your house is about to have company
November is when my evenings start smelling like wood smoke, a swirl of cinnamon greets me at the grocery store, and people seem to indulge in more color, sparkle, and whimsy!
it’s also the time of year when homes start filling up with people. extra chairs around the table, more voices in the kitchen, and that delicious commotion that comes with making room for people we LOVE.
I absolutely adore a beautifully set table, flickering candles for the drama, and a house dressed for the season, and…
there’s something I want to remind you of before the holiday hosting hullabaloo begins.
a home can look welcoming and not actually feel welcoming.
you see this all the time – especially in those STUNNING interiors magazines! you can almost just *tell* people wouldn’t quite know where to sit or where to put their things or whether they’re allowed to make themselves comfortable.
in the meantime, it’s the houses that aren’t *at first glance* magazine worthy where everyone wanders into the kitchen, pours another drink, and stays longer than they intended.
so, before you start worrying about whether your guest bathroom needs new hand towels, here’s where I’d pour my dose of holiday TLC:
01 / make arriving easy.
your front door is where the welcome begins.
sweep the porch, shake out the mat, turn on the porch / entry light, and make sure there’s room for people to come inside without immediately juggling their coats, bags, and shoes (if you have a shoes-off policy).
the goal? your front door should look like you’re expecting good things – and during the holidays, like you’ve invited a few of them over for dinner.
02 / give people somewhere to belong.
look at the rooms where everyone tends to gather: can people sit comfortably? is there a place to set down a drink? can people see each other easily or will the conversation feel more complicated than it needs to be?
sometimes the *shui of the day* is just moving a table out or adding a chair to encourage conversation!
the goal? think less about perfect arrangement and more about making your people feel included!
03 / give your house a little oomph!
in the northern hemi, November brings shorter days, cooler weather, and more time spent indoors. so, do a quick audit – has any of that made your home feel a little more yin? this can happen because windows stay closed and certain rooms don’t get used as much (because maybe they don’t heat as well!).
the goal? infuse your space with yang chi! open the windows for a few minutes before guests arrive. play music. turn on the lamps. add fresh flowers or a bowl of oranges to the table.
and while we’re talking oranges…
04 / put a little sunshine on the table.
one of my favorite things to bring into a home this time of year is a BIG, beautiful bowl of oranges.
if you’ve been keeping company with simple shui for a while, you know oranges are associated with good fortune, abundance, and auspicious energy.
the color orange itself is rather convivial, too – cheerful, sociable, and practically begging for good conversation. so, before spending a fortune on holiday décor, fill a bowl with fresh oranges and make it the center of attention.
I mean, a centerpiece you can eat is kind of the best, yes?
as we embark on the holiday season, promise me this:
you won’t stress about your house impressing the people coming over. the most memorable and long-talked about gatherings rarely happen because the details were stitched together perfectly.
that kind of magic sparks because your people were comfortable, they connected, conversation flowed, and under the influence of that company, they felt more themselves than anything else!
and that, m’loves, is top-tier shui! xo
