The holidays have always been my favorite season. There’s something magical about opening your home to friends and family, filling the house with laughter and gathering around a table brimming with good food. But as much as I love entertaining, I also know how quickly the excitement can turn into stress when coats pile up by the door, counters overflow with platters, and you can’t find the serving spoon you swore was right there.
After more than 20 years helping Lake Norman homeowners create beautiful, functional storage solutions, I’ve learned that a few key spaces make all the difference when company arrives: a well-designed mudroom or drop zone, a dedicated wine area, and a smartly organized pantry.
A Warm Welcome Starts at the Door
The moment guests walk in sets the tone for the whole evening. A custom mudroom or drop zone keeps the entryway calm and clutter-free. Built-in benches provide a comfortable spot for guests to slip off shoes, while hooks and cubbies give coats, bags, and umbrellas an immediate home. Even a small nook near the garage or side door can become an organized landing pad. When everyone knows exactly where to put their things, you’re free to greet them with a smile instead of juggling armloads of outerwear.
Cheers to a Custom Wine Room
Entertaining often means sharing a toast, and a custom wine room or built-in bar adds both style and function. Thoughtful shelving and climate-conscious storage keep bottles at the perfect temperature and ready to serve. Whether you envision a full wine cellar for a serious collection or a compact built-in bar for weeknight gatherings, these spaces become natural conversation pieces—and they make it easy to offer that perfectly chilled bottle right when the moment calls for it.
A Pantry That Works as Hard as You Do
The holiday season can put any pantry through its paces. Between extra baking ingredients, party platters, and specialty dishes, it’s easy for shelves to get crowded. With custom pull-outs, adjustable shelving, and well-planned zones, everything from everyday staples to oversized serving platters has a designated spot. I often recommend high shelves or deep drawers for those big platters or special-occasion serving dishes you only use a few times a year. When every item has its place, you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying your guests.
Give Yourself the Gift of Organized Living
Hosting is so much more enjoyable when your home is designed to support the way you live. Thoughtful storage isn’t about perfection … it’s about creating a backdrop that allows you to focus on what matters most: time with the people you love.
At ClosetsbyDesign-Charlotte, we’ve been locally owned and proudly serving the Lake Norman area for over 20 years. My team and I would love to help you design a mudroom, wine room, or pantry that makes entertaining effortless—not just during the holidays, but all year long.
Laura VanSickle and The VanSickle family celebrate over 20 years of creating custom closets, garages, and other organized spaces in the Greater Charlotte area through their company ClosetsbyDesign-Charlotte. Visit their showroom at 1108A Continental Blvd. in Charlotte, their website at charlotte.closetsbydesign.com, or call 704.588.7272 for more information.
