Give party guests the favor of a favor

A New Year’s bash is one of the easier parties to throw. Everyone’s already in the merry-making mood, so it’s a simple matter of setting the stage.

You can do that with decor, food, beverages and music, but it’s also nice to offer a party favor that guests can take home as a token of a special evening.

A couple of ideas: festive votive holders with candles inside, or wine stoppers.

A homemade take-home favor is always appreciated. HGTV.com has instructions for putting together interesting ones such as custom-mixed loose tea, colorful candies packed in cork-topped vials, and mini bottles of custom-flavored liquors such as ginger anise vodka and vanilla cinnamon bourbon. Music lovers could create USB thumb-drive mixes, perhaps with the evening’s party playlist (www.hgtv.com; search for “diy holiday party favors”).

Monica Pedersen, a designer, HGTV host and author, likes to give a fragranced candle.

“Pretty, scented votives wrapped like a firecracker are always easy favors,” she said.

Finally, as revelers head out the door, Pedersen suggests setting out an attractive cooler filled with iced bottles of coconut water.

“Encourage your guests to take one for the road,” she says.

Offering some post-festivity hydration may be the best favor of all.