4 tips to make your home feel special for the holidays + the best-ever Christmas sangria recipe with a free printable sign.
This year our guest prep is simple: we’re setting a festive table and laying out a small sangria bar in the dining room for an intimate family gathering.
Any size gathering feels like a gift, but if I could choose one group of people to share a Christmas meal with, it would be my parents.
Early in our marriage—about a year after Robert and I tied the knot and while we were expecting Olivia—we moved into my parents’ upstairs spare room when money was tight.
I was working on a beginner teacher’s salary while Robert finished his degree on the GI Bill, and then we learned a baby was on the way. My parents welcomed us without hesitation, and we lived with them for nearly two years while we saved for our first home.
At the time I felt a little defeated—new to motherhood, learning to juggle a tiny household, and embarrassed we couldn’t manage on our own. But now I’d never trade those years: the shared meals, the laughter, the way the house felt full and safe. Those evenings with my parents always felt like more than visiting family—they felt like being home.
We still cook weekend dinners together, sprawl on the floor to play with the kids, and trade dad jokes (which Robert and my dad deliver with great pride). My mom and I respond with that perfected, affectionate eye-roll. These small rituals are what make the season meaningful for me.
If your holidays look different this year, you can still create a warm, memorable atmosphere at home. Below are four simple, practical tips to make your space feel special for holiday gatherings—big or small.
4 Tips to Make Your Home Feel Special for the Holidays:
1. Forage your yard.
When I danced in The Nutcracker each December at the nearby university, my mom would stroll the campus during rehearsals and clip magnolia leaves and holly sprigs to decorate her table. Those small, seasonal clippings made every dinner feel festive.
Learn to spot useful greens and berries around your yard or neighborhood: magnolia, evergreen sprigs, holly, and even eucalyptus add scent, texture, and color. Pair them with dried citrus slices or pinecones for a natural, low-cost centerpiece that’s perfect for holiday tables and photos.
2. Bust out the special dishes, even if it’s just your household.
Using your nicest dinnerware instantly elevates an ordinary meal. I love dark, speckled plates for a modern touch paired with gold flatware for a festive shine. Adding white rattan chargers brings brightness and texture—top each plate with a sprig of rosemary and a dried orange slice for a simple, elegant place setting.
Breaking out special dishes doesn’t require a crowd: setting a thoughtful table honors the people who gather with you and makes dinner feel like an occasion.
3. Light a few candles to make your home feel cozy.
Candles create an immediate sense of warmth and intimacy. I arranged small gold lanterns among a DIY dried fruit and preserved leaf garland so the light remains soft and conversations flow across the table without obstruction. Even a few votives down the center of the table will transform the mood.
4. Create a treat or drink station to make your night in feel festive.
On the buffet I painted before the pandemic, I set up a small Christmas sangria bar. A drink dispenser on a cake stand, a wooden tray with orange slices, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks for garnish, and a few pretty vases or weathered stoneware pieces give the corner a polished look without much effort.
The mirror gallery wall across from the tree catches the light from the tree and the string lights, making that spot one of my favorite places to gather. A simple sangria bar invites guests to serve themselves and keeps the kitchen traffic light during a small gathering.
To build a simple sangria bar: set a dispenser on a pedestal or cake stand, place bowls or a tray nearby for garnishes like sliced oranges, fresh cranberries, and cinnamon sticks, and offer a fizzy option—club soda or ginger ale—so guests can add a splash of bubbles to their glass.
If you’d like the printable version of my Christmas sangria recipe, look for the printable recipe provided with the original post or by the author; the sangria is wonderful with a touch of fizz and makes a festive addition to any small holiday gathering.
I kept the dispenser modestly filled because our gathering was small—and because I’d be a little too merry if it were topped up all night. Still, the sangria was a hit and added a festive touch to our quiet evening.
It feels odd not to have a holiday calendar full of parades, concerts, and big gatherings this year, but the introverted part of me is enjoying the calm. A quiet Christmas has been something the tired parent in me needed. The world’s situation isn’t ideal, but I’m grateful for intimate evenings at home without the usual rush.
If you want to recreate this look for your own cozy holiday dinner, here are the dining room source items referenced (product names only):
Christmas Dining Room Sources
- Black Dinnerware
- Gold Flatware
- Gold Lanterns
- Drinkware
- Wine Glasses
- Rattan Chargers
- Drink Dispenser
- Wood Tray
- String Lights
- Vase Set
If you make the sangria, tag me on Instagram @blesserhouse so we can clink glasses from afar and celebrate a socially distant holiday together.
