Christmas conundrums

Q What are some ways to keep my guests' coats and boots tidy?

A The front hall closet is often a repository for odds and ends. But if company's coming, you must declutter. Estelle Gee, professional organizer and director of Orderly Lives, suggests opening up some space in the hall closet by moving all your coats and shoes to a garment rack in the mud room or basement. Then, hang guests' coats in there, instead of upstairs in a distant bedroom.

"And for a more attractive alternative to a plastic boot tray, try a large aluminum tray filled with gravel or river stones," says Estelle. "The slush from boots and shoes will sink to the bottom of the tray."

Canvas shoe organizers aren't just for stashing shoes. Estelle recommends using them to conveniently store guests' gloves, hats and scarves.

Q I'm worried I don't have enough space for my family dinner. Also, how do I arrange a seating plan?

A Toronto-based event planner Cynthia Martyn, owner and principal event planner of Cynthia Martyn Events, says that for any size table, guests should have at least five inches of space on either side of their dinner plate. "Guests need room to comfortably lift their glasses, use their knives, and generally enjoy their meal," she says. If your table can't accommodate all your guests, rent an extra table of the same height and width. Extend your main table by joining it to the rental. Or opt for a buffet (if you go this route, serve foods that can be easily eaten while standing, like skewer food and tidy bite-size appetizers).

Next issue: Who sits where? "If your group knows one another, it's fine to let them seat themselves -- but ask them to alternate the sexes," says Vancouver event planner Heather Baker, owner of Amaryllis Events. "If you're having people over who don't know each other, that's the time to use place cards so you're able to make strategic decisions about who sits where." Similar work backgrounds, hobbies or ages are good places to start -- it will help get the conversation rolling.

Whether you go sit-down or buffet, think about renting extra tableware if you suspect you may come up short. Simple white china is an elegant choice. If you use different styles of china at the dinner table, consider renting silver charger plates for each place setting, to create a unifying element.