Decorating Guides
Sail Through Special Occasions With a Ready, Gracious Home
Smile serenely in the face of impromptu parties, unexpected guests and last-minute gift giving with these ideas for preparing now
It's easy (and not very pleasant) to get caught unprepared when guests stop by, or to have nothing to bring to a wedding or housewarming. But with a little extra effort now, you can sail through all of your spring and summer occasions with ease.
From cleaning shortcuts and long-lasting flower arrangements to ideas for stocking the perfect gift cupboard, these 13 tips will help get you prepared for throwing parties, giving gifts, writing thank-you notes, hosting unexpected guests and more.
From cleaning shortcuts and long-lasting flower arrangements to ideas for stocking the perfect gift cupboard, these 13 tips will help get you prepared for throwing parties, giving gifts, writing thank-you notes, hosting unexpected guests and more.
2. Keep one cupboard devoted to parties. Never be stuck without birthday candles again! Choose one place for all things party related: cake plates, fancy teacups, candles and matches, serving trays, the works.
Extra credit: Learn one fancy folding technique and keep a stack of freshly laundered and folded cloth napkins at the ready.
Extra credit: Learn one fancy folding technique and keep a stack of freshly laundered and folded cloth napkins at the ready.
3. Stock a cart with entertaining essentials. A rolling cart is ideal for holding everything from glassware and paper napkins to bottles of wine and boxes of cheese straws. Keep yours stocked with a few favorite items, and it will be easy to produce drinks and snacks for friends in an instant.
Extra credit: Learn how to make a signature drink, and keep the recipe card tucked away on your cart.
Extra credit: Learn how to make a signature drink, and keep the recipe card tucked away on your cart.
5. Create long-lasting (or even faux) arrangements. Fresh flowers and greenery can go a long way toward making a space feel festive. Master a few simple arrangements that only look like they took ages to put together. Try lining up a series of small square containers down the center of your dining table, filled with short-cut blooms stuck into floral foam for longevity.
Or, for everlasting green, pick up some high-quality faux topiaries and set them on your buffet.
Or, for everlasting green, pick up some high-quality faux topiaries and set them on your buffet.
6. Get in the habit of picking up flowers at the market. If making fussy arrangements stresses you out, vow instead to keep things fresh and simple. Pick up single-color blooms (white is always chic) at the grocery store or farmer's market and plunk them in any vase or pitcher you've got. Large flowers (like hydrangeas) and blooming branches offer a lot of bang for the buck.
7. Keep a stash of fancy hand towels and fresh soap in a bathroom cupboard. Bathroom a mess when guests arrive? Duck in for a moment and pull the shower curtain shut, wipe the faucet and mirror, and put out fresh towels and soap.
8. Bypass the mess and host last-minute guests outdoors. If the weather is good, entertaining outdoors can be a wonderful alternative. To keep outdoor cushions from getting damp and dirty, try storing them in a bench outdoors where they are still handy but protected.
9. Make your kitchen so appealing, guests will want to hang out while you cook. We may not all be able to have a dream kitchen like the one shown here, but there is always a way to make the most of what you have. Try rolling out a real rug on the floor, pull up a couple of cute stools to the work island and be sure speakers are handy for turning on some music while you cook.
10. Always be prepared with gifts and wrapping supplies. Instead of choosing themed gift wrap, try picking up an assortment of solid colors, along with a fun variety of ribbons and trims. That way you can create a number of different looks for any occasion, all with the same supplies.
Extra credit: Store a few go-to gifts along with your wrapping supplies, for those times when you're caught by surprise. Try to have something appropriate for baby, child, housewarming and wedding.
Extra credit: Store a few go-to gifts along with your wrapping supplies, for those times when you're caught by surprise. Try to have something appropriate for baby, child, housewarming and wedding.
11. Stock up on stationery for all occasions. Thank-you notes, blank cards and birthday cards should see you through nearly any note-writing emergency.
Extra credit: Order personalized stationery with your name or monogram, and use it for everything.
Extra credit: Order personalized stationery with your name or monogram, and use it for everything.
12. Decide on one place to note important dates and to-dos. Write down birthdays and special events, and note gifts you have received, so you will remember to thank the giver.
Extra credit: Store a book of quotations or famous toasts along with your calendar — if you are asked to speak at a wedding, you will at least know where to begin.
Extra credit: Store a book of quotations or famous toasts along with your calendar — if you are asked to speak at a wedding, you will at least know where to begin.
13. Get your guest room ready in minutes. First of all, keep the bed made so you don't have to worry about that. Next, devote a shelf in your linen closet to storing guest room essentials, so you can just grab the whole stack and go. Consider including: a fresh set of towels, slippers, a robe and a small basket of spare toiletries.
Bonus: Stock the bedside table with interesting books, magazines, chocolates and a carafe of water.
Bonus: Stock the bedside table with interesting books, magazines, chocolates and a carafe of water.
Make a habit of keeping the surface of your storage piece clear, aside from fresh flowers or a blooming orchid, stowing everything else in the drawers beneath — that way it will always look fresh when guests pop by.