GET DIRECTIONS
If you are hosting a Christmas party this season, the key to a great holiday gathering is how your furniture helps people flow and connect.
Set Your Sofa As A “Boundary”
Many people think a sofa belongs against the wall, however, a big piece of furniture like this needs to be used as a boundary, not a barrier. Pull it three feet away from the wall. This instantly creates room for people to pass behind it and gives the whole space a feeling of being intentional, not just pushed aside.
Create Conversation Islands
No one enjoys shouting across a large space. Your room needs “intimate pockets”. We recommend applying the eight feet rule. No seating cluster should require guests to speak across a gap wider than eight feet.
Take your existing arrangement and break it up. If you have two armchairs, move them across the room from the sofa, perhaps near the fireplace. Add a small accent table between them for drinks. Now you have a mini conversation area. The furniture can be set to invite smaller groups to reunite without monopolizing the whole room.
The Cocktail Table Shuffle
Your coffee table is generally too low and too central for drinks and appetizers when the room is packed. It becomes an obstacle course.
The simplest tip is to get it out of the way. Slide it to the side or into another room entirely. Instead, scatter a few taller, smaller side tables throughout the space. We love using pedestal tables from brands like Stickley for this. Their narrow base means no one trips, and their height makes it easy to set down a glass without having to bend over.
The Dining Room Flow
The dining table is often the largest piece of furniture you own. For a seated dinner, it’s perfect. For a standing cocktail party, it can take too much space.
If you are not serving a formal dinner, use that table as a buffet. Position it so guests can approach it from both sides. To keep the flow going, move the dining chairs to the edges of the room. They become temporary overflow seating where people can rest their feet for a minute. If you leave the chairs tucked under the table, they just create a traffic jam.
Bring the Outdoors In
If you have quality patio pieces, don’t be afraid to pull some into an indoor area that needs extra seating. A sleek, armless Polywood bench or an accent chair from Summer Classics can blend seamlessly with your indoor decor, especially near a window or sunroom. This is a quick fix for extra seating, and the outdoor materials can handle the inevitable spill.
You want movement to be easy, drinks to be accessible, and seating to encourage small group interaction. That big sectional looks great for family movie night, but for a party, think smaller, higher, and broken apart. It will make your home feel bigger and your guests feel more relaxed.
If you need help with more furniture tips to host your party during this holidays, we invite you to get in touch with our designer team for a consultation or visit our showroom at 1903 E 24th St Pl. Chattanooga, Tennessee.
