Our Guide to Entertaining This Season
Our Guide To Entertaining This Season
Playing host doesn’t have to be so stressful!
Hello party people—
—or at least those that like to design for one. As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, we draw closer and closer to the holiday season. With entertaining season upon us, we've been thinking about how to best prepare for all that comes with holiday gatherings. Although we're eager to fill our spaces with friends and loved ones, this time of year can get stressful, especially if you're the host. This year, we're celebrating meaningfully and doing so in style. Whether it's an elevated weeknight dinner or an intimate celebration, we're feeling inspired by simple, layered looks to create nights to remember within our walls. Serveware, table accessories, bar carts and barware can be great tools to design with, with beautiful styling capable of being the star of an event.
In light of the holidays coming quickly, we put our heads together to collect our top tips for making events more beautiful and less of a hassle. Here's how we're setting the scene with our table and bar this season.
01. Set The Table
“Table linens are to your tablescape as the turkey is to your holiday meal. They provide the base and add depth to the final presentation. We love natural, simple tones and patterns that create a subtle background of serenity. A warm palette offers a welcoming, cozy atmosphere to your dining space.”
Set the scene with table linens
“There’s something about beautiful dishes that make meals automatically taste that much better. Dress up your table instantly by upgrading your plates, pitchers, and trays in interesting hues. Holiday entertaining is the perfect excuse to invest in quality serveware that you can use time and time again. We are firm believers that even the most regular of meals deserve an elevated canvas.”
Add elevated serveware
“When it comes to the details, focus on quality rather than quantity. We love using elevated touches such as bronze napkin rings, staggered pillar candles and festively colored napkins to contrast simplistic and natural settings. Our number one rule for this step? Don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different tonal and textural elements! When it feels complete, take a step back and evaluate the overall look of your creation and add or subtract from there.”
Layer In The Finishing Touches
02. Setup the Bar
“Buffets and sideboards double as a bars and serving surfaces when entertaining. If you ask us, the best ones have plenty of storage below.”
Serve your guests in style
“When it comes to at-home bar styling, it’s often done wrong with function beating out form. However, when done right with a collection of beautiful barware, it guarantees a little sophistication for your event.”
Barware for every occasion
“We love selecting glassware that act as a vessel for your beverages, and a stunning piece of decor at the same time.”
The vessel it’s served in
“Bring joy and added interest with an artful balance of natural materials to provide both style and everyday functionality.”
The essentials for an at-home bartender
03. Plan The Menu
This menu is an ode to the classics. You’ll find everything from marinated turkey to delicata squash to everyone’s favorite pumpkin pie. But here’s the catch: each dish features a slight twist on tradition. With just a few simple tweaks to your typical lineup, we think these elevated dishes will be a total hit with everyone at your table.
Cranberry & Prosciutto Crostini | Herb Wine + Citrus Marinated Turkey | Green Beans with Cremini Mushroom Sauce | Roasted Delicata Squash with Apples and Sage | Herby Potatoes with Burrata | Brûléed Pumpkin Pie | Cranberry Rosemary Champagne
04. Select the Playlist
Here’s our classic Holiday Entertaining playlist on Spotify. It’s chock-full of jazz and soul music (over three hours!) that’s perfect for the occasion.
We hope you enjoy the items recommended here. At A Good Home, we put a lot of thought and intention into our recommended items, only suggesting things we love and use (and think you might, as well). We also like transparency, so, full disclosure: We may collect a share of sales or other compensation if you purchase through the external links on this page.