Fresh Ideas to Prep Your Home for the Holiday Onslaught

The holidays, with all their joy and—let’s be honest—stress can feel overwhelming.

But there’s another way to look at the guests, the gifts, the cooking and the demands on your house: Use the holidays as the impetus to freshen up your home before the crowds come trooping through.

Here’s a few ways to spruce up your home for the holidays, in a way everyone can enjoy.

Holiday Housekeeping

Let’s start with a few practical moves. Take a few minutes to look for those details you often miss in the rush of daily life—but will help freshen up your home.

• Replace burnt-out lightbulbs so you and your guests have plenty of light.
• Clean the baseboards (because really, how often do you?).
• Wash your curtains.
• Pick up a few nice-smelling candles or plug-in air fresheners for the living room, guest room and bathrooms.
• Replace the shower curtin, if it’s stained.
• Polish the wood furniture so it gleams—and smells nice.
• Make sure there’s enough light along your walkway and by your entrance for visitors to navigate easily.

Organize and Purge

Welcoming guests to your home during the holidays often means making extra room.

• Purge your pantry of expired or stale items. If you’re cooking for a crowd, you’ll likely need the space. If you’re expecting overnight guests, clear off some shelf space for a “help yourself” center with snacks and beverages.
• Inventory the linen closet. If you’re welcoming overnight guests, do you have enough sheets? Does anything worn need purging?
• Declutter the worst pile in your house. If you have kids, ask them to do the same. Give yourselves a timeline and reward everyone after you achieve your goals together.

Treat Yourself and Your Home for the Holidays

Use holiday entertaining as an excuse to treat yourself to something you’ve been eyeing for your home that everyone can enjoy.

• A new lamp or candles to warm up the living room
• A fun new rug
• A slow cooker to help with food preparation or something nice for the table, like a decanter or serving spoon
• A doorbell, planter or mudroom cubby to make guests’ entrance more comfortable

Give yourself a little permission to take a break, too. Pick the household chore you loathe the most—and have someone else do it: a housecleaner, a window-washer or an organizer. You deserve a little holiday gift as well!

By: Anne Miller