Unique Ways to Dress up your Holiday Party

Every year, it's the same thing: you invite friends and family over for a holiday party, and spend most of your preparation time searching through magazines and websites for creative ways to spruce up the gathering. Did you come up empty this past year? That's alright, because this year is going to be different thanks to the unique party ideas below!

Unique Ideas for your Holiday Party

- Get more ornaments out on display. Over the years, you've collected more Christmas ornaments than you know what do with - yet your tree only has so many branches! Solve that problem with a table-top Christmas tree ornament holder. It's like a mini-tree that lets you display even more of your prized decorations. Makes a great centerpiece for the big dining room table.

- Try a chocolate fountain. What is it about a chocolate fountain that just seems to make people smile? Oh, that's right, it's the ounces and ounces of flowing chocolate. Get yourself one of these fun confection devices, put it in the center of the room and watch the eyes of grown men and women light up like little children.

- Upgrade grandma's flatware. Are you still serving food on your grandma's dishes? Do you still use the dinnerware your parents got as a wedding gift? It's time to give your dinnerware and flatware a modern twist that'll make your guests go "Oooooh!"

- Serve drinks with style. Here's a nifty little idea for your holiday party: make up a bunch of different drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and place them in decorative beverage dispensers throughout the room. Your guests can then travel from "drink station" to drink station sampling all your delicious concoctions.

- Play games. Why not lighten up the mood at your party with some traditional games for adults? Back in the days before the Wii and Xbox, people used to play charades, cards and other low-tech favorites. Why not go old school and give them a spin?

- Mix up the seating. Here's a traditional party technique that is bound to make a comeback. When you seat your guests at the table for dinner, mix up the seating arrangements so that people who don't know each other all that well are sitting next to one another. It's a fun way to generate conversation and keep couples from retreating into their own little world.

- Give out goodie bags. Now the staple of award shows and birthday parties alike, a goodie bag is a great way to say "thanks for coming" to your holiday soiree. Add little sweet treats, note cards or other small gifts and you'll have people talking about your party for weeks.

- Give your party a theme. One way to make your party come together is to brand it with a theme. Some suggestions include: Christmas around the world, 1950's Christmas, Charitable donations for the holidays, etc. You can always choose a particular cuisine for your party - those styles of dining that aren't naturally associated with Christmas (Chinese food for example) can be an especially big hit!

- Go Caroling. Get your guests together, bundle them up for the cold weather, and head out the door for an impromptu caroling sessions around the neighborhood. It's OK if you're off-key - just so long as everyone is together and having a great time.