Get More Out of Holiday Entertaining this Season

(Family Features) The holiday season is a time of year meant to be celebrated with friends and family. It is also a time for entertaining, whether you are hosting or attending as a cherished guest.

With more than 20 years of experience in the fashion and entertaining space, stylist and host Clinton Kelly is an expert entertainer. To ensure a festive and fun-filled celebration, Clorox 2 partnered with Kelly to help you get more out of the season with some simple tips for the holidays.

Don’t be afraid to go bold. “Your clothes tell the world who you are, and color is a great way to show off your vibrant personality,” Kelly said. Rather than the little black dress, try a jewel tone dress for the holidays to make you the life of the party. You can style it differently – by changing jewelry, shoes and bags – to get a new look for each occasion. 

Plan ahead. Food has a special place in holiday celebrations, but you don’t want to spend the whole night in the kitchen. To ensure you can spend the most quality time with your guests, prepare items, such as sides or dessert items, ahead of time. Pre-making pies is a great step, but you can also think about crowd-pleasing appetizers and other treats as well as simple slow-cooker recipes, such as a warm, spiced cider to fill the room with a favorite scent of the season.

Mingle, don’t mix. Don’t get stuck behind the bar mixing complicated beverages at your next shindig. Try a punch inspired by a classic holiday cocktail, such as the poinsettia – a delicious mix of sparkling wine, cranberry juice and a splash of orange liqueur, and let guests help themselves.

Holiday decorating doesn’t have to be hard. Kelly suggests using potted plants and flowers –it’s simple and they last longer than fresh – so you can get more out of your holiday entertaining. For an easy tablescape with color and texture, pick up some luxe fabric, in a bold color or with a bit of shine, from a craft shop to create an easy runner to layer over a tablecloth.

Stock up your supply closet. Be prepared for whatever messes and stains the holidays throw at you with a well-stocked laundry closet. Kelly stocks his laundry arsenal with Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster to keep his clothes and table linens looking their best. “I love good food, great cocktails, crafting and DIY, so my clothes can get a little messy,” Kelly said. “I keep Clorox 2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster on hand to fight stains and keep colors from fading.”

You can be an all-star host this holiday season without the stress. Learn more about Kelly’s entertaining tips and how to get more out of the holidays at clorox.com/spincycle.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images