Have you seen The Home Edit? It’s basically our (and everyone else's) favorite home and design show where hosts Clea and Joanna have reinvented traditional organizing and merged it with design and interior styling. It’s full of fab tips on how you can be clutter-free long term using their carefully considered systems and you’ll see them help celebrities and everyday clients turn their hectic homes into functional and beautiful spaces.
And with the holiday season in full swing, the girls have collab with (one of our fave festive tipples) Cointreau to create their five top tips for preparing for a slightly different Christmas this year...
For more gorgeous Christmas decoration ideas to get your ready for the holidays head over to our gallery too.
1. The Holidays always require a well stocked bar cart
‘Nothing simplifies holiday celebrations more than a bar cart. When people within your household can serve themselves, everyone wins! We recommend a bar cart on wheels, which allows it to move where you move and then back to the kitchen when items need replenishing. Three staples our bar cart always has? Cointreau (opens in new tab), a base spirit like vodka and fresh fruit, it pairs perfectly with any base spirit to mix up a classic cocktail.’ Say Clea and Joanna.
We have a whole gallery of bar cart ideas if you want more inspiration and tips on how to style yours.
2. And plenty of cocktails of course!
'Create a signature cocktail for the night, display the recipe and channel your inner mixologist. Set up all the ingredients ahead of time, including an ice bucket, and any garnishes, glasses, and tools that are needed. We also suggest prepping a batch ahead of time! It’s easy to create and engaging for any virtual guests, knowing this holiday season may look different for gatherings. Set up an area in the living or dining room with a screen (tablet or laptop) to make your virtual guests still feel a part of the festivities.'
Fine plenty of cocktail recipes over in our guide (they are all super easy and super tasty).
3. Create a color scheme for your gatherings
'When it comes to styling your bar cart, stick to the same color palette as your signature cocktail.' explains Clea and Joanna. 'Incorporate items such as linen napkins, colored straws, floral garland, candles and decorative glassware. For example, a Cosmopolitan is the perfect shade of blush pink, which you can play off of for decor, and mix with holiday shades of deeper reds and greens.'
Recreate this glamorous look in your home by choosing pastels for your Christmas tree decorations and hints of amber.
4. Create a festive menu that never fails
‘When cocktails are involved, light snacks should be too. You can never go wrong with hors d’oeuvres that are assembly-only, such as a charcuterie board! Mix it up with a variety of nuts, cheeses, crackers, dried or fresh fruit, honey or jams and more. We love creating these large boards and platters for parties as they cater to a variety of taste buds, and you can really tailor the board to complement your holiday cocktail offerings.’
5. Have emergency gifts on hand
‘Through the years, we have found it’s a game changer to have a go-to holiday gift on hand at home and to keep a few ready to gift whenever and wherever you need.' says The Home Edit girls. 'One of our favorite easy to DIY gifts is a chic cocktail kit that has everything you need to make a classic cocktail...a bottle of Cointreau, vodka or tequila, cranberry or lime juice, salt, recipe cards, a shaker and a citrus squeezer.’
For more hosting tips and gorgeous cocktail ideas to try out over the festive season, head over to Cointreau for the Cointreau x The Home Edit Holiday Hosting Guide (opens in new tab).
