How to Prep for a Holiday Party in One Week
You can take care of the house, menu and music in a few days with help from this time-saving checklist
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating media and immediately discovered a new passion. An Atlanta native, I spent several years as an editor for Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine before making the leap to national publications and websites such as Houzz, Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Accents. I live in Birmingham, Alabama, with my husband and son, who’ve gotten used to coming home and finding the furniture rearranged. When I'm not dragging case goods across the floor, I enjoy good food and wine, college football, music of all kinds, and traveling.
Houzz Contributor. Fresh out of journalism school, I fell into decorating... More »
| Share: |
|
During the holidays, when weekends book up fast with office parties, cocktail gatherings and kids' events, an informal, spontaneous get-together can make for a refreshing change of pace. Or perhaps you’ve simply procrastinated, even though you’ve known since Labor Day that all 30 of your closest relatives would be coming to celebrate Hanukkah with you. It’s OK. We won’t tell.
With just a week to plan, things are tricky but not impossible. Try these ideas to pull it off.
With just a week to plan, things are tricky but not impossible. Try these ideas to pull it off.
Send an electronic invite. Time is precious, so going the digital route will save you the delay of snail mail. An invitation from a service such as Evite or Punchbowl reaches guests instantly and makes RSVPs much easier on short notice. With all the fun designs available, you’ll have no trouble finding one that suits your event.
Deep clean. Whether you do this yourself or call in a cleaning service, now’s the time to tackle the spots that tend to get neglected, such as dusty air vents, cobwebbed corners and fingerprint-festooned door frames. You’ll need to touch up the house on the big day, but the heavy lifting will be done.
Deep clean. Whether you do this yourself or call in a cleaning service, now’s the time to tackle the spots that tend to get neglected, such as dusty air vents, cobwebbed corners and fingerprint-festooned door frames. You’ll need to touch up the house on the big day, but the heavy lifting will be done.
| |
| Restock the bar. Replenish libations such as gin, vodka and Scotch, and lay on a supply of beer, wine and sodas. Don't forget mixers, lemons and limes and other staples. Clear out the fridge. Make plenty of room for a 20-pound turkey or a tray of hors d’oeuvres. Toss aging food, clean out storage containers and polish off the two inches of juice in the bottom of the carton. Give the fridge shelves a good wipedown while you're at it. Spruce the guest room. Relatives coming in from out of town? Fluff your guest quarters to welcome them. Freshen the bed linens, add a bedside carafe, put out a stack of towels and make sure they have a stash of reading material. |
by decordemon
»
Decide on furniture and seating arrangements. Tinker with furniture placement to find the best flow for your gathering. Hosting a seated dinner? Think through where to place guests. You could even make place cards if you’re so inclined.
Keep food simple. Without a lot of time to plan, it’s best to go with a streamlined menu that includes a mix of prepared and from-scratch dishes — for example, pick up a baked ham that’s ready to serve and pair it with your favorite roasted vegetable medley or creamy casserole. Make as many items ahead of time as you can, from freezable cheese straws to chilled pies. For a party, you could also focus on a simple theme, such as a dessert buffet or a hot chocolate bar.
If you’d rather let your local supermarket or gourmet shop do the cooking, many offer prepared meals with all the trimmings. Order early in the week to give them time to accommodate you.
Keep food simple. Without a lot of time to plan, it’s best to go with a streamlined menu that includes a mix of prepared and from-scratch dishes — for example, pick up a baked ham that’s ready to serve and pair it with your favorite roasted vegetable medley or creamy casserole. Make as many items ahead of time as you can, from freezable cheese straws to chilled pies. For a party, you could also focus on a simple theme, such as a dessert buffet or a hot chocolate bar.
If you’d rather let your local supermarket or gourmet shop do the cooking, many offer prepared meals with all the trimmings. Order early in the week to give them time to accommodate you.
| |
| Inventory tableware. Dig out the good china, polish silver and press linens. Make sure you have enough plates, glasses, flatware and serveware to suit the food you plan to offer, and buy some inexpensive extras if necessary. You can set the table or arrange the buffet a day or two in advance (sans champagne flutes and other precarious breakables), then drape a lightweight sheet over it to keep dust off until party time. Order flowers. A week should be plenty of time for a florist to create the arrangements you want. DIY-ers can play with loose blooms and vases to come up with their own custom traditional flower arrangements or wonderfully wild bouquets. Make a playlist. Comb through your iTunes library or CD collection and compile songs that set the mood. If you feel as though your musical taste has gotten a little stale, browse and download some new tunes to shake things up. |
Ideabook published on Nov. 10, 2012.
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Find Local Pros by Category:
Architects & Designers · Interior Designers & Decorators · General Contractors · Home Media Design & Installation · Landscape Architects & Designers · Kitchen & Bath Designers · Design-build Firms · Closet & Home Storage Designers · Carpet and Flooring · Fireplaces · Tile, Stone & Countertops · Specialty Contractors · Landscape Contractors
Find Local Pros by Metro Area:
Atlanta · Austin · Baltimore · Boston · Chicago · Dallas · Dc Metro · Denver · Detroit · Hawaii · Houston · Las Vegas · Los Angeles · Miami · Minneapolis · Nashville · New Orleans · New York · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Portland · Salt Lake City · San Diego · San Francisco · Seattle · St Louis
These holiday get togethers are so much pressure! Why do we allow this to happen? Really good friends and supportive family members either wouldn't care about our dusty dirt or would be at the ready to come and help before the party. Unfortunately, it never works out that way, does it?