5 ways to make the 2020 holiday season special (even if you’re staying home).
The holidays are typically a magical time, full of celebration and cheer, but 2020 looks quite different: we’ve added a global pandemic to the mix.
So, how do we adapt? It’s a question we’ve been striving to answer within the walls of our homes for the last eight months. How do we continue performing at our jobs with our kids home from school? How do we remain focused on our health with parks and gyms closed? And how do we ensure our homes are still a place of comfort and happiness, despite becoming such multi-purpose spaces?
No matter what your plans are, or where you’ll be, you deserve to feel at home and to feel special this holiday season. We believe it’s possible to keep your favorite traditions alive (with a few adjustments), and take the opportunity to create meaningful new ones.
If you’re staying home, give your space a facelift.
So you’ve decided to forego travel this year and stay home alone, with your partner, your roommate, or your furry friend. This is the perfect opportunity to show your home, and yourself, some love! Don’t let the lack of gatherings get you down — treat yourself to your favorite holiday recipes and some new, festive home decor.
We can’t be the only ones who impatiently wait for the Freeform holiday movie schedule to come out, right? Pairing your movie binge-night (or nights) with hot cocoa is great, but why not spoil yourself a bit? If you’ve been considering getting new furniture, opt for a cozy sectional you can sink right into (this one is only $87/mo). If you’re looking for smaller upgrades, add some chunky pillows and throws, or a festive bar cart to your living room. Who says you need to leave the couch in order to have a full holiday experience?
Add a theme to your virtual get together.
If working from home for eight months has taught us anything, it’s how to host a solid virtual happy hour. There are so many things you can do to make your Zoom calls feel more special — and it’s the best way to get together with Grandma, or any other high-risk friend this time of year.
In your invite, ask everyone attending to dress up, coordinate a signature cocktail you can make together (yet separately), and decide whether you’ll opt for a festive Zoom background or highlight your dressed-up home. For Friendsgiving, go all in on the details of your table setting. Dust off the fancy plates, break out your ‘only when we have company’ barware, and get set up on your actual dining (not coffee) table. This might even give you the perfect excuse to upgrade your dining table, chairs, or sideboard.
You can still social distance, even with overnight guests.
If you will be hosting a gathering during the holidays that brings people from different households together, follow CDC tips for hosting. Wear your mask, social distance, and wash your hands as often as possible. Consider keeping windows open, eating meals outside (weather permitting), and having guests stow their luggage away from shared spaces once they arrive.
In previous years, you might’ve had guests from separate households sharing rooms, but that’s simply not realistic this year. Turn your home office into a multi-functional space with the addition of a pull out, like our Tandom Sleeper Sofa, or fully convert it into a guest room temporarily (just make sure you add a work-from-home nook to your bedroom). For fun, create individual hot cocoa jars for your guests ahead of time. Fill a mason jar for each person with all the fixings — cocoa, mini marshmallows, peppermint sticks, and a handwritten card.
If you’re traveling, plan some low-risk activities.
We already know that staying home is recommended, but some of us are still hoping to travel. What’s most important is that everyone is doing so safely. Be mindful of family members’ health risks, and plan ahead!
How do we safely keep holiday traditions alive? Get creative! Consider activities like outdoor smores-making or a cookie decorating party from opposite ends of the table. Create a competition to do the best job decorating a houseplant with Christmas lights, or arrange a holiday bouquet. Winner gets bragging rights.
If gifts are your favorite part about the holidays, do a long distance secret Santa.
Giving gifts makes us all feel a little extra warm and fuzzy during the holidays, and we certainly don’t mind getting gifts either. Add some mystery — and do it long distance!
This is one of few activities that doesn’t need to change much in order to have the same effect. The secrecy of this kind of gift exchange adds a little excitement to a traditional experience, and you can incorporate other ideas, too! Add a spending cap to encourage others to be extra thoughtful, or send a gift via mail with handwritten clues to your identity instead of a traditional note and signature.
All photography by Courtney Perkins. © Fernish 2020
