I love to entertain, but believe you don't have to spend a fortune to wow your guests. Here are 14 super, savvy ideas to help with your holiday entertaining.
- Use a roll of festive holiday wrapping paper as a table runner on your dining room table or kitchen island. This small investment ($1-$6) can bring great impact to your tablescape. The best part… You won't feel bad about throwing it away when you're finished!
- Search Pinterest for free Christmas printables. Print on white card stock and frame for instant (and free) art! Consider placing your new piece on the mantle or foyer table.
- Shop your house for decor. Think of ways you can remix the things you already own. Move a vase from one room to another. Switch up the throw pillows. Move a plant for the window sill to the middle of your holiday table. You get the point. Try to use things you already have while creating a one-of-a-kind holiday look.
- Step outside for fresh decor. Bring the outdoors in by snipping branches or leaves and collecting acorns and pinecones. Place them in a vase or bowl to bring a natural, wintery element to any space.
- Add glitz to your dining table. Flip a wine glass upside down and place a round globe ornament on top for a modern take on Christmas. Line glasses of different height down the middle of your table.
- Use seasonal candy as decoration. Candy canes or round peppermints look great in a bowl or apothecary jar. Plus, they double as breath fresheners for party guests. Extra hint: Shop the dollar store first.
- Spice up everyday dinnerware with holiday napkins. My favorite sources for fabulous napkins are Target, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Home Goods.
- Consider spreading out your presents. Think beyond the base of the tree. Add some to a basket in your entry way. Stack some by the fireplace. Utilize them as elements of decor until the moment of exchange.
- Use bells as place card holders. Super cheap, super festive and they're slits are super functional.
- Turn bottles into reindeer. Whether it's beer, root beer, whiskey or water, you might as well make it festive. Grab a glue gun and add a pom pom nose, goggly eyes and pipe cleaner antlers. Boom! You have the cutest little gifts or most adorable beverages.
- Drop a colored straw into everyone's glass for an instant splash of color. These days you can find these paper drinking straws anywhere - Target, Hobby Lobby, Etsy, etc. They come in stripes, polka dots and even birch tree patterns.
- Spray paint pinecones metallic gold and silver. Use them as place card holders, photo stands or plate decorations.
- Search Pinterest for free place cards. Print the design on card stock and use the cards to label seating arrangements or buffet dishes.
- Still missing items, but not wanting to spend a ton of money? Check your local thrift store for the pieces your are lacking. Helpful hint: On Saturdays, most Goodwills offer 50% off all home goods.
