Home for the Holidays

Hosting this season? Here are tips to prepare

Is anything more beautiful than the holidays in the Hamptons? Hosts who aren’t stressed about pleasing the guests they invite over, perhaps. To help us all avoid the annual mad-dash — down silver lanes aglow — to get things ready at the last minute, we consulted the experts. Below, some of our favorite interior designers share tips to get your home prepped for the holidays. 

This season, let’s focus on what it’s really for: making memories with our loved ones. 

Preparations
During the holidays, the most important part of having visitors (especially ones who plan to stay over) isn’t giving them all the tinsel and ribbons your home can handle, designers said. Moreover, it’s simply having space for them.

“When hosting during the winter months, it can be easy to forget that guests are going to need space to put their coats and winter gear,” said Kathy Kuo, founder and CEO of Kathy Kuo Home. “In short, now is the time to get your mudroom in order!” Be sure to have room — and hangers — in your closets. Scared to open them? Go ahead and invest in a new coat rack and wall hooks for the occasion — just remember that packages and suitcases will need a place to rest, too.

While you’re at it, take the opportunity to declutter your living and dining spaces, added Libby Langdon, founder of Libby Langdon Interiors. “Clean off that kitchen desk, put away items you don’t need out and make space for festive décor,” she said.

Tackling the whole house may feel overwhelming, so focus on the rooms you and your guests will use the most, advised Amy Kalikow, founder of Amy Kalikow Design. “Little details like new towels for the powder room, new season-scented candles for the living spaces or new platters for serving your guests can really spruce up a room,” she explained.

Salutations
Whether you’re having a formal dinner or a low-key cocktail party, go to the store now. You’ll be grateful when your fridge and pantry are stocked with crackers, meats and cheeses, plus any spirits and mixers you plan to provide, Kuo added. On a quiet weekend, take a few minutes to give your favorite china a bath. “I love the idea of putting your festive or ‘fancy’ glassware and dishes to use during the holiday season,” she said, noting that this is the perfect time to restore your collection of wine glasses and champagne flutes.

In case it’s snowy or icy outside, line your front pathway with solar lights, Langdon suggested. “Make [your home] as appealing and inviting from the outside as it should feel on the inside,” she said. “You want to make sure people can see where they’re going at night!”

Decorations
When it comes to holiday decorating, designers say less is more. When in doubt, go for sentimental over tacky and overdone. If your festive decor needs a refresh, English Country Home in Bridgehampton offers plenty of winter treasures, Langdon noted. “Entertaining in the Hamptons is about a certain style and chic elegance, and natural elements achieve that style aesthetic,” she said.

A room full of candles and the faint scent of evergreens can be plenty, Kuo said. For fauna, she heads to Millstone Flowers in Water Mill for themed arrangements. “Holiday decor should make you smile. Follow your heart and don’t feel like you have to have the most Pinterest-perfect holiday home,” Kuo explained. “As long as you and your family feel merry and bright, that’s all that matters!”