With the smell of holiday in the air, it's time to start planning those last minute parties! This is the perfect chance to get in some family time, or see those friends you're never around! Nobody wants to spend the jolly months alone, so make a list of your BFFs and family, and let's start planning this holiday bash step by step. Here are the must-haves for your festivities, and the best party planning tricks we could dig up! {C}

Before you start inviting your list of partiers, make sure the house is ready for this craziness! Having the proper furniture is key. Be sure to have a great dependable media console like this one so guests can put down their drinks, coats, watch TV, or even game! Not only does the deep wood finish look perfect for the holidays, but it's a great color year-round and always provides some convenience in your great room!

Put your best foot forward for these holiday guests by tidying up your everyday mess! To avoid getting stressed out, get all the major messes out of the way a day before. Leave little things like straightening up the pillows on the couches, giving the coffee table a once over, checking the bathroom, and make sure the dishwasher is empty, for the day-of duties. This will save you hours on your big day so you can spend your time relaxing and getting ready!

Now that all the cleaning and furnishing is out of the way, let's get to the holiday decor everyone knows and loves! Here are a few of the winter trends we blogged about that would be a great way to decorate for the party. Another must-have is of course, a wreath on the door! A DIY wreath like one of these would be adorable, especially if it fits the attitude of your party! Now of course you need a tree to go along with these cutesy decorations, so why not decorate it with a home-made ornament? Check out these little snow globe ornaments for a twist!

Last but definitely not least, you'll need some yummy munchies for your guests! Here are ten holiday drinks sure to be a hit at the party, and make some peppermint hot cocoa for the young ones! Take a few tips from this site— full of delicious holiday treats and goodies for the perfect party platter.

Now that you have your party ready to go, relax and have fun! After all, 'tis the season! Let us know if you have any tricky party planning tips in the comments!