Hosting a Holiday Party in Your Home

With the upcoming holiday season, you might be tasked with hosting a party or gathering in your Homes by Taber home. Whether you’re a long-time hosting pro or are planning a get-together for the very first time, there’s a few fool-proof tips to ensure your celebration goes smoothly—while also being entertaining and memorable.   

Make the most of your space 

No matter the size of your guest list, it’s important to make the most of your home’s square footage when planning for a holiday party. Luckily, Homes by Taber floor plans are designed to promote time together—with large living areas inside that flow into sought-after outdoor living space.  

The open-concept layout in your Taber floor plan makes it easy to host a sit-down meal for groups of all sizes. Add the extra leaf to your dining table and set up a kids table nearby to keep everyone close without rearranging. If you’re looking to impress with a grand presentation, consider moving some furniture around and renting or buying a long buffet table to extend from the dining to living area, which can accommodate a large group in a single spot. You won’t want to waste precious table space, so set up a self-serve station for food and drinks throughout your spacious kitchen—ample counter space and an oversized island makes this completely doable. 

Just because you have the space for everyone to hang out inside, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make good use of your home’s outdoor living space. Angle your patio furniture around the outdoor fireplace, set up some yard games or watch the big holiday game outside to offer a change of scenery—and allow yourself time to perfect the table setting and meal inside. 

Find some festive decorations 

When you’re hosting a holiday party, there’s nothing quite like festive decorations to get you and your guests in the holiday spirit. Peruse through the decor you have tucked away in the spacious storage options throughout your Taber home, and spend an afternoon with the family setting the scene for your upcoming event. If you’d like to add more flair to your mainstay decor, consider purchasing some extra items for your tablescape, or simply add seasonal flowers and greenery around your home to give it a fresh look. 

Opt for a themed event 

If the party you’re planning isn’t the main celebration for attendees, a themed event is a fun way to shake things up and avoid holiday burnout. Party themes can be as simple or complex as you’d like—get inspiration from the holiday episodes of your favorite television show, throw an adult pajama party or show off your spirit for your favorite team’s watch party. 

Some fun alternative Christmas party themes include ugly sweater, holiday luau or Christmas Around The World—a potluck-style meal where guests bring traditional holiday dishes from international cuisines. This holiday season, don’t forget the four-legged family members. Add to your guest list by letting attendees’ dogs tag along for a Petmas celebration. 

Plan the perfect holiday meal 

When hosting a holiday party, there’s a few routes you can take to feed your guests. If cooking is one of the ways you show loved ones you care, then feel free to take on a majority of the food responsibilities. The thoughtfully designed kitchens in every Taber home are a home chef’s dream with large pantries, four-burner cooktops, stovetop ventilation, under-cabinet lighting, a stainless steel farmhouse kitchen sink and more Proudly Overbuilt features. 

A potluck-style meal is an easy way to keep a large crowd fed without putting all of the stress on one person—just consider sending a sign-up sheet to guests so all of the holiday favorites are covered. Ordering carryout from a local restaurant or a meal kit from the grocery store takes the pressure off the host and guests, while supporting local and small businesses in your community. 

As mentioned above, parties this time of year don’t necessarily have to be a traditional holiday celebration. Match your meal to a theme, or create a theme around the cuisine you want to serve—Tex Mex, Italian, Greek and Barbecue are just as welcome as turkey and mashed potatoes around the holidays. 

Arrange activities for guests 

Holiday parties don’t have to be all about the food, even if it is the highlight of the season. Age-appropriate activities can be arranged to keep guests entertained. For younger children, set up a holiday-themed craft—paper turkeys, popsicle stick turkeys and mess-free coloring pages will keep them engaged so adults can mingle. ‘Tis the season for cookie decorating and gingerbread house building, perhaps with a bit of adult supervision. Or simply play a classic holiday cartoon in one of the living spaces throughout your home.  

Older teens and adults can participate in a gift exchange or white elephant, play card games or compete in holiday-themed charades. Prepare for Christmas caroling with a round or two of karaoke, featuring your favorite holiday songs. 

In an effort to give back to your community and surrounding areas this holiday season, consider incorporating a toy drive into your party. Encourage guests to bring an unwrapped toy and have a gift-wrapping party for a local charity. “Adopting” a family or child in your area is also ideal for a group effort—send guests the wishlist (or give them the option to donate directly) so you can help a local family or child have the holiday of their dreams this year. Through the Taber Cares program, we’ve become very familiar with area nonprofits that need help, and we’re happy to help find a place to direct your donations this year amongst one of our 2021 selected charities. 

Homes worth hosting in 

The floor plans available in Homes by Taber communities are ideal for entertaining, offering the open-concept spaces, formal dining rooms, bonus rooms and outdoor living areas to accommodate just about any guest list. Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party or an extended-family holiday celebration, Taber homeowners can rest assured that their layout was designed with hosting and togetherness in mind. 

If the busy holiday season has you questioning the functionality of your current space, Homes by Taber has quick move-in options to get your family in a new home by the new year. With a longer timeline, you can watch the floor plan of your dreams be built from the ground up in one of our new-construction communities throughout the most sought-after locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. 

For more information on finding a new home for the holidays, contact our team online or give us a call at (405) 285-5105. We look forward to finding the perfect place for you and your family!