Your home is the hub of the holiday season because it’s where you invite friends and family to eat, celebrate, and create new memories.
However, preparing and organizing your home for the holiday season can be daunting, especially when working under a tight budget.
That’s why you should consider taking advice from the experts if you’re overwhelmed by all the preparations involved.
To help you simplify the process, here is a list of how to get your home ready for the holidays.
Make DIY Decorations
Don’t wait until the last minute to start decorating your home. You should rather start early while you have ample time to decorate.
Waiting until the last minute will make you super busy juggling decorating with other things, and you might not achieve the overall style you want.
Also, decorating items tend to be more expensive as the holidays near because of the high demand.
For instance, the demand for solar Christmas lights soars during the Christmas season, so the prices tend to rise sharply.
If you plan to purchase such decorations, you should do it early enough to avoid paying more than necessary.
Apart from functioning as decoration, the benefits of solar Christmas lights include being great for the environment since they use renewable energy and require less maintenance.
Other holiday decorations are fresh greenery and flowers to add life to your home and evoke holiday vibes.
Plants and flowers like firs and magnolia garlands give a festive smell and look, thus fostering holiday moods.
Additionally, consider decorating your porch by upgrading the furniture or switching your usual throw pillows to ones with seasonal design.
Clean And Declutter Your Home
Before the holidays kick in, start cleaning and decluttering the spaces that are often neglected. However, devise a plan first. A good tip is to start your cleaning preparations a week before the holidays.
For your convenience, you may consider hiring professional cleaners. However, if you’d rather not spend on such a service, you can seek help from friends and family members.
To effectively clean and declutter your home, you might want to split the task into five stages:
- Stage one: Start with your porch, foyer, and entryway. Clean and organize the clutter in your entry points to ensure your home is easily accessible. Also, clean your outdoor windows, doors, and light fixtures as they’re the first things guests see when approaching your home.
- Stage two: Clean your bedrooms and hallways. Start by dusting the ceiling fans, nooks, and crannies, which are often ignored. Vacuum the floors, especially under the beds and along the baseboards. Additionally, consider switching your beddings to bright and festive ones to raise your holiday spirits.
- Stage three: Clean all the bathrooms and toilets. This entails washing all the mats and towels and disinfecting toilets, bathtubs, showers, and bathroom surfaces. If your bathroom has hard water stains, use vinegar and hot water to remove them.
- Stage four: Focus on the gathering areas of your home, including the dining and living rooms. Declutter them to make extra space for guests. Dust and vacuum the floors and furniture, and cover the furniture with a dryer sheet to prevent dust from collecting.
- Stage five: Finally, deal with the kitchen as it’s the hub of holiday activities. Clean all the appliances, including the fridge and microwave, and wipe down countertops, cabinets, and sinks. Don’t forget to clean the garbage can by taking it outside and spraying it with a garden hose to remove grease and dirt.
Depending on your schedule, handling each of these stages on a separate day ensures you clean everything satisfactorily.
Stock Up On Holiday Essentials
Running out of bathroom essentials when you have guests in your home or of kitchen ingredients when preparing meals for your guests can be annoying.
If you’re planning to have guests over the holidays, ensure you’re prepared for hosting by stocking up on all the essentials, which are paper towels, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, lotion, and other toiletries.
You should also have enough cutlery and cups or glasses. Moreover, stock up on holiday snacks and drinks for entertaining your guests.
Examples are apple cider, seasonal sips, peppermint hot chocolate, eggnog, wine, maple syrup, and chocolate bars among others.
Add A Fresh Layer Of Paint
Painting your walls before guests arrive for the holidays can provide a special holiday feeling if you’ll use colors that can lift holiday spirits, such as bright and festive hues.
For instance, green paint can help with hectic holidays because this color is considered calming. It also fosters productivity and creativity.
Red paint is another excellent choice that can turn your space into a cozy setting. Additionally, it can act as an appetite enhancer, making it a great holiday paint for dining rooms.
Home Security Enhancements
While we often focus on decorations and festive foods, home security during the holiday season shouldn’t be overlooked.
Consider investing in locksmithing equipment or supplies. Securing reliable locks, reinforcing doors, and safeguarding windows can prevent unwanted incidents.
An adequately secured home provides peace of mind, allowing you and your loved ones to focus on the season’s joy.
Conclusion
Holiday seasons are the perfect times to invite family and friends over for dinners and gatherings.
During this time, your home should look festive and spark holiday vibes. The above tips can surely help you create a memorable holiday experience.