7 Easy and Affordable Holiday Hosting and Decorating Tips from the Wyse Guide

Kaleb Wyse is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer and avid cook, gardener, and thrifter. He’s also the brains and creative force behind Wyse Guide, sharing accessible recipes and engaging how-to videos that strike the perfect balance of aspiration and ease.

Christmas brings out Wyse’s sense of childlike wonder (and his love for all things vintage). Here are seven tips from Wyse on how to entertain guests and create magical moments through seasonal decor and food. (To our surprise, sometimes the food is the decor!)

Blend Old and New

As much as he loves collecting mercury glass candy canes and vintage bottlebrush trees, Wyse likes to weave in modern pieces, too, like his snow village houses. “New items are nice to mix in with antiques,” he says, “so it doesn’t feel dusty.”

Reuse and Recycle

Bringing out the same sentimental-favorite decorations each year is a good thing—for the environment and for the soul! “I change it up and move things around, so each year feels special and unique,” Wyse says. Try grouping objects in new ways or placing them in different rooms.

Lean Into Snacks

Avoid overthinking a gathering, Wyse says. “My favorite way to entertain while relaxing as a host is to have an appetizer night with friends. Everyone brings their favorite dish.” He especially likes to revive his own family’s recipes and likes to keep things humble and approachable. (His measure of success when creating a recipe is whether the ingredients are available to him in southeast Iowa.)

Use Foods as Decor

Candy, nuts, and party mix in small silver bowls add a holiday touch to side tables around the house. “It looks festive and is ready for guests, and it makes entertaining part of the decor,” he says.

Use the 70-30 Rule

Put some everyday items away to make room for holiday decorations. “I leave 70 percent of my everyday decor out and change the rest to seasonal, so it doesn’t feel overwhelming or cluttered,” he explains.

Keep It Simple

“A bowl of festive baubles, ribbons tied into bows on anything, or a sprig of fresh greens will transform any space into a festive moment,” Wyse says. Another favorite trick? Hang a wreath on a framed picture or in front of a bookshelf or window.

The key to this kind of eclectic Christmas decorating, Wyse says, is massing things together: “If you corral things on little trays or group them, it doesn’t feel so hodgepodge, and it draws your eye toward them.”

Turn Up the Tunes

“Music is essential,” Wyse says. “Whether I’m hosting or enjoying a cozy evening at home, the season will be infinitely better when a good playlist is going.”