A bouquet of flowers or bottle of wine is always appreciated, but when you want something a little less expected, here are some crowd-pleasing ideas. Keep a few go-to gifts at the ready and you’ll be prepared for any holiday party, potluck or open house that pops up on your schedule.

Colorful Bar Accessory

Help pep up your host’s home bar with a stack of colorful coasters, a new ice bucket or copper Moscow Mule mugs. If you want to go the extra mile, pair your pick with little bottles of fancy tonic and sodas or a tub of Marcona almonds.

Elegant Treat Stand

Bringing a sweet treat as your party contribution? Elevate your homemade or store-bought confection on a dessert stand that your hosts can use long after the party has ended.

Holiday Ornament

A handpicked holiday ornament feels special in a way that other gifts just can’t. Aim to choose an ornament that has something to do with your friendship, locale or a shared passion. And if you’re looking to gussy up any of the other gifts on this list, consider keeping a stash of small ornaments to tie on with ribbon.

Glass Food Storage Containers

Help your hosts handle the party feast leftovers with ease by gifting a set of nesting food storage containers. This utterly practical gift is one that most hosts won’t be expecting — but will be very happy to receive!

Small Vase With Personality

A petite arrangement of flowers in a pretty vase is easier to tote and often more appreciated than an overblown bouquet. Stock up on a few bud vases — filled or empty, they make a great go-to gift.

New Cookbook

An inspiring new cookbook makes a great gift for hosts who love to try new things in the kitchen. Personalize their copy by writing a note inside the book, and tie it with pretty ribbon.

Special Serving Piece

A pretty serving bowl or platter can always be put to good use. Give it on its own, pair it with a set of serving spoons or fill it with seasonal fruit or nuts for a bountiful display.

Kitchen Sink Upgrades

Fancy hand soaps and kitchen towels are little things that your hosts probably don’t treat themselves to often. Oven mitts and potholders are also good options.

Mugs for the Morning …

… or after dinner or anytime. A pair of mugs or a cream-and-sugar set makes a sweet offering. If you’d like to round out the collection, add a pound of locally roasted coffee beans or your favorite blend of tea.

Colorful Throw

A cozy throw is irresistible, especially in the cold winter months. Look for one with a special detail that sets it apart: extra-soft texture, rich colors or embellishments like embroidery and tassels.

Whether you’re looking to splurge on a loved one or need something small but thoughtful for that friend or coworker who always throws the best parties. Here are some crowd-pleasing ideas for the avid entertainer.

Wooden Board

A generously sized wooden board can hold cheese, fruit, charcuterie and appetizers of all sorts. The fact that cutting boards are easy to stack and store and always come in handy makes this a welcome gift for just about anyone who loves to entertain.

Wireless Speakers

Help your favorite party people bring the music wherever they go with a pair of wireless Bluetooth speakers. Even if someone already has a good sound system, portable speakers can come in handy for outdoor gatherings and can easily get tossed in a suitcase for traveling.

Bar Accessories

Think about what sort of drinks the entertainer on your list loves to serve: wine, beer, fancy cocktails or mocktails or cozy drinks like hot cocoa? Narrowing down the field to a specific type of beverage will help you choose just the right gift. If you’re feeling unsure, consider coasters or carafes, which work for all sorts of drinks.

Candlesticks

New candlesticks, large or small, can change the look and feel of a tabletop. Pair them with a set of quality taper candles and a pretty box of matches so the giftee will have everything needed to enjoy a candlelit dinner.

Elevated Basics

Most folks already have a pepper grinder and cheese grater, but holiday gifting doesn’t have to be about pure practicality. Look for a fun set of salt and pepper shakers or a grater pretty enough to use at the table.

Oven-to-Table Cookware

If you’re shopping for someone who loves to cook as much as entertain, consider giving a Dutch oven or pretty casserole dish that can transition from oven to table with ease. Add a trivet or serving utensils to make a set.

Table Linens

Colorful cloth napkins, a runner or a new tablecloth makes a thoughtful gift for a host of frequent dinner parties. Try to find out the dimensions of your gift recipient’s table before shopping. If you’re not sure, consider napkins or placemats as a safe bet.

Dessert Dishes

Help gatherings end on a sweet note by giving a set of ice cream bowls or a dessert stand. Bonus points if you pair this gift with a homemade or tasty store-bought treat.

Coffee Station Upgrade

Whether you choose a simple pour-over setup for coffee purists, a fast-boiling electric kettle for tea lovers or a quick and easy pod-style coffee maker, outfitting your favorite host with the best gear is always a good idea. Just be sure to do a little reconnaissance to find out what the person’s current coffee setup is before you shop.

Game-Night Game

For the people who love to host game nights, consider a gussied-up version of a favorite game like backgammon, poker or Scrabble — or a new game that has potential to be a favorite. To take this gift to the next level, bundle it with an assortment of yummy party snacks, like popcorn, roasted nuts, gourmet dips, salsas and chocolates.

Hot chocolate, blankets, twinkle lights. Are you’re ready to indulge in the best goodies and experiences the winter holiday season has to offer?

Pull Out Your Favorite Board Games on a Cold Night

Ditching Netflix for a round of Scrabble or Harry Potter Clue can make even an ordinary Tuesday feel like something special. Clear the coffee table or dining room table, grab a stack of your favorite board games, pour some hot drinks and get playing.

Make Hot Chocolate

Speaking of hot drinks, a warming mug of hot chocolate is right for any winter’s day. Keep it classic or add a splash of something stronger and top with whipped cream or marshmallows. Enjoy your treat indoors, or fill a thermos and bundle up to enjoy your cocoa on a winter walk or sitting around the backyard fire pit.

Read More Good Books

When the weather outside is frightful, console yourself by finally tackling some of the good books you’ve been meaning to read. Or curl up with an old favorite that feels just right around the holidays. If you have little ones at home, pile up seasonal books in a basket and pick one each night to read together.

Bundle Up in a Throw

A soft throw brings instant holiday cheer wherever it lands. Put one on your favorite armchair, drape it across the foot of your bed or curl up in it and carry it with you from room to room.

Hang a Fresh Wreath

The front door is the obvious choice for a wreath but why not adorn the inside of your home with green beauties too? Hung with ribbon over the front of bookcases or a mirror, wreaths are a wonderful way to make your home feel festive for the holidays and beyond.

Make Your House Smell Amazing With a Simmer Pot

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or enjoying a lazy Saturday at home, adding a delicious scent to the air can help set a festive mood. Simmer berries, oranges and cinnamon in a heavy pot with water to release their scent, or set out a tray of potpourri.

Set Out a Bowl of Nuts in the Shell

Having an interactive appetizer is fun, and whole nuts in the shell are especially welcome this time of year. Set out a pretty bowl filled with whole almonds, walnuts or pecans, along with a nutcracker and an empty bowl or dish to collect shells.

Light Wintry Candles

Adding the scent of a forest or softly falling snow in the form of a candle can be a lovely way to add ambiance to your home around the holidays. Just remember, a little goes a long way when it comes to scented candles — and unscented is always best at the dinner table.

Hold a Family Movie Night

If you have old family movies hidden away in storage, consider pulling them out for a screening. If you’re planning to have a family movie night showing of classic holiday movies anyway, consider playing a few old family videos before the main event. Pop some popcorn, turn down the lights and snuggle in to share memories and make some new ones.

Savor Afternoon Teatime

Sitting down with a friend to share a pot of tea and a tray of treats is a lovely way to slow down during what can be a stressful time of year. Your tea can be as fancy, or as unfussy, as you want it to be. For a simple tea break, set out an assortment of store-bought cookies and brew up individual mugs of tea. If you want to make it more of an occasion, bake some scones and serve them warm with good jam and a pot of the tea of your choice.

Display Festively Wrapped Gifts

One benefit of getting your gift wrapping done early? Those pretty presents can double as holiday decor. Get your gift-wrapping supplies organized and make the experience a festive event in itself by playing holiday music and sipping a warm drink while you cut, tape and tie bows.

Add a Special Touch to the Dinner Table

Having something a little different at the table can create a magical mood, even if it’s for a simple family dinner. Place a sprig of greenery on each plate, use a wood slice as a charger or set out new cloth napkins.

Savor a Simmered Dish in the Kitchen

Winter is the perfect time to enjoy slow-cooked stews, braises and chili. Let your choice simmer all afternoon, then gather in the kitchen for a casual dinner. If you can’t stick around to keep an eye on the pot, pull out your slow cooker or multicooker and let it do the work for you.

Exchange and Display Holiday Cards

In the digital age, giving or receiving an actual paper card in the mail is something to treasure. Put your cards on display by clipping them to a length of twine or pinning them to a bulletin board.

Deck the Halls With Greenery

Garlands of greenery can give banisters, mantels and dining tables a festive flair. For extra oomph, entwine your garland with a strand of twinkle lights.

Decorate Holiday Cookies

Whether you’re baking up enough to bring to a cookie exchange or you simply want to have a tray of your favorite kind, holiday cookie decorating is a tradition for many. If you’re hosting a group or if little ones will be involved, consider baking the cookies in advance so the group can get right to the fun part: decorating—and eating!

Force Some Bulbs

When the flowers have long faded from the garden and spring blooms are still months away, forcing bulbs can bring welcome color and cheer. Bulbs like hyacinths and paperwhites can be forced in winter by planting in glass jars or vases. Forced bulbs look lovely lining windowsills or atop shelves and counters. And if you have a few extras on hand, you can use them as host gifts.

Make Up a Cozy Bed

Getting into a toasty bed on a cold winter’s night is one of life’s little pleasures. Make your bed up to the task with flannel sheets and plenty of warm blankets. To keep that warm, fuzzy feeling when you get up in the morning, consider treating yourself to a new pair of fluffy slippers and a soft robe.

Soak in a Bath

Add a few drops of a relaxing essential oil, like lavender, to your tub for a soothing experience. Love to linger in the tub? Consider adding a tub caddy to hold your book and tea while you soak.

Boost Ambiance With Hurricane Lanterns

Fill big hurricane lanterns with chunky candles to light the path to your front door on the eve of a holiday party — or anytime you want extra ambiance. If you’re concerned about leaving flames unattended, look for flameless candles with a realistic flicker.

Cozy Up Your Porch With Blankets

A plush faux-fur throw on the porch can make this frosty spot look more welcoming. And if any party guests brave the great outdoors, they can use it to warm their laps.

Look at Holiday Lights in Your Neighbourhood

Checking out the holiday lights will increase your holiday cheer. If the weather is mild enough, bundle up and do your tour on foot. If it’s too frosty for walking, hop in the car. Either way, take along a thermos of hot cocoa or cider to keep you warm.

Sit by the Twinkle Lights

One of my favorite holiday tradition is simply sitting in the living room by the light of the Christmas tree with candles lit. 

Moving to a smaller home can be a great opportunity to take stock of what you have and start fresh in your new space

When it comes to downsizing space, moving may not be as simple as just packing everything in boxes and unpacking them at your new home. Moving in any situation can be overwhelming. But if the new space is smaller or the room configurations aren’t the same as in your current home, it will take some planning and thought on where you should place and store your belongings.

Moving may feel intimidating, but it’s also a great time to take stock of what you own and to start fresh with your new home layout. Here are a few key considerations to think about before and after your move.

Declutter Before Downsizing

There are so many details to manage and tasks to complete during a move. It may be tempting to quickly pack everything in boxes and deal with decisions on what to keep and toss later on, after the move when you’re not on a deadline. In reality, I’ve found that post-move decluttering takes enormous discipline and motivation and rarely gets completed. Therefore, if your moving timeline allows, I recommend putting in the hard work before the move to review your belongings and decide if they belong in your new home and your life.

Keep Your New Home in Mind

Potential Lifestyle Changes

If downsizing reflects a lifestyle change for you, such as moving to a retirement community or splitting households due to divorce, your new home will serve you differently. Social gatherings may take place in restaurants, so it didn’t make sense to keep home entertaining items such as punch bowls and large platters, or multiple sets of dinnerware and glassware if you don’t have the space.

Multifunctional Spaces

If your new home is much smaller or if you’re losing rooms, the new spaces may need to do double duty and cover multiple activities. For example, will your dining table also serve as your work desk? Will your bedroom also include an exercise spot? If so, consider if there are any duplicate items you may be able to eliminate. 

Home-Specific Decor

Sometimes decor and holiday items can be very home-specific. What worked in your old home may not work in your new one. If you have much less wall space, your artwork and wall decor may not all fit. If you’re losing any outdoor space, you can perhaps pass along your outdoor decorations to a neighbor who will appreciate them. If you have beloved framed photos that you don’t want to dispose of but don’t have the space to display, consider saving the photos only and donating the frames.

Remove Unwanted Items Before Moving

I recommend removing all items marked for donation, recycling or trash promptly and before moving day. This will eliminate any confusion about what you’re keeping and minimize the risk of accidentally moving unwanted items to your new home. It may also be helpful to schedule several donation pickups so you can remove items in stages.

If your timeline is short, consider donating to one organization that will take a variety of items instead of splitting up donations to several specialized organizations that take limited items. Return all items that belong to others.

Consider Outsourcing Tasks if Necessary

Downsizing and moving requires a lot of energy. If it’s beyond what you can manage and if you have the budget, it may be worth outsourcing these tasks.

Professional organizers can guide you through the decluttering process, pack for moving, unpack and organize your new home, space-plan for efficiency, create a functional storage system and arrange for disposals.

Movers and freelance labor can provide the muscle to move your items quickly so you can spend your time and energy setting up your new home.

Incorporate Storage Units When Necessary

Keeping long-term storage units for housing items that need to be reviewed is not ideal. Many “I’ll-look-at-them-later” boxes kept in storage units contain items that are ultimately unwanted. Consider the cost you may be paying to store potentially unwanted items. Of course, there may be situations where renting a storage unit temporarily is the best option, when you’re unable to review and edit your belongings at the time.

Longer-term storage units may be necessary, in cases such as temporary downsizing due to home construction or remodeling or when the storage unit is used as an addition to a small home with inadequate storage. If the latter scenario describes your situation, consider organizing your storage unit so it’s truly a working, active extension of your home. Shelving units that allow easy access to boxes — as opposed to stacking boxes — make retrieving and putting things away relatively easy.

If your storage needs are potentially long-term, investing in shelving units may save you time and energy. If your items are organized and easy to locate, it may even save you money: You won’t repurchase items you can’t find buried in a chaotic storage unit.

Occasional Use

If space is limited in your home, review which items are truly used daily and which don’t need to occupy prime space. For example, items used solely for planned entertaining, such as tablecloths, napkins, serving bowls and platters, can perhaps be packed in storage, along with extra dinnerware and flatware. Likewise, suitcases and travel accessories can take up valuable space and may be better kept in storage if you don’t travel often. Keep these types of items within easy access in the storage unit for when you need them.

Annual Items

Holiday decorations, seasonal clothing, sports equipment and other items that will be used for only a small portion of the year can be stored away and taken out as needed to free up space in your home. Think beyond the obvious holiday items and consider how often you need to use other household things — guest bedding, camping equipment, portable heaters or fans, vacation-only items — and whether it may make sense to keep some of these in storage.

Deep Storage

You may have some items, such as sentimental T-shirts, childhood and school mementos, photos, wedding keepsakes, archived files and documents you don’t plan on using any time soon but are too sentimental or important to part with. Categorize these items as deep storage and place them in less accessible parts of the storage unit, saving the easier-to-access spots for actively used items. Other items that you might use only once every few years or less can also fall into this category, such as baby clothes and equipment reserved for another child.

Be sure your items are packed properly before storing, using the appropriate containers or boxes that will protect any valuable contents from moisture, pests, temperature extremes, acid and light. Remember that you’re paying to store your belongings, so assess whether the items are worth storing. Where possible, and if it makes sense for how you plan to use your storage unit, place boxes on shelves around the perimeter to allow for easy retrieval.

If you have a lot to store, you can maximize your space by using deeper shelves, which can accommodate two or more layers of boxes. The deep-storage items can be stored in the back, keeping more frequently used items in the front. Keeping the layout efficient and convenient will allow your storage unit to serve as a truly functional addition to your home.

Organize Your Downsized Space

One of the keys to staying organized, regardless of the size of your space, is to have a system where every item has a home and items go back to its home after use. Spend some time evaluating how you use your space and your belongings, and keep these guidelines in mind when deciding where to place things.

Keep categories together. Organizing your items in categories makes sense and may make locating what you need easier. However, be sure you’re categorizing correctly. Think more about how you use your belongings and less about what the actual item is. You may want to store all your drinking glasses together in your kitchen cabinets. But if you have 20 glasses and regularly use no more than eight, perhaps 12 of those glasses can be stored with your entertaining supplies, freeing up space in your main cabinets.

Store Frequently Used Items Within Easy Access

Prioritize what you use most frequently and be sure to reserve easy-to-access space for these items. Your daily dinnerware and drinkware deserve prime space. But perhaps your coffee bean grinder that you use every day can also take a spot conveniently in the front, whereas your less-used water pitcher can take a back seat.

The priority list will differ for everyone, so decide what yours is. You can also switch out what occupies your prime space seasonally if that makes sense for you.

Make It Easy To Put Things Away

A system only works if it’s actually being used. In the case of keeping organized, success occurs when you’re able to maintain your space by putting things back where they belong.

When thinking about storage, consider what it will take to create an easy return system. This may include using open baskets, where you can simply toss things inside, or making sure you don’t store an often-used kitchen appliance in the back of a crowded corner cabinet.

For some, seeing empty space feels like an invitation to fill it. I recommend leaving some literal wiggle room and not packing your spaces, if possible. It’s much harder and more discouraging to put things away when you have to squeeze them in. 

Create a Flow

Finally, try to create a flow when deciding where to situate your belongings. This goes beyond keeping categories together and means thinking more about the big picture. I don’t keep my sunglasses and knit hat with my accessories and I don’t keep my wrist weights with my workout equipment. Instead, I put these items in my entryway cabinet as I always use them on my walks, and the cabinet nicely corrals them for me to grab on my way out.

Have you ever been in a room that just feels right? Nine times out of 10, it’s because it has a simple design that functions well. But creating a simple design is harder than it looks — particularly in bedrooms.

Why? Because every bedroom absolutely has to have a bed in it. And beds are big and dictate the placement of every other object in the room. But if you’re lucky enough to be planning a bedroom from scratch or remodeling an existing bedroom, you can control the other elements and create a space that’s both practical and pretty.

Even if you don’t have a great view, access to the outdoors or plenty of space to work with, the principles and the simplicity can inspire your own bedroom design project.

Because the bedroom is one of the simplest rooms in the house, it’s often overlooked. One of the first steps to a great bedroom design is having an efficient and well-designed floor plan that gives you everything you want — no matter how much space you start with.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your bedroom.

Plan for Simple Circulation

Try to keep your circulation on one side of the room. Hotels do a great job of this. There’s a reason 90 percent of hotels have the same floor plan: because it’s simple and it works.

Circulation plans become a little more challenging with en suite rooms — bedrooms with bathrooms attached — or bedrooms that have doors to the outside. To save on space, pay attention to where you locate the bathroom and closet in your bedroom. Rooms that have bathroom or closet access before the sleeping area, require a longer hall.

If you organize the circulation so the bathroom and closet are accessed through the sleeping area, you don’t need a separate hall, and you can add the circulation space into the room to make it feel larger too.

Focus on the View

A bedroom always feels nicer when the first thing you experience is a pleasant view out the window — as opposed to a view looking straight at the bed. If you’re designing a new bedroom or reworking an old one, try to come up with a layout that focuses on the vista — whether it’s something as stunning as a lake or as simple as your backyard.

Keep Privacy in Mind

It’s always nice when you can leave the bedroom door open without forgoing all of your privacy. Try to avoid designing a layout in which you look directly into the bedroom from a more public space, like a great room, kitchen or family room.

Connect With the Outdoors

While this might not be feasible in all climates, connecting a room with the outdoors is a great way to make the space feel larger and admit more natural light. If your bedroom is on the ground floor (or is on the second story and has an adjacent terrace), adding a set of French doors can instantly increase visual space.

Consider the Furniture Layout

Your bedroom’s architecture should take your furniture into account. Bedroom floor plans usually have a bed wall — but what about dressers, nightstands, TVs, chairs and a desk? Work with your architect or designer to make sure there is enough space beside the bed for nightstands and ample circulation so you can access three sides of the mattress.

Increase Light and Ventilation

Locating your bedroom at the corner of your home can give you windows on two or more adjacent walls. This gives you the added benefit of cross ventilation and a softer natural light.

Take Your Time

Great design takes a while and usually requires refining before you come up with the perfect plan for your lifestyle. Don’t rush through the design — it’s worth taking a little extra time up front to make sure you have a more efficient and functional plan in the end.

The truth is, great design doesn’t necessarily mean a space that’s overly complex and expensive to build. A space that functions better, costs less to build, is more efficient to run and is easier to maintain can be an outstanding example of great design.