Holiday Entertaining Tips That Make Hosting Easy

If you’re hosting friends or family this holiday season and want your gathering to feel festive without feeling stressful, here’s your permission slip to relax a little.

Great holiday entertaining isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating moments people actually remember.

I always say the magic lives in atmosphere, interaction, and those small, intentional details that make people feel welcome. You don’t need a complicated menu or a magazine-worthy dining room. You just need a few smart ideas that do more than one job.

Let’s talk about some of my favorite easy wins.

Create a Built-In Photo Moment

One of the simplest ways to get people smiling the moment they walk in? A playful photo moment.

I love attaching oversized bows to a picture frame or mirror. It instantly becomes a photo station without feeling staged or fussy. Guests naturally gravitate toward it, kids love it, and suddenly you’ve created memories without planning anything formal.

The best part is that it’s reusable. Pull it out year after year and let it evolve with your decor.

Use Wrapping Paper as Part of the Tablescape

This one surprises people every time.

Instead of a traditional runner, use wrapping paper down the center of the table or as layered placemats. You already have it, it adds instant color and pattern, and it protects your table from spills.

Cleanup is also incredibly satisfying. At the end of the night, roll it up and toss it. No laundering, no stress.

Let Desserts Be the Centerpiece

Desserts don’t need to be hidden in the kitchen.

Pies, cakes, cookies, towers, trays. Let them live front and center. They’re beautiful, they’re practical, and they save you from overthinking florals or extra decor.

Guests love seeing what’s coming, and it turns food into part of the experience rather than just something that appears at the end.

Double-Layer Your Napkins

This is one of my favorite hosting tricks because it balances elegance and real life.

Place a cloth napkin on the bottom for structure and style, then layer a paper napkin on top. It looks polished, but guests don’t feel awkward actually using it.

You get fewer laundry headaches and everyone stays comfortable. Win-win.

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Start With a Game That Breaks the Ice

After dinner is the perfect time to loosen things up.

Set two chairs or a bench side by side. Place wrapping paper under each person’s feet. On go, they race to crumple it using only their feet. The first one to finish wins.

It’s loud. It’s chaotic. It’s ridiculous in the best way. And it gets everyone laughing, which is really the whole point.

The One Thing Guests Actually Remember

People don’t remember whether your table was perfectly set or if the menu was flawless.

They remember how your home felt.

They remember laughing, feeling comfortable, and being part of something warm and welcoming. Fun beats flawless every single time.

And that’s what great holiday entertaining is really about.