There’s no place like home for the holidays and here are ways to make yours more welcoming, fun and relaxing.

A few thoughtful touches are all it takes to fill your home with holiday cheer. Here are ideas for making your home welcoming and relaxing, and keeping your sanity when gathered with your less-than-perfect family.

Extra-special place settings

If you’re the kind of host or hostess who takes pride in setting a gorgeous holiday table, make each place setting a bit more special with napkins folded into Christmas trees. Watch how’s it’s done. It costs nothing and it can be fun to enlist the kids or grandkids to help with the folding.

To delight all, hide scratch-off lottery tickets under each dinner plate. When everyone’s done eating and about to doze off, reveal the surprise and enjoy the excitement that follows!

Mmmmm, that smells good!

Fill the air with the smell of Christmas without using chemical sprays or burning candles. Instead, simply simmer holiday potpourri.

Fill a pot with aromatics like orange slices, fresh ginger root, cloves, cranberries, fresh pine or rosemary, cinnamon sticks and vanilla and cover with water. Then simmer and enjoy the feeling of coziness in the air!

Check out these three stovetop potpourri recipes and this video for more simmering tips and making potpourri gifts.

Mmmmm, this tastes good!

If you love sangria in the summer, why not try mulled wine for the holidays?

Start with a bold, full-bodied red wine. Add sugar and spice, and everything nice— like orange slices, honey, brandy, cinnamon stick and star anise. Simmer on the stove for at least 10 minutes and then serve up a cup of cheer.

Try these recipes from Ina Garten, Bon Appétit, and Well Plated.

Be ready for a less-than-perfect gathering

So many of us try to make the holidays perfect, but that’s pretty much impossible since we’re all imperfect beings. Before the family arrives, check out Martha Beck’s five strategies for saving your sanity even when your mom asks inappropriate questions or your brother throws a temper tantrum. Follow Martha’s advice and you can make it a happy holiday even with extraordinary family dynamics.

Merry Christmas to all!

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