Special occasions

Share the Holiday magic!

It’s only November, but Christmas is just around the corner! Get into the holiday spirit by planning parties that your guests – and you – will remember for a long time! Give yourself a head start and take a look at our RONA by Design ideas created especially for the festive season. You’ll find exciting suggestions to make your holidays truly magical!
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Plan your celebration
Make the magic come alive
Think safety first
Final touches

Plan your celebration

Planning and organizing Christmas early is a smart way to avoid stressing on the day itself so you can enjoy being with your guests. Make a list of everything you want to buy for gifts, cooking and decorating. The load will become lighter each time you cross an item off!
Begin by deciding which day you want to invite family and friends over; then start putting your menu together. For something different, choose a theme that will set the tone for your party. You can bring your theme to life through your choice of menu, decorations, gift exchange ideas, and even entertainment. Try to accomplish as much as possible ahead of time, since you will have more than enough to keep you busy when your guests arrive. A helpful tip: Create a schedule leading up to your event so that you know exactly when you need to accomplish a certain task, get the decorations done, prepare the ingredients for your meal, and so on.

Make the magic come alive

Decorating your lawn and the outside of the house can be a lot of fun! The sooner you start, the more you – and your neighbours – can enjoy it. This year, go for something different or consider giving your decor a makeover. RONA’s simple do-it-yourself project Building Santa’s Sleigh can become the centrepiece of an outdoor winter scene. Lights, ornaments, evergreen branches, ribbons, lamps, fabrics – there are numerous materials available that will help you put your own personal stamp on your decorations and wow passers-by and guests alike. For maximum impact, bring out your theme and make use of the more interesting structural details of your home. Let your imagination do the rest. You’ll be sure to dazzle the whole neighbourhood.
To the tune of Christmas classics, get the whole family into the festive spirit and decorate inside the home. Whether you give it a contemporary or a traditional look, the Christmas tree typically takes centre stage in the living room or den. For decorating ideas, draw inspiration from the styles created by RONA by Design. The global village style gives your tree an exotic look. If you prefer a monochromatic scheme and simple ornaments, choose the oasis style. Or, if you’re the glitzy trendy type, the spirit style might just suit you best.
Other elements contribute to give your home a festive ambience where one and all will be delighted to spend time. In the dining room, a stunning centrepiece or a magnificent candle sets the tone and offers a cosy atmosphere, perfect for a romantic tête-à-tête or family gatherings. Artfully arranged pretty red berries or cranberries, pinecones and a few evergreen branches provide a natural beauty and rustic elegance. And to make the holiday magic come alive, nothing beats a profusion of lights, whether a dazzling white or brilliantly multicoloured. Don’t forget to use appropriate extension cords for all your lights!

Think safety first

With friends and family alike, we want to enjoy these special occasions safely and comfortably. Tips for worry-free hosting: Outside, keep the entranceways free of snow and ice, especially when it’s freezing cold, to avoid nasty falls. Inside, arrange your furniture so that you and guests can move around freely. If you are using candles, place them where they can’t be knocked over; and make sure your smoke detectors work.
Find an area for the children to play and supply them with toys and activities, so that they don’t congregate in the kitchen just as you’re in the middle of cooking your festive meal. The kids will find their way to the play area, but get someone to keep an eye on them. Wires and cables that run across the floor are dangerous: keep them safely out of harm’s way. Knick-knacks, pottery and your best crystal won’t get broken if you put them in a cabinet. When it comes to food, ask your guests about any allergies or special requirements they might have. Keep the packaging of prepared foods nearby; you might need it to check the ingredients.
If you are going away for a few days, do so with peace of mind, so that you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Leave the key to your house and a phone number where you can be reached with a neighbour you trust or a family member. If need be, they'll have the means to take quick action and inform you accordingly.

Final touches

Now that you have taken care of your decorations, menus and other details, you are ready to work on the final touches. Transform your table with an elegant tablecloth and complementary runners. Add a pretty centrepiece, made with flowers, Christmas plants and candles. To impress your guests and arrange the seating to your liking, craft your own place cards using pretty card stock paper. You could even have them match your theme. Another idea is to print the menu on ornamental paper – leave it on the table to whet your guests’ appetites for the luscious dishes that you prepared especially for them. A decorative board for greeting cards will complete your Christmas décor. And last, a party without music is just not a party! During dinner, play light background music or classic Christmas carols. Before and after dinner, choose a variety of music to suit the atmosphere.
You still have plenty of time to plan a memorable Christmas. Start organizing your festivities now. Do your shopping, crafting and cooking over the coming weeks. Why wait? We all know that time flies… and holiday preparations are so much more enjoyable when they are done stress-free.
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