I am excited to share some Holiday Entertaining Ideas with you! You are in luck because today for our Seasons of Home Holiday Series (hosted by Ella Claire Inspired) there are 15 other bloggers with some amazing ideas for Tablescapes, Holiday Table Settings and Entertaining! I almost backed out of joining the group for all of those reasons-
#1- We have a smaller scale home
#2- Our kitchen is about 10×13
#3- There is NO dining room to be scene or heard of in this 1100 square foot tiny cape
But I thought REALLY Brooke! I don’t think EVERYONE as the ideal home to entertain in and not everyone likes to do a formal Tablescape. So I hope my tips help and inspire you to invite people into your “not ideal home”.
Because any home is ideal for sharing love and thanks!
We moved from a larger home in Utah where I hosted Thanksgiving for 7 years! I can remember thinking “we need a bigger dining space”! How stupid I was to say that, looking at it now. We always think we need something else. I am tearing up writing that, I don’t know why. I just think we I need to stop and be thankful for what I have. I don’t want my blog to every make you feel less than. I like to use what I have and not stress about hosting, when I see good things through the year I snatch them up and hang onto them for entertaining, just good basics. This post is sponsored by Carvan (use coed NWG17 on any of the items for 20% off!) I did select every single piece I used for this post. I really love to partner with great companies because it enables me to share MORE content and ideas with you.
Here are my 6 TIPS for Casual Entertaining-
#1- CLEAN UP- Before you start setting up for a party, DECLUTTER! I like to clean off my counters and put things away in a box and hide it in a room or the basement. Meaning- put away the toaster, blender, basket of papers anything that you don’t need for the party and that is taking up precious counter space and doesn’t feel or look good.
#2- EVALUATE– Take a look at what you already have to set the table with. I like to use really nice cloth/linen napkins that can mix with any Holiday. That way I am not running out to buy paper napkins that coordinate every party. I love to use THESE because they look great all year, they are not just specific to Christmas Table Setting. When I had a bigger house with more storage I had a set of 12 red plates, a set of 12 blue plates and a set of 12 white plates. If you have the space and want all that then by all means. BUT it is so not necessary! Really you cannot go wrong with white plates. They look great with any Holiday. (THESE are my white plates, I layered on gold chargers I found at GoodWill).
*Burlap Sack HERE
#3- STATIONS– Create a station for everything! Think of your home as little vignettes. A station to get drinks. A station to get warm drinks. A station for food. A station for dessert. I set up THIS tea cart with water, yummy drinks, dessert and cups above it. I did get THESE new green cups this year- I am obsessed with them!! I LOVE the color green and they feel vintage. (They will look great in the Spring too).
The trick to setting up a good looking tea/bar cart is to layer! I see a lot and they just look flat. Notice how I added two cutting boards leaning against the wall. I just got THIS tall black marble one. I also gave the cart some life with a little green tree planted in THIS marble pot.
It is also really good to keep some dishtowels over on your teacart. I love THESE simple red linen stripe ones! Just gorgeous.
#4- DECORATE- I like to decorate with food, real plants and lights! Let the colors of the season be your theme and decor. I found oranges with the green stems still on and they couldn’t have been prettier. Also pomegranates are really pretty for Christmas. I like put out little dishes of chocolate too to munch on after dinner (or before:)). Also add a variety of height on your table. Cake Pedestals are the BEST for this, I used THESE marble and wood stands. They are not too tall so you don’t have to remove them when you sit down to eat. That is the key! You want decor that looks good from all angles and isn’t too big or tall. (THESE pinecone lights are the best…battery operated!)
*Find red plaid Scarf HERE * Garland around chalkboard HERE
#5- SET IT UP– Typically if you are hosting a bigger party good friends offer to bring food. I like to have all the food set-up before people arrive. So if someone is bringing a salad I plan where the bowl will go. You could place salad tongs in that spot to have it all ready. We don’t have a lot of counter space so I used THIS large cutting board to cover my farm sink. I left a spot for water to run (you can easily slide the board over to get into the water).
#6- ENTERTAINMENT PLAN– I had a message from a reader who said she is hosting 25 people, that included like 12 kids and teenagers. She was stressed about what they would all do when they arrived and dinner was still being prepared. I told her what I used to do! This is good. Really good and important to all your hostesses sanity! Make a simple scavenger hunt OUTSIDE! Have them bundle up and give them papers and have a few prizes…keep it simple, kids like money! Send the big teenagers and dads with the little kids. And give yourself a breather. (You can find scavenger hunts HERE).
PS- I got a new light! I guess that made it all the more fun too! You can find my light HERE and my shirt HERE.
Thank you for stopping by our home today and to Carvan for sponsoring this post! Remember to use code NWG17 to save 20%! As always you can Shop our Home HERE.
Stop by these bloggers for more Entertaining Ideas and Tablescapes
Ella Claire | Rooms for Rent | Jennifer Rizzo | Love Grows Wild
Nesting with Grace | Dear Lillie | French Country Cottage | Liz Marie Blog
Craftberry Bush | City Farmhouse | Jeanne Oliver | Kindred Vintage
Shades of Blue Interiors | My Sweet Savannah | Miss Mustard Seed |
and our featured guest, House of Five
Well, there goes my morning at work :-). I can’t wait to dive into these today.
That light is everything! Love it.
P.S. I can’t wait to see what you do with your porch for the holidays.
hahaha! Best comment ever! Have fun!
Scavenger hunt idea is genius!
yay!!
Please tell me where you got your extra large cutting board?!! Iâve been searching!!
I linked it in the post….under tip #5:)
Good morning!
Your home is cozy, welcoming, warm and looks like it is full of love. The big houses I have seen NEVER have any of these very important things. They have square footage, big price tags and furnishings but no comfy feeling of home. My house is 1068 square feet, every inch is loved and cozy. I’ll take that any day.
Thank you for sharingđ
Blessings to you!
Minnie
oh thank you so much!! Oh yes you get the smaller house and entertaining!
I love LOVE seeing the return of your chalkboard! Iâve often wondered what lucky local bought it from you. So glad you kept it! Itâs nice to have that black on your back wall againđ Thanks for all your decor inspiration! Who needs a formal dining room anywayto be used maybe 3 times a year?!
thank you!! Yes, I had to keep it and I like seeing it again too!
Thanks!
I noticed your new light right away. It’s so gorgeous and seriously looks like it just belongs in your kitchen. I can’t wait to see your full home tour.
Thanks Clarissa!!
I love the chalkboard and garland so much! Great tips too
Hey Brooke!
What “Ginny” (above) said about the Capiz shell chandelier/lamp! ( I cannot say it better.)
Our home is small (1550 sq.ft.) . . . in what was once a lovely . . . now shabby little neighborhood.
I was once very proud of it . . . in recent years . . . not as keen on it. (Even a bit discouraged at times.) You have encouraged me to embrace it once again. Thank you.
I have a feeling many small spaces are blessed every day via your talent and inspiration. One day I will participate in your design question, series.
You and “Annie” are the dynamic duo of CT. ( Annie and I have been blog friends for many years, since her Cali days.)
Loving your Christmas holiday home.
. . . and that Finn. He is on the move big time now!
~Lynne
w/L
Hello!! Thank you for your kind comment! I do LOVE Annie. She is so talented. And I am so happy I made you love your home a little more! xxxx
This is so sweet! Pomegranate is my favorite treat this time of year! Love it!
The love that you bestow on your family and home makes them and your house shine. I do have a liile comment aboutt the knife and fork placement. Knife blades turn in and when placed together usually knife is the outer utensil.Do you not like the standard fork, napkin left of plate knife on the right of plate?
oh good point! I didn’t even think about it! I literally just threw them down and now that I think about it I didn’t even look to see how they were even set. Thanks!
This is just beautiful, every single inch! We are renovating a smaller home (that has so much more charm than our previous, larger home). While this year will be a work in progress, it gives me hope to see that I can work on collecting some beautiful pieces here and there for next holiday season. Happy holidays!
Thank you! And congrats on your new charmer!! How exciting. I love that process. Best of luck!
I could not love your home more…… This little corner is everything and reminds me of the tiny home where I grew up …although your house is actually a few hundred feet larger! My job was dishwashing after meals and I have fond memories of rarely taking a step! The sink, the fridge, the oven? Perfect triangle not much wider than the length of my arms! I love everything you’ve done and how much you appreciate and strive for function and beauty.
oh that is the BEST! I love what you said about doing the dishes! That is EXACTLY how it is!
Thanks so much!
Love everything! Seriously! Where did you get the cup rack the green cups are on. Love it!
It was from rust and honey- you can find it here- https://rustandhoney.com/products/bottle-wall-rack I spray painted mine!
Love your cozy home so much! My home is 1000 sq ft (and I also don’t have a dining room) so I am beyond glad I found your blog. It is golden!
Can you pleaseeee tell me where your exact kitchen table is from?! I love the marble on it too!
yay! So glad you are here! And my marble top was an lucky antique find. I put it on top of the table I linked under “shop my home” here- http://nestingwithgrace.com/shop-our-home/