There’s such joy in entering a home where the holiday spirit is tangible. You feel it emanating from the twinkly lights lining the doorway, the whiffs of warm cinnamon tickling your nose, or the tiny yet intentional touches that remind you how much your presence means. If you’re welcoming guests into your home this holiday season, we’ve put together a few ideas to create an atmosphere for festive feelings and meaningful connection with the people you love.
November 11, 2024
Kimberly
5 Ideas to Prep Your Home for Holiday Gatherings
1. Add a ThoughtFulls pop-open card to your table settings.
Place cards instantly add extra elegance to a table setting. But beyond décor, they can also help your guests experience a sense of belonging, particularly if you’re bringing together people who don’t know each other well. Place a ThoughtFulls pop-open card at each setting to help your guests feel right at home. Write their name on the back and even a short message if you’d like. These little cards have inspiring hidden messages inside, so they’ll add warmth to those place settings, even before the food arrives!
2. Read a quote about gratitude, share what they’re grateful for.
Whether gathered around a Thanksgiving feast or circled up for a holiday gift exchange, spending time with loved ones anchors us in gratitude. Why not create space for intentional end-of-the-year reflection. To set the tone, read a quote about gratitude, then ask people to take a moment and share what the quote stirs in them. Perhaps it conjures up memories of laughing with a grandchild during summer vacation, standing next to a friend as they took their vows, or receiving a piece of advice that really resonated. The wonderful part is, hearing others share their gratefulness has a way of connecting us more deeply to our own.
3. Record holiday memories and wishes together.
There are times you just know you’re in the middle of creating a holiday memory—listening to Mom sharing about her childhood while making a family recipe, witnessing a child’s over-the-top excitement when opening up a gift, or enjoying a funny story at the dinner table. Carve out a little time to capture reflections of your celebrations with your family in a keepsake holiday book. Circle up and write them down together, and create an archive of your favorite moments that you can return to again and again.
4. Explore playful conversation topics during dinner.
Holiday conversations can cover lots of ground, and the uncertainty of where a dinner discussion will go can cause anxiety. Bring ease to your table talks with a stack of playful conversation-starter questions. Use prompts in our kit Tell Me More to learn more about your guests and family. With questions like “What moment of your life do you wish you could live again?” and “If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?” you’re bound to learn new things about each other! And if there’s a children’s table at your gathering, check out the kid-friendly questions in Open Up a Conversation.
5. Create a new holiday tradition!
Once the last piece of apple pie is finished, and the plates are cleared from the table, a group activity can really bring people together. Our Merry Memories activity deck offers 50 ideas for creating new traditions. From making hot chocolate and naming a wish for every marshmallow you add to dancing together to holiday tunes, you’ll find lots of ways to elevate the holiday spirit.
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Looking for gifts to share with guests at your gatherings? Discover holiday gifts for everyone on your list.
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