When throwing an open house, just about any theme goes. But for surefire success, stick to the tried-and-true holiday hits. Here are Dee’s picks.

Wine & cheese "This is the classic party, but the new twist is to showcase
a country or region. Spanish wines and cheeses are in this season, or choose some of our great Canadian bottles and artisanal cheeses."

Swedish Christmas "I love all things Swedish, and a Swedish-style drop-in party is one of my favourites to host. Aquavit and gravlax can inspire a festive menu, and of course IKEA has a ton of appropriate accessories."

Friends & fondue "These days, there are about a million different fondue ideas out there. Cheese fondue is synonymous with the holidays. It can be a great way for your guests to get to know one another as they dip and make a mess! Cheese, pizza and chocolate fondue are always favourites with kids."

Winter warm-up "This theme is casual and fun. Offer all the favourite foods people choose to warm themselves up, like hot chocolate or fragrant cider, a hearty bowl of stew or chili, baked Brie, and so on."

Image courtesy of Pottery Barn