Last-Minute Holiday Decorations Before Guests Arrive

By Danielle Wirsansky on December 27, 2016

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The best part of the holiday season is the holiday spirit! Yet sometimes, for college students, it is hard to get into the holiday spirit after a grueling semester topped off by a soul sucking finals week.

Once your responsibilities are done with, it can be hard to make yourself do anything you are not required to do. But no matter what we put off, the holidays are inevitable, which means so is entertaining family, friends and guests. And by then — holy moly! You have got to get your apartment decorated before anyone arrives.

In case you have been overwhelmed, procrastinating, or simply ran out of time, here are some last-minute holiday decorations that you can put up before your guests arrive!

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Name Cards

Something simple and cute that you can do to decorate your home at the last minute without making it look like it was an afterthought are name cards. This will work best if you know who will be coming over and attending any festivities you plan to host. You do not necessarily have to arrange a seating chart because that can be overly complicated if it is more than an intimate group of people.

But creating little name cards, which can be as simple as a folded piece of paper with a handwritten name on it, can make an occasion seem grander and convince any guest that you were actually expecting and prepared for their arrival. If you are the artsy type, you can go to town on these name cards and create elegant, beautiful take-homes so that your guests can remember your holiday event forever. And even if you are not so crafty, there are plenty of templates and such that you can find online and print. Oftentimes, it is the thought and effort that counts.

Crackling Fire

The holidays generally fall during the coldest time of the year. A crackling fire is a surefire way to get into the holiday spirit and represent cold weather traditions. However, lighting a fire is not an easy endeavor nor is it something that everyone can do. What if you have no logs? What if you forgot to get your fireplace cleaned out? What if you do not even have a fireplace?

Well do not fret — this is a list of last minute decorating tips after all! The best option is if you have an Apple TV or even a way to connect your laptop or phone to the TV. You can loop your TV to play a recording of a fire crackling away in a grate that will make it seem as though you have a real fire in your place!

Barring these options, you can always print out a picture of a crackling fire and tape it onto your TV screen. Your guests might get a good laugh out of it and at least appreciate the effort you made to decorate for the season.

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Nicely Set Table

Another tactic to try when decorating your home for the holidays at the last second is to have a nicely set table. Even if the rest of your apartment is sorely lacking in holiday decoration, any efforts that you make to decorate the table you and your guests will sit at, and probably spend the most time at than any other location in your home, will be effective. If you show a concentrated focus on this one area it will seem like a lot more thought went into the decorations, even if they are simple.

Place a table cloth on the table. Have the dishes set out before your guests arrive. Fold the napkins into origami to make it seem special. Match a centerpiece with the name cards you have created. Put out a candle or two with a scent that you like. If you have got a plant, you can stick that in the center too. You have got a lot of ways to make your table settings seem thoughtful even if they were an afterthought.

Throw Blanket

Something super quick, easy, simple, and efficient is tossing a throw blanket onto your couch. We have already established that the weather may be colder for the holidays. But perhaps you are not providing a sit down meal, or perhaps sitting at the table is all that you and your guests do there. Your group might prefer hanging out and sitting on the couches. There are many different kinds though fleecy material seems to be the most popular this season.

Well, what could be better than sitting together with your family, friends, and guests, hanging out, celebrating the holiday season, sitting in front of an (electronic) crackling fire, and cuddling together underneath a throw blanket?

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