figurines.
Something with Lustre
Lustre is the state or quality of shining by reflecting light.
You can create this by including items with a reflective, glossy, or mirrored surface. These elements will lift your festive display and stop it from looking flat.
Lustre is abundant at Christmas.
Decor Ideas
Some ideas include:
☐ Crystal glassware, vases or candleholders.
☐ Mirrored plates or accent furniture.
☐ Glossy ceramics.
☐ Glittery baubles.
☐ Metallic accents.
☐ Frosted garlands.
☐ Textiles such as silk, satin, beaded embroidery, and velvet.
Photo Source: Suzie Anderson Home
Something Living
What living energy do you wish to add to your festive displays? Do you want your arrangements to be calming or energising? Formal or informal?
Living energy will enliven your colour palette whilst adding movement, structure, and seasonality to your festive display.
Like all holiday shopping days, I recommend going with a plan to the flower market to avoid overspending. Having a definite list and mood board in mind will help keep you on track to create the theme you desire. Be sure to ask how long your florals and foliage will last to make sure they will withstand the weather and stay fresh on the day.
Decor Ideas
Ideas include:
☐ Fresh, faux, or dried foliage and flowers.
☐ Tall-reaching branches.
☐ An eye-catching festive wreath or garland.
☐ Seasonal flower arrangements.
☐ Your Christmas tree.
☐ Fossicked/foraged elements such as dried branches, fresh pine, cut seasonal flowers, foliage, fallen leaves, and pinecones.
My preference is a mix of foraged, faux, and fresh elements. That way as the fresh elements start to wilt, you are still left with arrangements that will last you through the season.
Photo Source: Suzie Anderson Home
Photo Source: Jenni Kayne
Festive Lighting
At this time of year, I encourage you to amplify and layer various light sources to create a magical atmosphere, particularly with fairy lights, festoon lights, warm (not cool) Christmas tree lights and lots of candlelight!
Lighting Ideas
Other lighting ideas include:
☐ Floor lanterns
☐ Hurricane Candleholders
☐ Christmas-themes Trudon Candles
☐ Pre-lit garlands and wreaths.
☐ Flameless LED or battery-operated candles.
☐ Layers of pillar, floating and votive tea-light candles.
Photo Source: Suzie Anderson Home
The Art of Layering
How can you add more visual interest, warmth, and comfort, by layering a variety of textures and materials?
Layering starts from the ground up and includes flooring, windows, doors, walls, surfaces, textures, lighting, furniture, and decor.
Layering Ideas
Flooring
Starting with the flooring, I like to put down faux fur rugs, jute and sisal runners, or a lightweight patterned vinyl mat to zone a space.
For outdoor entertaining, consider using colourful outdoor rugs for visual intrigue, and comfort underfoot.
Soft Furnishings
I love to layer a variety of soft furnishings such as monogrammed or festive door mats, embroidered and beaded cushions, and plush throws and wall hangings featuring eye-catching patterns and colours.
Thank you!
We trust that we have provided some inspirational and informative ideas to help you create a welcoming and festive home that you and your family will enjoy this holiday season.
As always, when creating a home you love, the beauty is in the detail.
Suzie xx
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FESTIVE CHECKLIST + QUESTIONNAIRE here.
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The Festive Styling Guide: 6 Christmas Themes to Inspire your Holiday Decorating | Suzie Anderson
$29.99
“The Festive Styling Guide: 6 Christmas Themes to Inspire your Holiday Decorating” is the first e-book by Suzie Anderson that can be downloaded or printed as you wish. The book is a comprehensive 111-page guide to planning, styling, and creating everything you… read more
