Host the Holidays in Your New Home

November 22nd, 2011 by Kate Flynn| Posted in Apartment Holidays, Moving Tips, Parties and Events | No Comments »

Have your friends and relatives confused the holidays with a housewarming party?  Is your apartment swarming with guests when your boxes are barely unpacked?  Don’t worry; it can be easy to host the holidays in your new place.  Just follow our tips below!

Two birds, one stone.

Use this as an opportunity to clean house, get the last of the boxes unpacked, and hang curtains, paintings, and hooks.  You’ll impress the gaggle of guests, and when they leave, you’ll feel much more at home.

Ask your friends for rentals.

Everyone is leaving town at this time of year, so why not take advantage of it?  Many people have purchased blow-up beds or cots at one time or another, only to stash them in a closet or stuff them under the bed.  See if you can borrow one (or two or…) for the weekend, and your friends will be happy to see them used.  Better yet, see if anyone needs a “housesitter.”  You gain some extra space, and your neighbors don’t have to worry about their pets and pads while they’re gone.

Break with tradition .

A new home is a great time to invent new ways to celebrate the holidays, especially if the old routines are no longer feasible (Watching The Game on your 12-inch laptop? A 10-foot Christmas tree with 8-foot ceilings?) Apartment Therapy has some great ideas for new traditions.

Make your meal foolproof.

Do as much as you can ahead of time.  In general, buffets offer more flexibility than plated meals, and anything that comes in a casserole dish will make your life easier.  Substitute Paula Deen’s awesome baked French toast for pancakes; forget about the time constraints of fluffy mashed potatoes and prepare some twice-baked potatoes a day in advance.

Accept help.

People are coming to visit you because they love you; remember that you’re not filming a show with Julia Child or Martha Stewart.  Nearly every host hands out assignments, and you should do the same.  Suggest a BYO of any sort… booze, dessert, bedding, or music.   People understand that you’ve just moved in and have way more on your plate than turkey and stuffing.

Enjoy it.

Having company is a great excuse to see your world through a different lens.  A mellow holiday gives you time to experience your home as a guest would, so sink into the leather couch and appreciate how homey your new apartment looks.  If you’ve just moved to town, you have the perfect excuse to finally check out all the tourist attractions.

Do you have any keys to success for hosting holidays in a new home?  Share them with us, either here or on Facebook!