Throw a Holiday Party in Under 24 Hours

By mid-November, our Saturday nights are booked until 2017. It’s wonderful, but also overwhelming. So, we love to pull out an entirely different trick this time of year: the midweek party.

We know what you’re thinking: There is nothing festive about a Wednesday. All the more reason to throw a low-key Christmas fete! Just keep the emphasis on the “low-key.” You don’t need to deep clean your house or cover every surface with tinsel for a chill afterwork holiday hang. In fact, we teamed up with Bona®, the hardwood floor finishing and care experts who help keep our floors shining all year long, to show us just how easy it can be. Some minimal planning and a little last-minute spot cleaning can get the job done in 24 hours.

We at Apartment Therapy are big believers in the midweek dinner party: Guests are more available, and you, the host, are inspired (read: forced) to be super organized. Even the seasoned entertainer might get nervous at the prospect of racing home from the office with only an hour until guests arrive, but there’s no need. Here are our keys to a killer midweek gathering:

Decorate fast. If your guests wanted a full-on winter wonderland, they’d go to Rockefeller Center. Just add a couple small touches to get the idea across — a reindeer snack tray, a string of holiday lights — and call it a day.

Follow the cookie principle. Just like a real estate agent bakes a batch of chocolate chip cookies to make a show house smell homier, yours can smell more like Christmas with a low-fuss simmer pot spiked with cloves and cinnamon. (Here’s how.)

Take “nearest and dearest” literally. You know that one friend’s annual holiday party, with more guests than you had at your wedding? This is not that party. Six to eight people is the weeknight sweet spot.

Clean light. Assuming you keep your home in good shape, cleaning your floors will make your whole house feel clean. Give your floors a once-over with Bona’s dusting cloths and wet pads, which are great for last-minute spot cleaning. (Time to spare? Do a deeper clean with their excellent cleaner and polish.) Bona’s water-based, residue-free cleaning solutions are specially formulated for hardwood floors while being safe for pets, babies, and the planet.

Cook classic. A no-fail roast chicken, souped-up pizzas, even build-your-own tacos: Keep the menu simple and satisfying. Ditto the drinks: Instead of taking everyone’s cocktail orders, mix one crowd-pleasing punch.

Then? Just dim your overheads, light some votives, and actually enjoy your no-sweat fete.

Find Bona on Facebook and Twitter, then check out Bona’s whole line of products to get your home holiday party-ready. When you sign up for BonaFide Fanatics, get an instant $3-off coupon and tips from the experts in hardwood floor care!