We’re right in the thick of holiday season and all across the Mercer and Darke County area, families are coming together to celebrate Christmas and New Years.
If your house is the gathering place this holiday season, keep these tips for holiday entertaining in mind to throw a party that will bring a little joy to your world.
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First-time homebuyers: these are the 4 questions you should be asking.
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5 Easy Holiday Entertaining Tip
1.) Set up a buffet. A buffet is a tried-and-true method for dishing up at family parties. It’s the easiest way to get everyone served in a timely fashion, so if you’re expecting a large group, it’s your best option.
When you’re setting the buffet up, keep groups in mind. People don’t usually approach the food one at a time–they come in clumps as they talk and catch up. So make your starting point very clear and allow for extra room at the beginning to avoid a jam. One great space-saving tactic is to separate the drink area from the food to split up the traffic.
Also, it might seem like common sense to put all the cutlery with the plates at the beginning of the line. But that just gives people extra stuff to juggle as they try to dish up. Instead, put cutlery and napkins at the end of the buffet line to keep hands as free as possible.
2.) Have a signature drink. Whether it’s spiked or kid-friendly, having a signature drink for the party adds a nice personal touch to the proceedings and is an easy way to play into your theme. For Christmas parties, maybe serve your Grandma’s classic punch recipe or try something with some spices to capture the feeling of the season. If you want to go traditional, try one of these popular eggnog recipes for holiday parties.
3.) Play some games. You can do as much or as little with this as you like. If your family is really into group activities like present swaps, plan a few games the whole room can play together. Maybe try a Christmas movie trivia game–just head over to IMDB to look up your favorite Christmas movie tidbits. Or you could put a fun holiday twist on old favorites, like using candy canes to play Spoons.
If group games aren’t really your family’s style, simply set out a few classics like Monopoly or Scrabble in the living room. That way, whoever wants to sit down with a board game can. You don’t need to make it a part of the party agenda. Sometimes it’s nice just to have the option available to your guests and let them determine the flow of the party.
4.) Go vintage. Throw some old timey ornaments into your centerpieces or put a gingerbread house out on end table. Maybe even try some popcorn or cranberry garlands. This adds a sentimental, nostalgic note to your party aesthetic.
Just don’t go overboard when you’re decorating. Stick to two or three colors to avoid making guests feel like a Christmas wrapping paper warehouse has just exploded in your living room.
5.) Utilize scents. For holiday entertaining, a great way to add to the ambience is to have a light scent floating through your home. It’s really easy to accomplish this–simply light some evergreen candles or use stove top potpourri recipes.
Best Remodeling Ideas With Entertaining in Mind
As you take a sip of holiday punch and look around the room at your family and friends, a warm feeling overtakes you. You’re so glad to see all these people that you love so much in one room and–wait. Is that a crack on the ceiling? Hey, how long has that cupboard door been crooked?
When you’re entertaining, you see your house through new eyes. Having people over can draw your attention to things you might have missed before, like the fact that your living room is no longer big enough for your expanding family or how you’re due for new windows that aren’t a hundred years old and starting to peel.
If you’re planning a renovation sometime in the near future, keep these three remodeling ideas in mind:
1.) Finish your basement. This is a great way to create more living space without increasing the footprint of your house. It can also help make your house more energy efficient and increase your home’s value.
2.) Add a bathroom. Bathrooms are the second most requested remodeling project of homebuyers. You don’t need to go overboard and make a master bathroom, but adding a bathroom or even a half bath can help prevent family quarrels and even make it easier to sell your home in the future.
3.) Add on or create an open floor plan. If your family is growing or you simply feel like you need more living space, consider adding on to your existing structure. If that’s not possible given your property restrictions, maybe take down a few walls to create an open floor plan. This gives the feeling of more space without an extensive remodel.
Also, when you’re remodeling make sure you don’t waste your time on the three least valuable home improvements.
Mercer Savings Bank Helps You Make It Happen
Whether you’re buying your first home or embarking on a major remodeling project, Mercer Savings Bank is a partner you can turn to. Talk to us about financing your remodeling project or securing the best mortgage loan for you.