Hosting a Holiday Gathering at Home
Prep
One of the easiest things you can do to reduce stress during holiday hosting is to prep everything you can ahead of time. Whether you have recipes to make or simply rearranging some furniture, do whatever you can ahead of time, so you’re not harried when the doorbell rings. Prep food and have cocktails ready to go the second your first guest arrives. However, also be prepared to go with the flow. You can’t plan for everything so take changes to your originally scheduled programming with a grain of salt.
Comfort
You know that you have a great apartment in Brooklyn, but be sure to show your guests that, too! Keeping comfort in mind is key to hosting a fun and welcoming holiday event right at home. Do you have enough seats? Can you repurpose things like benches or ottomans to accommodate more guests? How’s the temperature? Be cognizant of keeping your guests at ease while they’re in your space. They’ll always remember how they felt at your home, not necessarily what they ate or who they talked to there.
Details
The devil’s in the details, right? Think about how you’ll use your space most effectively and how your guests will interact. Are you hosting a large group that won’t be able to sit around a table? Use smaller plates so that standing and eating isn’t that much of a hassle. Also, place finger foods conveniently throughout the entertaining area so there’s not a mad dash to one location causing a traffic jam. And, of course, keep the drinks coming!
The goal of holiday hosting is to have fun, spend time with loved ones, and show off the great apartment for rent in Brooklyn that you now inhabit. Stress less and have a great time!