Holiday hosting tips – 10 tips from interior designers for a welcoming home this festive season

With the start of the holiday season nearly upon us, we're all thinking of ways to elevate our hosting game this year. Whether your home takes center stage to host family and friends or you prefer a more intimate gathering, ensuring your home is as welcoming as possible won't go amiss.

And so, we turned to the expertise of interior designers who share below their top holiday hosting tips. From curating stylish dining tablescapes for festive gatherings to setting the right ambiance in the living room, there are endless ways to impress your guests with a cozy and festive home.

Once you've decided on your Christmas decor and Thanksgiving decor, these tips will help you master the finishing touches that can make all the difference.

Holiday hosting tips - 10 ways to elevate your home this festive season

'Holiday hosting should feel as warm and memorable as the gathering itself,' says interior designer Erica McLain, founder of McLain by Design Interiors. 'I like to think of my space as an experience that starts from the moment guests walk in the door.'

From elevating your festive tablescapes to creating a welcoming entrance to your home, read on to discover designers' top tips to up your hosting game this holiday season.

1. Add layered and natural touches to holiday tablescapes

The dining table is more often than not the focal point for holiday hosting. Whether curating Thanksgiving table settings or your Christmas table decor, the dining table will set the tone for your guests.

Adding foliage or fresh flowers to your tablescaping is a simple way to add a festive feel, and you can go as subtle or bold as you like. 'Flowers and foliage are the pièce de résistance of any tablescape, but they don’t have to be elaborate to make a statement. At Christmas, we love to use garlands adorned with baubles and ornaments,' says Helen Bygraves, founder and director at Hill House Interiors.

Layer a mix of tableware to further enhance your holiday tablescapes, suggests Helen: 'Layering your tableware not only creates a feature but also adds dimension. Don’t be afraid to mix metals too – a beautiful way to do this is through your serving ware.'

No tablescape is complete without candles either: 'It’s not just about how it looks, but how it makes your guests feel. Create a cozy, magical atmosphere by adding candles – you can never go wrong with tapered dinner candles,' adds Helen.

Another way to elevate your holiday tablescape is to add textiles. Patterned table linens will add interest and help reflect a Christmas color scheme, as seen here with this Maresca Textiles display.

'Rich textiles can add so much warmth and personality to your holiday table,' says Chicago-based textile designer Kathryn Faull of Maresca Textiles. 'Pattern mixing in similar hues can make the table feel stylish without overwhelming the eye.'

2. Use lighting to create a cozy space

When hosting guests during the holidays, lighting ideas are key. Whether in the dining room or living room, ambient lighting creates a relaxed and intimate feel – crucially avoiding harsh, overhead lighting.

'Lighting acts as an effortless, atmospheric backdrop to hosting and should be a core consideration in your festive season planning,' says Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville. 'Small changes can make maximal impact – look to change bulbs to warmer tones with lower Kelvins in order to nurture seasonal wellbeing.'

'Setting the mood rests entirely on the lighting you choose,' agrees interior designer Matthew Williamson. 'Forget about using one main lighting source in favor of illuminating a few lamps around a kitchen for a more interesting, flattering lighting scheme.'

Another way to enhance your lighting when hosting this holiday season is to display strand lights for an instantly festive look, suggests Denver-based interior designer Nadia Watts:

'If there is ever a time to experiment with lighting, it’s the holidays. Simply adding a strand of white twinkle lights can make your entire space feel more festive. Dim your overhead lights and focus on layered lighting. Add candles, luminaires, and strands of holiday lights in unexpected places.'

Shop these Battery Operated Fairy String Lights from Walmart to add a cozy ambiance throughout your home.

3. Don't forget about holiday scents

A smaller detail that won't fail to welcome guests is to include holiday scents in your home while hosting. Whether through scented jar candles or reed diffusers, opting for those with a seasonal scent of spices or pine will ensure your home feels festive as soon as guests walk through the door.

'Scents also play a role – something subtle and natural like a cinnamon, cedarwood or balsam fir can make the space feel even more inviting and cozy without overpowering the senses,' says Erica McLain. 'The goal is to create a space where people feel truly at home, surrounded by beauty that feels effortless and comforting.'

4. Enhance your space with fresh greenery

'I believe in using lots of fresh greenery – not the typical holiday arrangement,' says interior designer Roger Higgins of R. Higgins Interiors on his top holiday hosting tips. 'Juniper, pine, magnolia – anything that complements a door, mantel, or piece of artwork. The holiday decor should accentuate the interior of the home, not overwhelm it. It doesn’t have to be all red and green. Light the candles, dim the lights, and turn on the music. And most importantly, don’t stress about it too much.'

Interior designer Darla Bankston May, founder of Houston-based Bankston May Associates also points to decorating with greeny as a holiday hosting tip: 'Decorating with greenery brings a fresh, natural touch to your home. Try hanging greenery in unexpected places like above doorways or along staircases to add a festive vibe. Choose pieces like pine with unique shapes to create visual interest, giving your holiday decor a layered and dynamic look that feels both classic and creative.'

Whether you add your fresh greenery through a Christmas garland or as a Thanksgiving centerpiece, this festive addition will elevate your hosting game with a seasonal look.

5. Decorate with on-trend bows

Last year bows came to the forefront of holiday decorating, and that's showing no signs of stopping for this festive season. These simple additions can be used to elevate your hosting setup in so many ways – from adding ribbon bows to place settings or tying them around the stems of wine glasses. Either way, this on-trend detail will no doubt impress your guests.

'When decorating for the holidays, bows can add a festive touch to any space,' explains Darla Bankston May. 'The key is to think outside the box and place them around unexpected objects like candles, vases, or even chair backs. For a funkier look, grab some fabric from your local store and play with different shapes and patterns to create unique bows that bring a fun, stylish twist to your holiday decor.'

6. Create an outdoor seating area

If space permits, it's a good idea to consider your outside space as well as inside your home when hosting guests during the holidays. This can allow guests an overflow space to encourage conversation amid busy gatherings, says Nadia Watts:

'It’s so nice to have a little area to escape when large groups gather. Set up a firepit or heater on your porch for an alternative gathering destination. Cold outside? No problem, add blankets and throws for guests to wrap up in. Another good trick is to set up your bar on the porch or in a different room than the kitchen. This creates a gathering and focal point outside the kitchen area which inevitably is the most crowded during gatherings.'

7. Make the bar cart a focal point

When entertaining guests, a bar cart can be a great way to encourage the holiday feel. Beyond its functional purpose of holding drinks, why not get creative and adorn it with foliage for an elevated look?

You may also want to invest in some of the best glassware, from coupes to tumblers, to have all of your festive drinks covered when hosting guests.

'When the holidays roll around, I always like to make sure that my bar cart and bar cabinet are fully stocked, not only with a variety of spirits, wines, and garnishes but also with a plethora of glassware,' explains interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'It's so nice to be able to use the proper glass for specific cocktails and wines and it really does add to the overall festive mood of a gathering when guests can delight in how beautiful your coup glasses or cut-glass tumblers are.'

8. Create a cozy feel with candles

When hosting throughout the holiday season, candles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to create a cozy and welcoming feel for your guests. Whether that's with taper candles on your dining table or pillar candles in the living room, candles are the finishing touch to ensure a welcoming home.

'Candlesticks are a stylish and budget-friendly way to enhance your holiday decor,' says Darla Bankston May. 'They bring a touch of elegance and warmth to your space, making them perfect for decorating table settings or mantels. With endless color options, you can select candlesticks that align with your style and decor, adding a festive flair to your home.'

9. Welcome your guests with a front door wreath

Don't forget to think about your front door when hosting guests this festive season. Since it's the first interaction guests will have upon entering your home, adorning it with a festive Christmas wreath really sets the scene and creates a welcoming entrance.

'Don't miss the opportunity to make an impression right from the start,' says Jenny Weiss, founder and director at Hill House Interiors. 'Greet your guests with a festive flourish – a beautiful wreath hung on the front door is the perfect way to set the tone for your styling.'

'Wreaths can be personalized to suit every taste, from a traditional mix of cinnamon and orange slices with lush foliage to an exuberant display of layered baubles and ribbons – anything is possible. The smell of pine and mistletoe is key to bring that scent of Christmas throughout, hence why we love to integrate foliage, right from the entry. Our top tip is to weave twinkling lights throughout the wreath; battery-operated lights are easy to use and add a magical touch.'

10. Ensure your guest bedroom is holiday-ready

If you have guests staying over during the holidays, make sure your guest bedroom feels cozy and inviting. Simple decor additions such as throw blankets, pillows, and even a rug can go a long way in creating a welcoming space in keeping with the winter months.

'A well-chosen rug can instantly elevate the feel of a guest bedroom and is one of the simplest ways to make your guests feel right at home,' says Mara Rypacek Miller. 'Handcrafted designs and unique textures have a subtle attention to detail that evokes a sense of luxury while natural rugs made of wool or jute ground furnishings create warmth underfoot.'

There are so many ways to elevate your holiday hosting this year, and these tips from designers are simple yet effective. Whether you use them for Thanksgiving or Christmas, your home will no doubt feel cozy and welcoming to guests. Don't forget to brush on on our best practical holiday hosting tips, too, to be fully prepared for the big day.