Whether you usually host the important gatherings in your family or it’s your first year welcoming everyone into your home for the holidays, make sure your dining room is ready for the season. From cleaning to arranging furniture to decorating, there’s sure to be a few ways you can spruce up and organize your space before the holidays. For a dining room that will accommodate your guests efficiently while being warm and inviting, here are a few tips to get you started.
Declutter
The first step to organizing your dining room in preparation for holiday dinners is to declutter and clean. It may not be much fun, but chances are you’ll need as much space as you can muster—floor space and table space alike!
Depending on the number of guests you’ll need to accommodate, chances are you’ll need to add an extra table (or at least a leaf to your adjustable table) to accommodate guests. In that case, you might want to remove unneeded furniture and décor from your dining room. Items that take up space but won’t serve a purpose during the festivities should be moved out of the way to a different room.
Rearrange
Once your dining room is cleaned and decluttered, you may wish to do a little rearranging to make your space efficient and comfortable. Guests will be getting up for seconds, kids will be underfoot and you’ll need to make sure there’s space for people to walk through the dining room and around the table. Here are a few tips for setting up your dining room furniture for the holidays:
- It can be helpful, if you have the space, to set up one table for adults and another area for children. For the kid’s table, a tablecloth that can be wiped clean and non-breakable dishes are a must.
If you have a large enough table, set out food in the center to limit trips to the kitchen.
- Make use of a buffet off to one side of the dining room—not only for setting out food and dishes, but also for storing items you might need in a pinch during meals, such as hot pads, napkins, serving utensils or extra wine glasses.
- To maximize floor space, bench seating can be a good alternative to bulky chairs, particularly for kids.
Decorate
Finally, it’s time to add the finishing touches to your newly organized dining room. From table cloths to centerpieces to festive décor, add your personal touch to create a dining space your friends and family will feel welcome in. Here’s a handful of ideas to inspire your holiday decorating:
- A cozy area rug can warm hardwood floors and give your dining room a homey, welcoming vibe.
- Winter days are short, so make sure your dining room has plenty of lighting options to adjust the ambiance as needed.
- Regardless of your decorating style, you can’t go wrong with simple, elegant décor like white or cream-colored tablecloths, gold-tone centerpieces and seasonal flowers such as mums or poinsettias.