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Everything you need to host a holiday party this season
Yes, holiday hosting can be a ball, but it can also be a pain in the neck. You're cleaning before guests arrive and deep cleaning after they leave. There's constant commotion in the kitchen as you prepare food and mix drinks. There's the music and overall vibe curation that takes lots of time and energy to get right. And, there's always that one person who spills red wine on the sofa or breaks your favorite mug.
Also: Everything you need to start building out your smart home
What if there were tech products that not only made the hosting experience simpler, but enjoyable as well? We've rounded up some products that simplify holiday party throwing, whether that's by mopping and vacuuming your place with a robot vacuum, keeping track of who's coming and going with a doorbell camera, blasting holiday tunes with the smartest of speakers, or commemorating the moment with a favorite film camera.
These products will keep your holiday cheer at an all time high.
A robot vacuum/mop
Throw that stinky, manual mop away: it's time for a holiday (and all-year-round) upgrade. The best robot vacuums and mops autonomously clean your floors so you don't have to. These devices learn the layout of your home and cleans different rooms on the schedule you program into it. It's a hosts' secret weapon to easy tidying before a party and facile cleanup after.
If you don't want to do the dirty work of mopping and vacuuming the floors yourself, get someone -- or something -- else to do it for you. That's where the Yeedi Mop Station Pro comes in handy. The Yeedi has 3000Pa of suction power, far stronger than your average handheld vacuum suction power. Not only does it wipe away stains and oils, but it also sucks up pet hair and crumbs.
And with the accompanying app you can create a cleaning schedule, setting it up to clean your floors a few hours before the party and the morning after, and creating one less thing to think about as you tend to your guest list and decorate.
Speakers, turntables, and sound systems
Background music at a party is as essential as the air we breathe. Making small talk with strangers, guests, or friends is so much easier when you have music in the background to drown out the silence of an awkward conversation. Whether you're hosting in a small apartment, moderate-sized condo, or large working space, you'll need a music-playing machine that fills up the space with holiday tunes.
How else will you play Jingle Bell Rock if not with a smart speaker? This one from Sonos connects to over 80 streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and more, is great for small spaces, and can be controlled using the Sonos app. Plus, it delivers booming sound and crystal clear vocals.
Also: The best smart speakers
At under $300, it's one of our favorite smart speakers on the market, and earned top ranks on ZDNET's best list. If you have a larger hosting space, a better choice would be the Sonos Era's big sister, the Sonos Era 300, which costs $450.
A camera
Commemorate the good times with photos that will last for a long time (and actually get them out of your phone). on a disposable camera, or a digital one, the photos you take on them are wonderful party favors for all your guests.
My roommates and I love to throw parties, and at one party we threw earlier this year, a friend of ours brought her disposable film camera. Compared to photos taken on a phone that captures every detail (whether you like it or not) a film camera is a fun and fleeting party favor that creates physical mementos you can keep around long after the party ends.
Also: The best instant cameras
This one from Instax comes with an additional pack of film to use throughout the night as you snap shots of friends mingling, drinks clinking, and the decorations you pored over.
Kitchen appliances
Whether you're keeping a dip hot, crisping up latkes, or mulling wine with spices, everything is easier with smart kitchen tools, Instant Pots are the crown jewel of the kitchen since they allow you to focus on every other emergency that pops up right as your guests walk through the door while your hors d'oeuvres cook without a worry.
You can do so many different things with an Instant Pot. With this particular model, you can pressure cook, steam, saute, and more. Plus, it has 14 one-touch smart programs that cook whatever you put in there perfectly, such as ribs, beans, poultry, and more. It's the best kind of set-it-and-forget-it kitchen device that you can use for all your hosting needs.
Also: The best Instant Pot cookers
And once the party's over, you can find all sorts of uses for the Instant Pot, all year round. From making fresh yogurt (my mom uses hers for this every week) to cooking weeknight dinners you won't need to think about until they're on your plate, the Instant Pot is one kitchen device that optimizes all sorts of recipes and meal tasks.
A projector
Whether you're playing holiday movies, a Yule log, or a favorite TV series, a the best projectors can add a thoughtful touch to an already curated holiday party setup. Plus, a smart projector is the best way to cover up a wall with no decor on it.
This projector from Epson offers vivid color with 3,600 lumens of brightness and a sharp display. There's a reason the Epson EX3280 has made its way into so many college and high school classes -- the projector offers crisp display, easy setup, and built-in audio for easy viewing. With its brightness, the projector works in dark and light rooms alike.
Smart lights
Take full control of your space's ambiance with the best smart lights. Whether you want a strip of lights that change from red to green to white, or you prefer warm tone white lights for parties, you can customize the mood and tone of your rooms with these smart lights and bulbs.
A holiday party is nothing without a warm ambiance. The Philips Hue smart lights not only go from warm tone white to cool tone white, you can customize the color of the bulb, too. These are the most reliable smart bulbs you can find on the market.
Just keep in mind that they are only compatible with the Philips Hue Hub, so that's an additional cost to bear. But if you are planning on converting all your dumb bulbs to smart ones, the Hub handles up to 50 smart bulbs in one home.
You might also need...
Sure, a chocolate fountain or a karaoke machine isn't necessary for a successful holiday party, but a party has rarely been unsuccessful without one. These miscellaneous party essentials add some extra flare and character to your already-exciting holiday affair.