Winter brings festive celebrations, visits from friends and family, and — for residents of The Canyons™ — a season to gaze at the beautiful community around them. Hosting for holiday visits and celebrations may sometimes be stress-inducing, but a little advance preparation can make hosting a breeze. Read on for fun ideas to become the host-with-the-most in the Vector Collection by Infinity Property Collection.
Homeowners of Vector Collection homes won’t need to worry about creating a dramatic welcome at the curb — these refreshingly modern exteriors do that all on their own. Try highlighting the unique elevations of the home’s silhouette with strands of twinkling lights — a neutral color can last all winter long. An evergreen wreath preps guests for winter fun at the door, while an evergreen arch framing the doorway showcases its unique and contemporary construction. Consider placing lanterns along the sidewalk and front porch steps to create a cozy-but-dramatic entry — just be sure that your driveway and sidewalks are shoveled free of snow to ensure your guests’ safe arrival!
The kitchen is a natural hub for winter entertaining — so keep yours uncluttered, clean, and smelling fragrant. A simmering pot of apple cider or mulled wine creates an intoxicating scent to welcome guests: Keep a ladle and reusable cups by the stovetop so guests can serve themselves as they get comfortable. This cider recipe uses a blend of sweet and tart apples flavored with citrus and whole spices like clove and cinnamon.
It’s a good idea to keep a few snacks around, as guests may arrive hungry before mealtime from their long travel. A charcuterie board, hummus and pita chips, or spiced nut mix supply protein to keep stomachs from rumbling during cocktail hour.
Every guest’s tastes are different, so it may be difficult to know exactly how to stock the refrigerator and bar cart. It’s good hosting etiquette to gather information about your guests’ tastes beforehand, via a quick text or phone call. But if it’s crunch time, keep some neutral options available like a dry white wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and basic liquors like whiskey, vodka, and gin. Don’t forget the mixers: Seltzer water, sodas, and juices mix well with most alcohols and are a kid-friendly drink option as well. Keep a bottle of champagne chilling in the fridge — you never know when is the perfect time for a celebratory toast!
Keep your non-imbibing friends in mind too, and be sure to stock non-alcoholic options like seltzer, ginger beer, and ingredients for holiday mocktails so they won’t feel left out of the fun.
Overnight guests require a little extra preparation, like changing sheets in guest bedrooms and restocking towels and washcloths. Go the extra mile by adding some holiday decoration to guests rooms like mini trees, twinkling lights, or candles scented like evergreen trees, peppermint, or sweet vanilla. All three floorplans in the Vector Collection offer multiple guest bedrooms — some with as many as six extra! Many of these bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms as well, so you can say goodbye to awkward hallway encounters in the early hours of the morning!
Your guests may be content to simply sit with a warm beverage in hand and watch the snow fall through Vector Collection homes’ floor-to-ceiling windows, and we totally get it! All three options in the Vector Collection feature fireplaces in the great room and huge windows to let all the winter light in. But some guests — like kids — might need a little more entertaining: Stock up on kid-friendly board games or create a separate kids’ area complete with coloring books, crayons, and a TV with preselected kid-friendly programming. Thankfully, many floorplans in this collection offer optional game rooms in walkout basement spaces to keep noise and distraction to a minimum.
With a little prep, winter entertaining and hosting can go from a headache to a joy. Homes from the Vector Collection by Infinity Homes offer ample space to house all your guests with thoughtful construction that allows multiple spaces for entertaining. View floorplans online or take a virtual tour to find your winter hosting haven today!