I think this might be the best New Year’s ever because it means 2020 IS ALMOST OVER! That’s definitely worth celebrating, even if it’s just with your immediate family. I think that New Year’s Eve is secretly one of the easiest holidays to “style” because the vibe is so laid back. There’s none of the formality of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and as much as I love both holidays, by the 31st I’m always ready to ditch the fancy, sit-down dinner and do something easy and booze-forward.
With that in mind, I worked with Home with Hechart (paid partnership) to design a really simple – yet chic – NYE setup that I hope gives y’all some inspiration for your own countdowns. Home with Hechart is a wonderful home décor business in Birmingham and I love that it’s owned by a mother/daughter duo. They truly have the best pieces for home and tabletop; y’all loved this cluster bowl and green dot glassware that I’ve used in previous shoots (shop those pieces here and here). They’ve very kindly offered us a 15% discount with the code SouthernSocial15, just in time for last-minute holiday shopping and table styling!
For this “champagne toast,” I used my kitchen instead of the dining room. Again, I think NYE should be a little more casual, and after two holidays back-to-back in the dining room, a change of scenery is nice. I used silver balloons to set the scene which are both festive and inexpensive; I just bought a bunch and let them float around the serving area. Metallics are a natural palette for New Year’s but to keep things elegant and monochrome I mostly stuck to silver.
Here’s my trick to making ANYTHING look elevated and special: serve it on a tray! This is the Nickel Serving Tray and I love how it anchors my champagne flutes. I didn’t really get into food for this shoot but for New Year’s I’m all about heavy appetizers and a dessert bar. Again, trays are key – set up a few pretty serving pieces with crackers and cheese, a selection of store-bought cookies, brownies, and mini cupcakes, plus a few frozen apps from Trader Joe’s and you’re done (I love their Potstickers, Spanakopita, and Pastry Bites with Feta and Caramelized Onions). Keep it simple and give yourself permission for a night off of cooking! It’s all about the champagne anyway.
Speaking of, I’m completely obsessed with this two bottle ice bucket. I’ve never seen one before and think it’s genius. You can remove the top part as well so it becomes a fab tub for chilling water, beer, and soft drinks – such a clever design! If you need a special gift for the hostess who has everything, this is a perfect option. It wouldn’t be NYE without poppers and in keeping with my “champagne toast” theme, I pounced on these bottle-shaped crackers. They’re a fun and elevated take on your average noisemakers, which is so Mrs. Southern Social (these are another great option from the same brand). For a pop of color I found beautiful peonies at Publix and reused my Lucy Grymes vase wraps (15% off with the code MSS15). And that’s that! Easy, elegant, and simple…the perfect formula for relaxing with a glass (or five) of champagne to bid a permanent adieu to 2020.
A quick note on my outfit. I wanted to be cozy for an at-home New Year’s but still look stylish to greet 2021, so I repurposed this fab skirt and sweater combo from J.McLaughlin (paid partnership). You might remember these pieces from my NFocus shoot; I love that they work so well for many different occasions. The midi skirt + sweater combo is so in right now and it’s easy to play with different shoes and accessories to make your look dressier or more casual. Of course, I paired it with earrings from my Brianna Cannon holiday collaboration!
I can’t believe we’ve reached the end of the most bizarre year ever. What a whirlwind – literally – the craziness all started with the Nashville tornado back in early March. While I’m eager to move forward, I am very grateful for a year of major growth at Mrs. Southern Social, and it’s been so much fun getting to create content for y’all and gossiping in the closet together. Thank you for following along, and hang in there, everyone… it’s almost 2021!