11 Holiday Entertaining Tips From Martha Stewart You Should Be Using For Yourself

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When you're preparing to host a holiday party, there's no better expert to turn to than Martha Stewart. Her guides, blogs, and interviews have offered tried-and-true hosting advice ever since her first book on the subject in 1982. Whether you're wondering how to set a table like a professional or are just worried about making guests feel comfortable in your home, Stewart seems to have an answer for every hosting-related question you could possibly have. 

Though a holiday party is like a typical dinner party in many ways, there are also a few extra hosting tips you can use to make your seasonal parties feel special. This winter, you should try one of Stewart's holiday hosting tips to impress your guests. We've rounded up 11 of our favorite holiday party tips straight from Stewart, plus how you can execute them in your own home. We guarantee that they'll take the weight of playing host off your shoulders.

For Martha Stewart, the No. 1 hosting rule is to always have a solid hosting plan in place, down to every last detail. She writes down a list of what she needs to do before her parties and recommends that you do, too. That means that everything from your grocery shopping list to your day-of party schedule should be set in stone well before the day of your party comes around.

Start your checklist at least one or two weeks out from when you plan to host your holiday party and think of what will need to be done each day. Write down the rooms you need to clean and what chores need to be done in each of them; if you're hosting guests overnight, make sure the guest bathrooms and bedrooms are well-stocked and ready to be used. Check on the dinnerware you plan to use for the evening to make sure it's all in order and lay out a day-by-day plan with holiday decorating tasks.

It might sound like overkill, but a thorough list is the only way to ensure you're not accidentally missing something that you want to get done before your party. It's also the best way to keep you from scrambling to get everything done at the last minute. You'll seem like the most relaxed and effortless host if you plan ahead and stay organized.

Preparing parts of your holiday party ahead of time will ensure that your big day goes smoothly. You probably think about doing the cleaning and decorating a few days before your party begins, but why not set the table early on, too? Martha Stewart recommends setting the table the night before your holiday party. This ensures that you have time to focus on getting your place settings just right, washing any dishes you haven't used in a while, and adding extra decorations. If there are specific serving dishes or trivets you want to use throughout the meal, you may want to get them set up ahead of time in your kitchen, too.

When you're setting the table, follow Stewart's tips for success. Generally, your forks will always be on the left side of each plate, while your knives and spoons should go on the right. If you're serving multiple courses, you can stack each person's dinnerware, so that the plate or bowl they'll need first is on top. Glasses can go to the right, while napkins can rest in the center of each plate. Stewart's napkins are always beautifully folded, of course — you might want to turn to a festive napkin-folding trick if you want to get your tablescape looking just right. 

Got a large crowd coming over? If you have more guests than you do plates, Martha Stewart says it's totally fine to mix and match the types of fine china and dinnerware you use. "Playing with different colors and patterns to create tablescapes that feel unique to you and your party can heighten the sophistication of your table if done properly," Stewart wrote on her blog (via Martha Stewart). "Just keep in mind that something should tie the elements together: If you combine dishes and flatware from different periods and styles, make sure that they share similar proportions or complementary lines. If you mix patterns, make sure they have similar color palettes that relate to one another."

Since Stewart already recommends setting the table the night before your party, you'll have ample time to play around with different color palettes and place setting styles. If you want to keep things simple, you can follow one of Stewart's other decorating tips and choose just one main color for all of your table decorations, adding a few complementary pieces here and there. When you've got a cabinet full of plates in all different colors, simply pick a variety of the ones that complement your existing holiday decor.

Martha Stewart's own home is impressive, to say the least, but she stands by the fact that you don't need an enormous dining room or butler's kitchen to host an incredible party — even if you're working with a large crowd. Instead, she says that you need to rethink the boundaries of your home before your party. In her classic 1982 hit book "Entertaining," Stewart points out that a large hallway could fit a dining table and chairs; it's a brilliant way to host a large number of people. If you've got an open floor plan that combines your living room and kitchen, try pushing your seating around so that there's room for multiple dining tables inside. Live in a warm climate? Stewart says that you can even host on your porch!

Before you plan out your party, take a walk through your own home and try to imagine each room without furniture in it. Is there a way you can switch up its layout to make it easier to host guests? Are there places where you could squeeze in more seating or a spare table? You can even get creative with the types of parties you host based on your space; rather than a formal sit-down dinner, you could serve hors d'oeuvres to your guests as they mingle in your living room and kitchen. Gather everyone in the basement for a cozy movie night, or kick on the outdoor heaters and invite all your friends and family to relax outside with hot drinks by an outdoor fire. 

As the host, you're in charge of clearing the table and taking care of guests' dishes between courses. Martha Stewart is all about staying organized during dinner so her guests can enjoy a clean table. Between each course, start by clearing away any extra plates, utensils, and serving dishes. Stay on top of your leftovers (and consider reorganizing your fridge before you host so you have space for them, too).

Having extra hosting supplies nearby can be especially helpful for keeping your table neat. Make sure you have extra cloth or paper napkins on hand and keep a towel nearby for accidental spills. Spare utensils are helpful should a guest drop theirs. Don't forget to clean the table itself. A tool like this Table Crumb Sweeper makes quick cleanup between courses simple, and a spare tablecloth always comes in handy if a serious spill occurs.

Consider the layout of how each of your courses will go before the party begins and have the extra dishes you'll need on hand. If you're plating up a big bowl of salad, have the appropriate serving utensils nearby; if you're switching from cocktails to wine, you should be ready to give new glasses to each guest. When you stay on top of your hosting duties between each course, you not only make cleanup easier for yourself later, but you'll also get to flash your superior hosting skills to your guests. 

Martha Stewart prefers to focus on her guests as much as possible while she's hosting. This means that you'll have to save the after-dinner cleanup for when your guests are gone for the night. But let's face it — the last thing anyone wants to see when they've ushered the last guest out the door is a kitchen piled high with dirty dishes.

To help you conquer late-night cleanup, you'll need to stay organized throughout the rest of the party. When you clear your guests' plates, Stewart recommends giving them a quick rinse if you have time and stacking them neatly on the counter. Your utensils should go in a tub to soak. These tasks are quick, so they'll keep you out of the kitchen as much as possible, giving you have plenty of time to entertain your guests. But when they leave, your cleaning prep work is already done, so a quick wash is all your dishes will need. Bonus points for the fact that your kitchen will still look nice and clean if any guest should wander in during the party — even with unwashed dishes waiting.

While it's important to check off a few essential cleaning tasks before guests arrive, Martha Stewart's pre-party advice is to never forget about the way your home smells, too. Sure, deodorizing your space with white vinegar and lemon juice is a fantastic way to make your home smell fresh — but what about making it smell festive? That's right: Stewart says that one of the coziest parts of a holiday party is the way it smells.

To add extra holiday cheer to your next party, find a few wintery scents you want to spread throughout your whole home. You can make your kitchen smell warm and inviting by baking cookies or lighting a candle that smells like cinnamon and vanilla; fresh pine is a clean scent that never fails to remind your guests of Christmas. Don't be afraid to turn to festive simmer pots, wax melts, potpourri, or even a bowl of scented pine cones, too. You'll be surprised at how easily a winter scent completes your holiday decor, making your home feel twice as festive.

Martha Stewart is a proponent of the batch cocktail. Why? Because it makes hosting so much easier. When you've got a glorious drink pitcher on hand, there's no need to waste time mixing up individual drinks for all your guests.

There are a few different ways you can set up a drinks station for your guests. One is to use a drink dispenser; this would typically sit on your bar cart, buffet table, or kitchen counter, so that each guest can pour their own drinks when they please. One good option is this 1.5 Gallon Glass Drink Dispenser from Amazon; choosing a beverage dispenser with a sturdy base can help prevent spills. Alternatively, a classic glass pitcher — like these Square Glass Pitchers — is good for keeping near your dining table. It's always a wise idea to have a pitcher with a lid on it for batch drinks.

No matter which way you choose to serve your drinks, always keep an extra pitcher on hand for water, so that your guests don't need to wonder where to get some. Be sure to label your drink pitchers clearly. Set up your drinks station with glasses, cocktail garnishes, and cocktail sticks for a little extra pizazz.

Martha Stewart is always appreciative of a little ambient lighting, and your guests will be, too. If you want to make your home feel cozy and inviting on a dark winter's night, then soft lighting is the way to go. Turn those bright, white overhead lights off, and keep them that way — unless you want your guests to feel like they're being interrogated.

Floor lamps are the first place to start if you want a room well-lit but still cozy. Especially in winter, lamps with warm bulbs will feel the most comforting. Then, focus on smaller sources of light. Candles, table lamps, LED light strips, holiday string lights, and even your fireplace are all ways to add a little gentle mood lighting that will make your guests feel relaxed.

While Stewart thinks that ambient lighting is essential for setting the mood, just keep in mind that soft lighting doesn't mean your space should be dim. Your guests should still be able to see each other — and their surroundings — clearly. If you're struggling to get the look just right, try turning on some overhead lights in an adjacent room for extra brightness. You can also dim your overhead lights gently to keep things cozy yet well-lit.

Are you hosting a party that children are invited to? Martha Stewart's sage advice is that you need to make sure your party has something for them to do, too. This will give the adults an opportunity to catch up without their young children getting bored. It's also a great way to keep young kids safe in a home that isn't fully child-proofed; just focus on making one area of your home kid-safe, and host your child-friendly activities there.

There are all sorts of ways you can make young children feel welcome at your party. For dinner, you may want to set up a smaller table near the adults' table, for kids to eat at, so that they can play together without bothering anyone. Consider thoughtful touches like a paper tablecloth that they can draw on before they eat — and if you're hosting young children, you'll probably want to opt for paper or plastic plates here, too. As for activities, try building a coloring station or toy area for kids to play in. Another idea is to create a kid-friendly holiday crafts station that adults will enjoy doing with their kids during the party.

To Martha Stewart, hosting means being willing to get everything about your holiday party just right. Stewart, who is always organized, says that the little details truly matter. That's why it's so important to prepare your party space ahead of time, so that nothing is overlooked.

Check your place settings; have you followed the proper way to set a table? Are any of your folded napkins coming undone — is a fork askew? Be sure you have everything a guest might need stationed in your guest bathroom — fresh hand soap, an extra stash of toilet paper, and clean towels. Little touches — like place cards for your tablescape, fresh flowers by your drinks station, or little party favors for your guests when they leave — go a long way for your holiday party, too.

It's true that your guests might not be able to name every little detail from your party hosting checklist. But all those small touches can make a major impact on your guests, something that they'll definitely recognize. After all, when you put a thoughtful party together, guests will always be impressed with your hosting prowess. But if something does go wrong? Stewart advises you to never mention it. Just pretend like everything is normal and keep moving — chances are, your guests will never realize what happened.