Getting Your Whole House Ready for the Holidays

As the time approaches for the holidays, you might be in a bit of a panic. You’ve been spending a lot of time buying gifts, and you might not have been able to get your home ready for the guests who will be coming by. But there’s no need to stress out. You still have time to do what you need to do, whether that means preparing your guest bathroom or bedroom or sprucing up your kitchen.

Here are some tips that will help make your home comfortable and inviting for your loved ones.

Spruce up Your Living Room and Kitchen

The biggest thing you’ll want to remember through this whole process is not to overdo it. You don’t have to make huge changes – there’s not enough time even if you wanted to. Focus more on the areas your guests will see the most, like the living room and the kitchen.

You can go to your local arts and crafts store and find some added touches in addition to whatever decorations you’ve already put up. Think about switching out the pillows on your living room couch with ones that are a little more festive, in seasonal colors of red, green, and white.  

If you haven’t already, put a few stockings on the mantel, or put some pine springs in some vases around the living room. You might want to change out any artwork you have on the walls with more holiday-like pieces.  

The kitchen is also a great place to show some holiday flair. Whether you have a small kitchen or a huge one, you can add come holiday-themed plates and bowls, as well as glasses. But if you don’t have any of those items, you don’t need to rush out and buy them. Just put some Christmas-related framed pictures or other knick-knacks in any open spaces. 

Also, don’t be afraid to add some festive lighting to your kitchen as well. After all, Christmas lighting isn’t just for the living room or the front yard. Just string a few white or colored bulbs in areas of your kitchen, or add a few battery-operated candles. You’ll be surprised at how beautiful they’ll look.

Don’t Forget the Seasonal Scents! 

If you really want to make your home feel cozy, how better to do that than adding some holiday scents? Scented candles are easy and fast to add to your home – you probably won’t have a problem finding them – but if you want to add an extra special touch, think about a potpourri you can sit on your stovetop. Simply add some cinnamon, cranberries, cloves, and citrus to a pot with some water and let it simmer. 

Create a Wrapping Station for Last-Minute Buys

So, you might not be done with your shopping. That, of course, also means you’re not done wrapping gifts. How do you set aside some room to do that while still leaving space for your guests? Here are a few ideas. 

• Set some supplies (tape, scissors, gift bags, bows, ribbons, etc.) on a cart that you can take anywhere in your home.
• Put a storage box under the bed in your master bedroom and fill it with supplies.
• Hang a gift wrap organizer on your bedroom closet door. 

Declutter and Clean Out Your Fridge and Pantry

Another thing you can do fairly quickly to get ready for guests is to organize your kitchen pantry and refrigerator. For the fridge, take a good look at all expiration dates and toss them in the trash. The last thing you’ll want is for someone to grab a can of soup that expired a couple of years ago.  

For the pantry, look at all of your drawers and shelves and ask yourself what you really need and don’t need. If you know you’ll never use something, throw it out or, if appropriate, donate it to a local charity.  

Stock the Pantry for Visiting Kids and Adults

So, now that you’ve cleared out the pantry, you’ll have room to stock it with tasty treats for your guests. Here are just a few options to consider.

• Chips and dip mixes, such as ranch and onion.
• Popcorn
• Crackers
• Baked goods, such as cookies
• Dried fruit

Don’t hesitate to talk to your guests about what their preferences may be. Also, ask them if they or their children are allergic to any specific types of foods. 

Make Sure Everything is Organized, Especially Your Kitchen and Bathrooms

You’re obviously going to have more people in your home than normal, so you’ll want to keep everything as organized as possible so everyone can move around as easily as possible. This will especially be true for typically smaller areas, such as the kitchen and the bathrooms. Put these tips into action and you’ll be surprised at how easy it will be.

The Kitchen

Food is obviously the centerpiece of any holiday celebration. That means you’ll probably have a lot of people milling about in the kitchen. One of the best things you can do to organize your kitchen – especially considering you have a condensed timeframe – is to clear your counters. Just like in the pantry, if there’s anything sitting on your counters you don’t need, either find a new, temporary home for them or toss them out. 

The Bathrooms

Your guests will really appreciate it if your bathrooms are organized as well. First, keep a lot of supplies handy. That could mean buying some extra toilet paper, tissues, hand sanitizer, soap, and air freshener. You should also assume that some of your guests might forget their own toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, and shampoo. Have some extras handy just in case.

Don’t hesitate to add a few holiday-themed towels to your bathrooms for your guests to use, including not only towels to dry off after taking a shower, but washcloths and hand towels as well. 

After you’re finished with the holidays, you might want to consider expanding your storage space. Art of Drawers can provide you with custom cabinet solutions that will amaze you. If you would like to learn more, please use our online form or call (770) 800 8410.