Holiday Series: Last Minute Dinner Party Decor Ideas

Dinner parties are great moments shared with friends and family over food and drinks. However, before your guests taste your delicious food and drinks it's the decor and ambiance that sets the tone to your party. This is especially key with the holidays. 

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When you're hosting a dinner party, the decor extends past the dining table. It starts from the front door then to the sofa and even extends to the powder room. With the holidays a few days away, I've selected a few simple yet stylish accessories that will set a festive tone before your guests arrive. Some of them you may already have, if not I've attached the links below to purchase directly.

Simple Holiday Decor Ideas. 

Simple Holiday Decor Ideas. 

Wreath. Set the tone with a wreath. This season I am in love with the Winter Berry Wreath. Nothing gives a warm greeting like a wreath hung on your front door as guests enter.

Ornaments. Ornaments can be used beyond your tree. Switch out your coffee table centerpiece or foyer console centerpiece for a bowl filled with ornaments. This will add a festive accent as guests are coming in. If you have little ones you may want to get shatterproof ornaments. 

Layers of Candles. As many of you know I am a candle lover, especially when decorating for a party. Use a series of gold, silver or mercury candle votives on your foyer table, coffee table, kitchen island, and in your powder room for an intimate ambiance. Then use pillar candles on your dining table or tall candlesticks on your dining table if you are having a smaller sit-down dinner. For larger parties, add the pillar candles near the buffet and around the sitting areas.

Festive Accent Pillows. Extend the holiday decor to your living areas by adding accent pillows to your existing sofa and chairs. Remember to mix your pillow sizes, this adds visual interest. For example, if you have a large 20" square pillow add a smaller, square pillow in front of it and a shimmering rectangular kidney pillow in the middle. To shop the gold & ivory sequence pillow click here.

Table Runner. Whether you are using your dining table for an intimate dinner for 6-10 or as a serving surface for the menu of delicious dishes adding a textured or patterned table runner can create the base for your focal point. Click here to purchase the table runner above. 

Tray. A dinner party is the time to dust show off your best serving tray. I love this round, gold tray above because it is the perfect base to hold wine glasses as guests arrive. It can turn a set of simple clear glasses into a festive collection. 

Florals. Add a vase with fresh cut flowers and place on your table runner with your candles. This will add a fresh and organic layer to your decor. I choose a grouping of hydrangeas in a glass vase but you can also re-pot poinsettias as a table centerpiece.

Before you go and purchase last minute decorations, first go through what you already have. The great thing is these items are easy to find last minute and will elevate your party. Please share photos from your parties on our Facebook page. 

Joyeux Noël!

 
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Are you using these 15 tips to bring the Christmas spirit into your home?

1. Tie your throw pillows with holiday ribbon to resemble a gift for Christmas decor.

2. Hang up a string and clothespin your greeting cards along the line all month long.

3. Place white ornaments and silver metallic votives on top of red doilies to create a dramatic effect.

Christmas ornaments on table

4. Place a bunch of candy canes in a clear vase for a cute and easy decoration.

5. Have any neat branches outside? Pick them and spray paint them silver and gold for elegant and vintage reminiscent decor.

6. Don’t have Christmas stockings? Buy some large sized holiday socks to hang from the mantel!

7. Fill a vase with cranberries and water for an elegant centerpiece.

8. Use wrapping paper as holiday art in simple frames.

9. Take a bunch of old wine bottle and spray paint them in holiday colors and fill them with twigs for a stunning mantel display.

10. Fill clear vases with water you tint with food coloring in holiday colors and float a votive! Great centerpiece!

11. Wrap your front door to look like a Christmas present!

12. For your dining table centerpiece, try a runner with round glass ornaments spread down the length. Quick & Easy!

13. Instead of nametags for guests at the table, create cookies and write their names in icing to place at their setting!

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14. Add garland to your staircase with lights and ornaments!

15. Use candelabras and place decorative round ball ornaments on top in a cluster for a great centerpiece. 

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