Day 10 of 12 Days of Holiday #HostfulHacks: Creating Ambiance with To Have + To Host

Welcome to Day 10 of our 12 Days of Holiday #HostfulHacks! If you’re joining us for the first time, be sure to read this post first.

Now, let’s dive into Day 10 with To Have + To Host!

Who is To Have + To Host?

Lory is a passionate entertainer who loves a full house. She thrives on gathering family and friends together, making them feel welcome, and celebrating all that’s good in life. She believes there’s no gesture more intimate and personal than being invited into someone’s home, and there’s no better joy than having guests leave with a full stomach, heart, and soul.

If you’re an avid entertainer like Lory, just looking for new ideas, or are brand new to hosting and seeking tips and inspiration, Lory has you covered! At To Have + To Host, you’ll find a full spread of party themes and ideas, hosting advice, crowd-worthy recipes, wine pairings, stunning tablescapes, and much, much more – all served up for you with sensational photography and plenty of tips to make entertaining simple and fun.

To Have + To Host is a place where Lory indulges in casual elegance, experiments with tastes, textures, colors of the season, and styles, and shares the best of the best for both you and your guests.

Day 10 – Holiday #HostfulHack: Creating Ambiance

While creating ambiance can be considered an artform, rest assured knowing it does not have to be hard to achieve. When it comes to achieving an inviting space, a little bit of thought can go a long way. The most important thing to consider is how you want guests to feel. The elements you choose to incorporate throughout should directly tie back to that feeling you wish to create.

To Have + To Host’s Creating Ambiance #HostfulHacks

When hosting a gathering, one thing to include in your planning is creating ambiance – it’s so important to invoke a mood as soon as your guests arrive so they can get into the party vibe instantly. Lighting is at the top of my list for best ways to create ambiance. Here are my favorite #hostfulhacks for lighting techniques:

Candles are a great way to soften the light. I like varying heights of antiqued, aged brass candlesticks with white taper candles for interest. Of course, tea lights in glass votive candles scattered down the center of the table are perfect for an intimate setting – and who doesn’t love the flattering, warm, and cozy glow of candlelight?
For a backyard event, bistro lights strung over a patio are super charming and make you feel like you’ve been transported to an outdoor cafe in Paris. Oo la la!
I also love lanterns placed throughout the table with greenery intertwined between them for a more rustic feel, as I’ve shown here. Gold metal lanterns with battery pillar candles illuminate the table for this Italian-themed alfresco holiday dinner party I hosted at my home.