Best of December 2021

Entertaining Guests and Family

• What: Most popular posts
• When: December 2021
• Why: See what other people read
• Where: At home

December readers had a couple things on their minds in the past month. They clearly wanted to make better use of tight spaces with furniture that does double or even triple duty, and to keep kids entertained during the holidays. These top posts address hosting extra guests and entertaining family and friends alike.

Battleship Shots Game: Similar to the classic game, the first player to sink their opponent’s ships wins. But unlike the original version, both players can see the entire battlefield. The catch? Each player must use ping pong type balls to bounce or throw into the opponent’s boats. This fast-paced game requires minimal strategy and lots of luck, making it a great twist on a classic suitable for a wide variety of ages.

Hemnes Daybed: This versatile daybed from IKEA goes the distance. Whether you use it in a child’s room, a guest room, or a playroom, the twin bed provides a great place for one person to sleep. When you need more room, a trundle pulls out underneath to transform the daybed into a king bed. The twin mattresses stack easily one on top of the other, meaning it takes up no extra room for storage when not in use as a king. And three built-in storage drawers can be accessed no matter which size bed you choose, giving you lots of storage options for linens, pillows, toys, clothes, and more.

Clue Junior: A frequent repeat entry on the best of the month lists, this game also comes based on a classic board game. Kids and adults alike can compete to be the first to discover who ate the cake, with what drink, and at what time. All players can move any one of the brightly colored pawns on their turn, limiting fights about who gets which piece. The pictorial clue sheets help kids eliminate possibilities as they move around the board checking out furniture and underneath pawns to collect information.