Tips for Hosting A Stress-Free Christmas

Grand holiday dinners provide a fantastic opportunity to spend time with beloved friends and family. But there is a lot of preparation and planning that goes into one, as we’re sure you know. From selecting the dishes to making seating arrangements and even catering to all the different palates and dietary restrictions. But in the end, when everyone is fed and happy, it all becomes well worth it. 

This article will serve as a guide to reducing the stress of preparation, help with seating requirements, and provide tips on how to ensure your holiday feast proves to be a magical experience for everyone. 

Choosing the Right Furniture or Setup for Your Space

Before we get into the different tips we have for you, we’ll start with what we know best: furniture. Choosing the right furniture for your dining room can help out a lot when it comes to hosting a larger number of guests. Unless you have a grand dining table that offers plenty of free space in the middle, you’ll need somewhere to put all your delicious dishes. 

For this reason, it’s wise to have a buffet or sideboard that can offer you this space, as well as provide safe storage for your cherished crockery, so that the kids don’t accidentally use and break your heirloom china. 

When picking out a sideboard, consider the space you have available. It can be tempting to eyeball the space and make a guess, but we highly recommend actually measuring your space with a measuring tape. That way you can compare your space to the dimensions of the item you want to purchase. 

You’ll also want to leave enough room between your dining table and buffet so that people can move in between or sit comfortably. A great way to test this and be absolutely sure is to either place a box where the buffet would go (according to the dimensions), or have someone stand there. You can then sit down or try to move past and accurately gauge whether the available space is enough to accommodate guests comfortably. 

With that most crucial part out of the way, you can now shop around. You’ll want something that matches the style of the rest of your dining room. If you’re aiming for elegance, the Rupert buffet is an excellent example of the type of piece you’re going for. 

It offers plenty of surface space, with a wide smooth top, while also providing you with storage space in three large cabinets. 

If you’re going for a more modern feel and using white and black mostly to create those stark contrasts, then you’ll want to look for something like the Inca buffet (in either white or black), which features an eye-catching design and smooth square lines. 

If you don’t have space for a full-sized buffet, consider a low wall shelf or even use the top of a low bookcase that you have lying around. A large tablecloth can help the bookcase look the part and serve the need for more space, while also hiding whatever you choose to store on the shelves. 

Finally, you would need a dining table, obviously, and this is where things get tricky. If you have a big family, a grand dining table may prove horribly expensive and impractical. Modern houses only have so much space. 

If you lack space in your dedicated dining room, a simple 6-seater dining table could do the trick. But if you have a large family, we have another idea for you. You could convert your living room into a dining room, and place two six-seater dining tables side-by-side. 

This could be an easy (and affordable) solution, with the alternative being to hunt for a grand piece, which could cost quite a bit. Even if you go to a second-hand shop, the salesperson will likely try to convince you that their table is antique and charge you an arm and a leg. 

You may even consider hosting this grand meal outside if the weather is nice and you don’t have too many bugs around. There’s always a plan to be made. 

How to Decorate for a Holiday Feast

To invoke the holiday spirit on all of your guests, you may need to carefully consider your decorations. It’s obviously important to leave as much space for your guests as possible but also add at least a little magic. 

A plastic table-top Christmas tree is always a pretty safe bet. It won’t shed its needles into your food, and you can decorate it with a few small trinkets. You could create your own vase arrangement as well, using pine branches, holly or poinsettias. 

Finally, consider adding a clear jar or two filled with candy canes or other holiday-themed treats. 

Next, use your wall space. Put up some tinsel or a wreath. And if you have plenty of space available in your dining room, you may even want to put a full-sized Christmas tree in there - it’s really up to you in the end.

In the end, just make sure that you do not overdecorate this room, which could make the room feel stuffy - especially in our Australian summers. Keep the decor light and add just enough to make the room feel like the holidays. 

Simplicity Trumps Grandeur in Many Situations

For our last tip - and this actually relates to the food - don’t overthink things too much. People have a wide range of dietary restrictions these days, with many preferring gluten-free, vegetarian, or even vegan meals. 

If you try to plan a set three-course dinner, you may be making your life very difficult. Instead, reach out to your guests beforehand to learn about any dietary restrictions, and then plan out a buffet meal accordingly. 

Make sure there’s a dish for each restriction available, and then plan a few extra dishes for those who eat anything. Lay these dishes out and everyone will dish up for themselves as they see fit. 

It’s an easy way to avoid a massive headache. 

If you are a family that says grace before a meal, consider doing this before dishing up. It wouldn’t do to have everyone sit around waiting only for their food to go cold. 

Remember the Festive Spirit

This time of year can be stressful, but try not to overthink things too much and remember what it’s truly about. It’s not about impressing your picky aunt Edna, it’s not about creating a feast for the ages. 

No, it’s a time for family and friends to rest, recuperate, and reconnect. It’s a time when we get to be thankful for the year passed, for the year ahead, and for the cherished relationships we have. 

So throughout the planning, the shuffling, and all that cooking, try to remember what it’s really all about, and cherish these moments. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I make the most of a small dining space during the holidays?

Make use of multi-purpose furniture that saves space and fits different applications. You can also make use of wall shelves, or you may even consider moving your dining table to a larger space just for this event. There’s always a plan to be made. 

What are some good versatile pieces of furniture for the dining room?

You can’t go wrong with a good buffet or sideboard. It can help with hosting while also adding a dash of style to your dining room, and it also serves as a fantastic storage space for the rest of the year as well. 

How do I set up a guest-friendly dining area for Christmas?

Make sure that everyone has enough space, this is pretty much the most important consideration. After this, add some festive spirit to the room with sprinklings of decor in between, but do be careful not to over-decorate. 

Can bedside tables be used in a dining room?

Yes, you can pretty much make use of anything - side tables, dressers - whatever you have available. A bedside table may not offer a lot of surface space, but it could be used in a corner to hold a decorative piece. 

Multiple bedside tables may serve as a makeshift buffet - but make sure they’re not too low, or you might be better off using your kitchen counters instead. 

How can I add festivity to my dining space without overpowering it?

Carefully consider the decorations you use. A simple wall wreath and a dash of tinsel could prove to be enough. You might want to add a holiday-themed candle or two, or even just some bits of pine and poinsettia sprinkled around sparsely. It’s a fine balance to strike, but you can always consult your closest family members for their opinions to help you get there.