Make Your Kitchen Your Holiday Headquarters

Home is the most important place in the world, and the kitchen is the heart of it. Kitchens have everything it takes for great entertaining: food, warmth and fun (if you love cooking — or eating). If you're going to spend a lot of time in your kitchen this holiday season, make the most of it by turning it into your holiday headquarters. Here are some tips to help get you going.

Decorate. Is the kitchen the only room in your home without holiday decorations? Tie colored ribbons or other ornaments to the cabinet handles or hang them in the windows. Fill a holiday serving bowl with seasonal plants. Even a few simple touches, such as candles or a bright table runner, will help bring the holiday spirit into your kitchen.

Welcome guests. It almost never fails that guests will gather in the kitchen when you entertain. It's only natural because that's where you are, making the final preparations. Make them feel welcome there with extra seating, such as HENRIKSDAL bar stools. Set out snacks and drinks for them to enjoy. Some guests will insist on helping you. Have some simple task, such as cutting cheese or arranging a platter, for them to do. Make the kitchen as much a part of the fun as the rest of the house.

Invite the children in. Kitchens can quickly get crowded during holiday celebrations. If your festivities include kids, they'll likely want to be in the center of the action. Small children, especially, love to help the "grown-ups" with holiday preparations, and it's a good opportunity to teach them basic skills. Plan some tasks that are appropriate for various ages, such as putting sprinkles on cookies or buttering the rolls. With so much going on, be sure to keep the kitchen safe for kids by turning in pot handles and keeping sharp knives out of reach.

Expand, organize and modernize. Holiday meal preparation can tax space and resources. If your kitchen doesn't have enough counter space for all the extra cooking you'll be doing, solve that problem temporarily with a NORDEN gateleg table. Buy an extra set of inexpensive mixing bowls or measuring cups so you don't have to keep washing dishes as you work. If you've been "getting by" with old pots and pans, dull knives or a chaotic utensils drawer, update your kitchen with cookware and drawer organizers you'll be proud for your guests to see. Small improvements can make a big difference.

Extend the kitchen beyond . . . the kitchen. One important reason guests gather in the kitchen is because of what's in there — the food. Spread it around. Set up hors d'oeuvres and drink stations throughout the house. Use decorative platters that complement the season, or opt for simple dishes like LJUVLIG or glasses like SVALKA that are versatile enough for everyday use but also elegant enough to enhance holiday celebrations. For those guests who like to be kitchen helpers, send them to the dining room to arrange place settings or to the living room to serve up drinks.