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Holiday entertaining doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. You can find amazing Christmas party ideas online. When you keep these holiday entertaining fundamentals in mind, creating a seasonal party is easy. Whether your holiday party is your first time hosting or if you’re a seasonal pro, we have everything you need to throw a memorable, enjoyable and affordable party.

Here are seven unique tips, from cocktails to themes to decorations. Plus, when you shop at any of the stores below, you’ll earn Cash Back at Ebates, which means even more money in your pocket for the holidays!

1. DIY Decoration Party

The autumn and winter holidays are all about decorations. If you want to entertain your guests and send them away with a special gift, stock up on the DIY materials for everyone to make their own seasonal decorating must-have. It’s a great way to start the party, get everyone in the holiday spirit and break the ice while making something fun and unique. Shop Joann Fabrics for all your craft needs and be sure to use an Ebates promo code at checkout to save.

2. Light Up the Night

Alternative lighting is the key to creating a festive atmosphere. Set the mood for your guests as soon as they walk in the door by turning off harsh overhead lighting and featuring small, soft light sources like string lights or votive candles. You can find a variety of beautiful candles that spread the scents of the season at ILLUME Candles where promo codes can save you a bundle.

3. Fun and Games

Games are a great way to entertain kids of all ages and get your guests chatting and laughing. Pop culture trivia games break the ice for adults and easy art projects will captivate kids. Check out the learning corner at Are You Game for great activities for all grade levels and cruise the adult games section for grown-up activities.

4. Toast for the Host

A specialty drink is a great way to establish your holiday party themes. There are many seasonal classics to choose from like mulled cider or wine, hot cocoa or egg nog, but it’s sometimes more fun to think out of the box when it comes to cocktails. Margaritaville Cargo carries quality party drink makers that you can offer with a holiday twist.

5. Finger Food Favorites

Although everyone loves a good feast, a holiday party meal doesn’t have to be a sit-down affair. If you feature a buffet of finger foods and appetizers, not only will your guests enjoy more variety, but everyone can eat whenever they’re hungry and avoid the post-meal urge to nap. For inspiring Christmas party food ideas pick up a seasonal issue of your favorite lifestyle magazine at Meredith Magazines.

6. All that Paper Good Glory

Jazz up classic Christmas party food ideas by turning bitesize cheesecakes into little Santa hats by adding strawberries on top. Or cut out brownies into triangles and add a drizzle of green icing to make Christmas tree brownies. Have enough disposables so that your guests can sample the array and even take some for the road. Stock up on all the disposable dish ware you need at Kmart.

While we’d all love to live in our dream home, not everyone can grace the paces of Architectural Digest. Thankfully for the rest of us, there’s no shortage of quick, simple, and easy ways to transform your home from average to amazing. If you’re looking for a few ways to freshen your home’s interior design, the internet DIY community is a wellspring of inspiration and fun ideas that won’t drain your back account. Here’s out guide to hacking your home design one room at a time!

Kick Things Up in the Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the easiest places to start with your decorative hacking. While most of us think of it for its utilitarian purposes, your kitchen can be just as charming and design friendly as the rest of the house, even if you’re an active chef. The ladies over at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar have a great way to take a boring rubber floor mat and turn it into a stylish fabric floor covering that is not only secure, but also attractive.

With a few simple steps and a few crafty supplies, you can have an easy to clean, personalized mat that makes chopping onions oh so comfortable. And if you order your supplies using Michaels coupons from Ebates, you can make the project that much easier on the wallet.

kitchenmat — via I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

Lighten Up Your Living Room

If you’re living in an older home or apartment, there’s a solid chance you have an unusable fireplace. While we love the architectural detailing of an old mantle, a whitewashed slab in the middle of your living room feels like wasted space. The Budget Decorator will show you how t put the fireplace to use with an assortment of candles for a sophisticated, bohemian glow. After all, it’s still a flame, just a bit smaller in scale.

candlesfireplace — via The Budget Decorator

Design Details in the Dining Room

Feeling a bit blasé about your dining room? House Beautiful has some great ideas about easy makeovers you could do in a day. If it’s the furniture you’re lacking, go with the pro tip and just paint everything white. Your table and chairs might be well-loved antiques, but a fresh coat of high-gloss white paint will give your dining room a fresh, airy look. If you’re looking for a funky touch, you can get creative with your wall décor. They recommend decorating a wall with plates for a unified look that’s a cheeky take on the purpose of the room, and one that you’re dinner guests definitely won’t have seen before.

Bring Some Style to the Bathroom

Often the home’s most overlooked opportunity for design improvement, the bathroom deserves a little attention. Another utilitarian space, you might not think of your bathroom as a very style-friendly zone, but there are some little things you can do to beautify it. Take your shower curtain for instance. Real Simple suggests that instead of going with traditional metal rings, add an interesting touch by fastening it to the rod with fabric bows. It’s fun, functional, and rust-resistant.

You don’t have to undergo an entire home renovation to get a fresh new style. Follow these four simple decorating hacks and you’ll be amazed just how great your home can look!

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