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1. A festive red berry wreath for your door, so all your guests will know they’ve come to the right place when they arrive. Handcrafted and usable both indoors and out, this pick has the added bonus of being seasonally appropriate during both fall and winter. Pro tip: It also makes a great centerpiece for your table!
2. And a playful coir welcome mat that’ll let everyone know how happy you are to see them. Yay! You’re here! Let the good times roll!
3. A modern-yet-still-classic stoneware dinnerware set, because if Thanksgiving, holiday, or New Years’ hosting isn’t the time to break out the good dishes, when is? This 32-piece set has everything you need to serve eight people: Dinner plates for the main course; salad plates for… salad (or other small nibbles or sides); bowls for soups and stews; and mugs for after-dinner tea or coffee.
4. A sophisticated gold-tone bar cart, so you can keep everyone’s glasses full all night long – cocktails, mocktails, bubbly, punch, lemonade, whatever floats your party’s proverbial boat. This two-tier cart has plenty of space for all your favorite mixers and tipples, and it rolls for easy maneuverability. Raise a toast to a hosting season full of fun!
5. A woven table runner that’ll dress up your hosting table with some rustic yet refined charm. This neutral-hued, fringed pick makes the perfect background for your favorite holiday décor – and gives all those delicious dishes somewhere safe to land as they’re getting passed around, so you don't have to worry about heavy serving platters nicking the wood. Bonus: It looks great on coffee tables, too!
6. A retro-style mini fridge for those beverage accoutrements that must remain cold. This cute little fridge measures 4.4 cubic feet and includes can organizers, adjustable shelves, and even a drawer at the bottom for things like lemons and limes. It's great for homes with indoor or outdoor bar areas, or other dedicated entertaining spaces. Your drinks – and your visitors! – have never had it so good.
7. And a countertop ice cube maker, so you’ll never have to make a mid-shindig trip out to the store to get another bag (or two, or three, or…) of ice again. This magical device spits out ice at the push of a button, ensuring that your friends’ and loved ones’ drinks will always be cold – no extra errands required. Aaaaah. How refreshing.
8. A colorful, velvet-upholstered convertible loveseat that’ll give your guests somewhere chic, retro-inspired and comfy to sit while you’re making merry – and then also double as a spot to snooze if you end up partying a little too enthusiastically late into the night. Just fold the back down and your pals can bed down in comfort and style.
9. Or, a clever Murphy bed disguised as a cabinet, if you’re hosting loved ones from out of town and, uh, don’t have a ton of space for spare sleeping spots. Sure, it may look like an unassuming storage cabinet – but if you pull the top off, fold the front down, and fold out the memory foam mattress inside, bam! You’ve got a super cozy queen-sized bed that’s a) way more comfortable than your average sofa bed, and b) incredibly space-efficient when it's not in use.
10. A set of three flameless pillar candles that’ll provide tons of holiday ambience without any of the, y’know, fire safety issues of the real thing. More than 2,000 5-star reviews say these faux candles are surprisingly realistic both in their general appearance and with regards to the “flames;” plus, there’s even a timer and a remote control for true set-it-and-forget-it ease.
11. A kitchen island, because when it comes to hosting prep – and actual party time! – having enough surface space is key. With a two-door cabinet, three drawers, and a towel bar, this wheeled pick offers lots of practical storage – and the solid wood countertop even has a collapsible leaf, which you can fold out to provide even more space to gather around when the appetizers are out. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home, right?
12. A 6-quart air fryer that’ll make getting little nibbles and vol-au-vents out quick and easy. This sucker can roast, bake, reheat, and (of course) fry — and it does it all quickly, easily, and with virtually zero mess. If you’ve stocked up on tiny bites of puff pastry filled with deliciousness (and, I mean, who among us has not relied on these tried-and-true appetizers when hosting a holiday gathering?), this gadget will help you crank them out and get them circulating with minimal fuss and bother.
13. Some velvet-upholstered dining chairs, because let’s face it: If you’re hosting a lot this season, you’re going to need all the seating you can get. With a simple, streamlined silhouette, these chairs will go with just about any design aesthetic and fit easily in any location in your home – but the velvet upholstery and the bright colors make them beautiful accent pieces, too. Set them at strategic points around your living room when folks are socializing; then put ‘em around the table if you’re sitting down to a meal together.
14. A pair of drink dispensers that are perfect for large-batch punches, cocktails, mocktails, or even just some good ol’ fashioned water dressed up with a couple of citrus slices. Inform your guests what’s inside each dispenser with the chalkboard labels; then, let them serve themselves throughout the event. And when everything has wrapped up and your friends have gone home? Pop these suckers right in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Everybody wins!
15. A KitchenAid stand mixer, because when you’ve got a boatload of holiday baking and other food prep to do, you’re going to need to break out the big guns. There’s a reason these super powerful, super ~aesthetic~ gadgets are so popular; they’re the gold standard for bakers. Mine creams butter in 30 seconds flat (no, I am not exaggerating), and I love it for it. This Artisan Series option has a bowl with a 5-quart capacity, whirls at 10 different speeds, and comes equipped with a pouring shield, a dough hook, a paddle attachment, and a wire whip.
16. A set of pantry and refrigerator organizer bins, so you can get a handle on your kitchen before you have to food prep for a crowd. (It’s tough to get all those canapés ready if you can’t remember what’s actually in your fridge, let alone reach what’s in there.) This 14-piece set includes two wide bins, two narrow bins, a can dispenser, an egg tray with a lid, two ice cube trays, four shelf liners, and a whiteboard and marker – everything you need to sort your kitchen out in preparation for the marathon of party prep you’ve got ahead of you.
17. A set of six fun and festive polka-dot cloth napkins, because, well, you can never have too many of these on hand, right? The metallic polka dots on these snowy, 100% cotton napkins add a delightful dash of sparkle to your Thanksgiving, holiday, or New Years’ table – and they’re machine washable for easy cleanup, to boot.
18. And some equally festive paper cocktail napkins for those times when big ol’ cloth numbers just aren’t practical for your needs. Perfect for handling finger foods or soaking up the condensation from a nice, cold drink, these cute little paper napkins pack tons of punch with their foiled polka dot pattern – and they’re available in a bunch of different colors, too.
19. A beautiful wood folding table, because hey, guess what? Your overflow table doesn’t have to be made of plastic! The legs fold up just like any other card table’s – except that the table itself is made of solid rubberwood with a gorgeous glossy finish, making for a substantially more grown-up solution to the ever-present “we need more space” problem. Trust me: You will never regret having foldable furniture stashed away for moments just like this.
20. A stunning, nature-inspired freestanding coat rack, so your visitors won’t have to sort through a pile of outerwear, heaped unceremoniously across a bed, when it’s time to leave. Designed to resemble a twisting, turning tree, this iron rack boasts nine “branches” ready to hold coats, bags, scarves, and more.
21. A bartender’s tool set, because the host with the most doesn’t let their guests’ drinks run dry. Whether you’re mixing up some tasty mocktails or pouring your pal their signature tipple, this stainless steel set makes sure you’ve got everything you need to keep your friends’ glasses full. Life of the party who?
22. A string of curtain fairy lights that’ll effortlessly transform your home into a sparkly wonderland for your guests. Pro tip: Use something simple like Command clips to hang these icicle lights behind curtains, across a window or wall; then all you have to do is dim the regular lights and turn the curtain on for some hugely festive impact. Easy peasy!
23. A marble edge cheese board, because who doesn’t love a good charcuterie arrangement? With its glam gold detailing, this pick offers just a little extra oomph for your holiday hosting – and no matter what you put on it, your guests will positively eat it up. Literally.
24. A classic covered cake stand, so you can solve the “Where do I store this spectacular dessert I just made for my guests?” problem and the “How do I display this spectacular dessert I just made for my guests?” problem at the same time. Somewhat unexpectedly, this particular cake stand also solves a third problem: “What if I need a punch bowl?” Because, surprise! If you flip the cover upside down and nestle it in the pedestal base, it becomes a gorgeous punch bowl, too. It’s literally a kitchen-themed Transformer. Heck yes.
25. A set of six colorful highball glasses that will help you serve up your favorite beverages with style. Each of these six sleek glasses has a different-colored tint to it, which is both a lot of fun and ensures that no one will confuse anyone else’s drink for their own. It’s a win-win situation.
26. And a set of four stemless wineglasses with an angular metallic design, because honestly, they’re the most versatile beverage receptacle around. I drink everything out of my stemless glasses – not just wine! Even seltzer feels fancy when you put it in a nice glass first. And these stemless glasses get a little extra pizzazz from some metallic trim; you’ve got your pick of shiny brass or sparkly silver. Are these the perfect party glasses or what?
27. An anti-fatigue kitchen mat, so you can make sure you’re taking care of yourself before you go taking care of a house full of guests. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time feeding folks, putting this vintage-inspired mat down to stand on while you do it will go a long way towards alleviating the aches and pains that standing on your feet for extended periods can cause. And who wants to go into a hosting situation feeling achy? No one. That’s who. And with this mat, you don’t have to!
28. A set of eight Turkish cotton hand towels for the bathroom, because the last thing you need as you’re getting your home ready to host all your favorite people is a bunch of last-minute “OH NO, THE BATHROOM IS A MESS” stress. (Not that I’m… speaking from experience or anything…) A set of matching hand towels like this elegant, leaf patterned Turkish cotton option goes a long way towards making everything look super pulled-together – and your pals will always appreciate a soft towel to dry their hands on.
29. And a blue and white porcelain soap dispenser that’s – dare I say it? – downright romantic. Seriously: never underestimate how much easier hosting for the holidays (or anytime) will feel knowing your bathroom is presentable. And while continually refilling a random plastic soap dispenser that was originally meant to be single-use is… fine, something like this gorgeous number is way higher on the presentability scale.
30. And some garden pathway lights to light your guests’ way back to their car at the end of the night. These sunburst-patterned LED lights are solar-powered, so there’s no need to futz about with other power sources; just stick ‘em along your front walk (or wherever else you want a dose of light) and you’re good to go. No more tripping down the stairs at the end of a spectacular shindig!
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