Haven't Heard of Scruffy Hospitality? This Relaxed Approach to Hosting is a Stress-Free Antidote to the Indulgence and Excess of the Holidays

If entertaining friends and family without getting stressed about perfectly curated tablescapes and spotless surfaces sounds near-impossible, it’s time you tried out ‘scruffy hospitality.’ No, this isn't a new table decor trend for 2026, but a way to incorporate more relaxed hosting into your socializing throughout 2026 and beyond.

First coined in 2014 by Knoxville, Tennessee-based Anglican priest, the Rev. Jack King, the phrase ‘scruffy hospitality’ refers to a more laidback approach to hosting, one centered on authenticity and human connection, not impeccably tidy rooms and immaculately prepped dishes. (See also: ‘Crappy Dinner Parties’, another version of scruffy hospitality which encourages no cleaning before guests arrive, simple dishes, and zero apologizing for any mess or chaos.)

Scruffy hospitality isn’t merely a hosting style, it’s a life philosophy we can all heartily embrace, as an antidote to the excess of holiday feasting and formality. And if you’re after entertaining ideas that feel easy, not stress-inducing, here's how to give it a try.

Intentionally Lower Expectations

Scruffy hospitality begins with a mindset shift, not a whole-house tidy-up – that would be missing the point entirely.

The first step in embracing this hosting philosophy is to lower expectations, so don’t put pressure on yourself to be the ‘host with the most,’ and work on silencing your inner critic.

‘Scruffy hospitality can be good practice for avoiding perfectionist tendencies generally. Practicing not being perfect with your friends and the people who care about you can make it easier to give yourself grace on the job or in other areas of life, too,’ says Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab podcast, Dr. Laurie Santos.

She recommends telling invitees that the theme of your engagement is ‘scruffy hospitality,’ which will, in turn, make everyone feel more relaxed from the get-go.

‘Social connection is one of the most effective ways to boost happiness, and scruffy hospitality is an attitude that helps us achieve more connection,’ Dr Santos says. ‘If we wait until we have the perfect house or dinner party theme, we'll wind up missing out on opportunities to hang out with the people we care about. Under this view, you can reframe hosting as a happiness gift to yourself, so that future-you will feel more connected.’

Clear the Clutter, Stylishly

Challenge yourself to push against perfection and allow the authenticity of your daily home life to tell its story.

‘Focus on the visit and not the visuals,’ is how New York City-based designer Amelia Nicholas, founder of Urban Cottage NYC, encourages hosts to embrace scruffy hospitality. This is especially true if you’re living with pets, children, and abandoned artistic projects scattered across surfaces.

‘Your guests know you have children, pets, projects. If you're worried about extra toys or books lying around, have a few extra, large-scale baskets that you can quickly sort into and tuck away. Once your guests have gone, you can close the loop by returning those items back to the spaces they belong,’ she says. These Mbare millet grass storage baskets at Lulu & Georgia will stash everything from toys to towels, and look like sculptural pieces.

Keep the Light Low and the Atmosphere Ambient

Lighting always sets the mood. Since one goal of scruffy hospitality is to encourage intimacy, authenticity, and deep conversation, dim the lights and imbue your space with a warm glow by lighting your best candles. Use tapers or go for scented candles to further ease into relaxation mode.

‘Layer your lighting by turning off harsh overheads and letting candlelight, table lamps, and floor lamps set the mood. It instantly makes a space feel warmer, more inviting, and effortlessly cozy,’ says Jessica Nicastro Alpert, principal designer of Jessica Nicastro Design.

Clusters of candles also encourage guests to curl up, picnic-style, on sofas while snacking on light bites served on disposable-but-insanely-chic My Drap napkins.

‘In a world where life feels increasingly casual, we’re trading the fine china and formal courses for candles, yummy snacks or apps, and real conversation,’ says creative director and principal designer of Maryland-based Folding Chair Design, Jennifer Walter, who considers scruffy hospitality a ‘quiet rebellion’ against perfection.

‘Hosting today isn’t about impressing; it’s about inviting. A quick tidy, a few intentional touches like candles and fabric napkins, and the door opens to friends exactly as we are. The focus shifts from curated tables where everything has a place, to meaningful moments that provide warmth and connection,’ Jennifer adds.

Simplify your hosting gig with Pottery Barn’s Radiance Flameless Candles for a cozy atmosphere without any matches, or mess to clean up afterwards.

Embrace the Japanese Art of Wabi-Sabi

Your furniture and decor always serve a practical purpose when entertaining, but scruffy hospitality calls for authenticity. Don’t be afraid to offer guests a glimpse of your interests and history through your styling.

‘Choose pieces that are meant to be lived with, not protected. Leather, patinated metals, natural materials, along with meaningful accessories which tell your personal story,’ advises Joyce Huston, lead design expert at Decorilla.

Joyce explains that the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi – ‘a little imperfect, collected, and lived-in – is at the heart of scruffy hospitality.’

Use it to inform, and simplify, your entertaining ethos: ‘Choose one common thread to keep, like all ceramic pieces, all scalloped edges, or one color family, then mix patterns and shapes. It looks intentional, starts conversation, and makes each setting feel personal,’ she says.

An eye-catching centerpiece, like Seletti’s Kintsugi Carafe from 2 Modern, offers a quiet meditation (and celebration) of the beauty in fixing what’s broken.

Make Existing Pieces Work Harder

If you’ve already mastered how to create a hosting closet to keep all of your hosting essentials tidy, resist the temptation to buy additional accessories each time you invite people over.

Instead, ‘hack your home decors,’ advises Marjorie Artieres, partner and creative director at Pinch Food Design.

‘Turn your favorite vase into a breadstick holder, flip a beautiful ceramic bowl into a riser. Use stacks of bamboo steamer baskets for bar snacks. These personal objects add a unique flair, sophistication, and instantly make your spread feel more artful and cohesive in your home,’ she says. East Fork’s handcrafted ceramic vases double as stylish servingware for cheese straws or fruit kebabs.

Use Brown Paper Tablecloths for Grazing

A grazing table spread is well-suited to scruffy hospitality. Simplify it even further by focusing on one or two key ingredients, advises textile designer Shanan Campanaro, founder of Eskayel, whose recent vegetarian-themed spreads involved a ‘crostini bar’ featuring little toasts with ‘tons of toppings’ and a ‘Greek disco’ party with grapes, olives, feta, pita and stuffed grape leaves, all laid out in the center of the table for easy access.

Shanan used Kraft paper as a tablecloth, labeling each element with a Sharpie pen: a simple, charming, unexpected, and participatory touch that guests loved.

‘How can we get creative, fun, and memorable without breaking the bank or spending unnecessary funds on hiring somebody to do something that feels standard and repetitive anyway?’ she says of her hosting philosophy. ‘I love brown paper as a tablecloth because you can burn candles on it and the wax doesn't get on the table, just the paper.’

Clusters of fresh fruit (whole lemons, blood oranges) and clipped herbs like rosemary and sage complete the table, adding welcome color and scent.

Ditch the Dining Room

A more relaxed setting helps cultivate authenticity and a laid-back feel. Try changing where you center your soirée by moving to an eat-in kitchen, instead of a more formal dining room, or by making another room the star of the show.

Decorilla’s Joyce Huston suggests using the coffee table as a ‘help yourself’ spot for guests. ‘Instead of running back and forth to the kitchen, keep your stuff within arm’s reach of where all the action is. Put out a tray on the coffee table with napkins, a couple of small bowls, snacks, and a simple drink setup. That keeps everyone together and makes hosting so much easier, too.’ Serena & Lily’s Hawthorne Platter, and Chip and Dip Bowl make stylish hosting effortless.

Serve Easy Dishes Unapologetically

Scruffy hospitality isn’t about showing off your Cordon Bleu culinary skills; it’s about what’s tasty, easy, and comforting.

Urban Cottage NYC’s Amelia Nicholas says having a ‘library of serving pieces makes hosting informal gatherings a breeze’ (things like charcuterie boards, bowls of varying sizes), and recommends keeping your pantry prepped and organizing your freezer ahead of time.

‘Basic frozen pizza bases can be fancied up with fresh basil and other toppings. Focusing on one low-stress dish allows you to continue connecting while cooking. And then your guests can help customize for themselves,’ she says.

Slow Down and Keep it Simple

Ditch the usual hosting strategy of aiming for perfection across all areas, advises food designer, stylist, and chef, Mariana Velásquez, of Casa Velásquez Hostingware, who believes the antidote to Christmas chaos is ‘permission to slow down, to set a table that wears its fingerprints.’

The easiest way to lean into this simpler aesthetic? Do less: ‘Make one thing well. A soup, a roast chicken, a pot of beans – something steady and familiar.’ Same goes for drinks: Mariana recommends serving tea, water, or wine.

Resist the temptation to hurry people out so you can get everything tidy again: ‘Let the evening unfold. No menu, no performance. No rush to clear, no rush to end. Trust that ease reads as generosity,’ she says.

If cooking feels overly ambitious, you can even suggest guests choose their own dinner, suggests Dr. Santos, by encouraging them to ‘bring whatever you're planning to eat tonight and come eat it over at my place.’ Not only will they be able to eat what they enjoy, contributing to a sense of ease and calm, but you won’t need to worry about failing to plan for someone’s dietary restrictions, either.

Scruffy Hospitality Essentials

If you like the idea of scruffy hospitality, this hosting tray hack is a great way to make impromptu hosting even easier – just stack it up with the essentials, so you're ready to go when guests arrive.