Hey, babe, have you heard? …It's that time of year again! The time when our holiday excitement bubbles over, we cuddle up indoors with our loved ones/warm blankets/hot tea/all things cozy + we start... entertaining!

John + I LOVE to have friends + family over, and it’s safe to say we’ve perfected the art of keeping it simple but classy. Whether you're Hostess of the Year or a little shy when it comes to putting on your par-tay, today I’m giving you our best design tips for entertaining.

Get ready to please the crowd, enjoy yourself (yes, YOU get to enjoy the event too), + make some dreamy memories…

Design Tip 1: Arrange Your Furniture into Groupings

The first step in your journey to hostessing greatness is creating furniture configurations. I know, sexy right? ;) Decide where your guests will be gathering... around the fireplace for toasty drinks + cool conversation? At the kitchen bartop for tasty appetizers + then whooooosh into the dining room? Milling throughout the whole house? 

Once you have a plan for the flow of the event, you can arrange your furniture to woo your guests right into those bartop chairs or that cushy sofa...

Design Tip 2: Seating for the Right Number of Guests

Which brings me to my next point: the amount of seating you have available. Having oodles of seating for a small gathering could feel slightly empty + distant; whereas few seating options for a large crowd could end up a little more intimate than you might like. ;)

The good news? You are in control, sister! Too much furniture? Migrate a chair or two to a room that won't be used during the event. Too little furniture? Go find another chair + bring it into the party — mismatched seating is all the rage these days anyway!

Design Tip 3: Set the Tone You Want

And now, let's set that moody, dreamy, elegant, or life-of-the-party ambiance you've been imagining. When it comes to setting the tone of your event, accessories + lighting are your BFFs. And a little goes a long way...

Bringing out your nice china + candles to instantly class it up. Dim your lighting as the night goes on to transition the festivities from lively to relaxed + intimate. Just think about the tone you want, then make it happen!

Design Tip 4: Create an Ambiance with Subtle Scent

I mentioned the power of scent in this post about maximizing joy in your home, but it's no different when you're hosting a gathering of family or friends. Just choose an enticing fragrance that’s appropriate to the time of year + your desired ambiance.

Around the fall, a little spice or pine won't go amiss. In the summer, get something as fresh as a breeze for day events or sexy-summery (you know what I’m talkin’ about) for evening shindigs. Just keep it subtle for anyone who might be a little sensitive. I personally love WoodWick brand candles — they faintly scent the air without you even needing to light them!

Design Tip 5: Add a Memorable Item or Two

We all have items in our homes that have special meaning to us. Maybe it's a vase you picked up in your travels, a piece of art that inspires you, or even a family heirloom. If you have a memorable item that could be added to the decor of your event, by all means do it!

Not only does this make your event feel extra personal, but it gives you an instant talking point... (+ opens the door for your guests to share their special memories, too!)

Design Tip 6: Create a Space for Your Group's Activities

What will you be doing during your gathering? Eating? Drinking? Playing games or opening presents? Whatever it happens to be, design can help turn these simple activities into group enjoyment.

For example, you could style a drink-crafting station, invite guests to cook something in the kitchen together (if your gathering is small!), or set up a games area. Some simple advanced planning will make transitions + group activities a delicious piece of cake. ;)

Design Tip 7: Be Okay with Keeping it Simple

Last but not least, my friend, I want to assure you that simplicity will go a long way. I'm sure this is no surprise coming from me (considering John + I named our brainchild Elegant Simplicity!), but you don't have to get all extravagant, glitter-and-sparkles-and-champagne-y (unless you want to).

If you need help spicing up your decor, organizing/decluttering, or creating flow with your space planning, we got you, sister. Just hit us up now so we can pencil you in before your next event! ;)

Meanwhile, these design tips should guide you to some simple, thoughtful touches for styling your entertaining space, and take it from a busy mama, that's all you really need for an an enjoyable, memorable event… + your peace of mind!

Xoxo,
Sherri