With the holiday season approaching fast, prepping your home for guests and parties will be on top of your mind. The sooner you start working on a plan, the better because the festive season tends to be super-busy. You cannot expect to ramp up your place a week before the holidays because you already have a lot to do once the festivities begin. Guest lists are endless, from shopping to baking, wrapping gifts, and decking up your home.
A spell of snowfall may add to your workload as you have to clean up your yard and driveway for welcoming guests and visitors. The situation may sound overwhelming because it can get on your nerves. Getting a head start with festive prep keeps you comfortable and ensures stress-free festivities. Let us share a few practical tips to set up your place for the holiday season.
Start early
Nothing is more important than starting with holiday prep early. While fall may seem too soon to start, you will be in a far better place if you get on with the home cleaning and decor projects during the season. Even if you do not begin with actual work, it is right to put together a plan. You can list your tasks and create realistic timelines for the weeks leading to the festive season. Try to cover tasks like organizing your home and focusing on gift shopping a few weeks ahead of the season. You can leave the more immediate ones, like deep cleaning the living room, tidying the deck, and prepping the guest room for the last moments. Also, check for repair requirements and close them early because contractors may not be available near the holidays.
Declutter and organize
Like spring, fall is an ideal time to declutter and organize your living space. It purges your home and creates a fresh ambiance with little effort. In fact, you need to go the extra mile with a fall decluttering spree because you need more space in winter to accommodate new stuff and plan out party seating arrangements. Moreover, a clean look for your home gives it a positive and happy vibe. Check your home one room at a time, and assess your belongings. Eliminate all the redundant stuff and organize everything else. Embrace the spirit of the season so that you feel more open to giving up things you no longer need, even if they are in a good condition.
Deck up main spaces
Decking up main spaces should be next on your holiday season checklist. You can do it a few weeks ahead of the holiday season, but the sooner, the better. Of course, every area you use for entertaining your guests qualifies as the main space. For example, your living room, dining area, bathrooms, and kitchen are ones that absolutely require a decor refresh. Remember to clean up and beautify the exterior spaces, like the porch and deck, as they make the first impression on the visitors. You want them to feel cheerful about entering your home, and it greatly depends on how good it looks from the outside.
Resolve home problems
If you’ve got any lingering problems in your home, it’s best to sort them out before the festive season, even though it might seem like the last thing on your bulging list of tasks. Although a decor makeover and festive baking seem more important, a stray cockroach, spider, or rat could all ruin the celebrations. Collaborating with a professional pest exterminator is always better than doing a DIY job. Experts offer quick and sure-fire results and lower your stress and workload. If you’re worried about the expense, look for an affordable exterminator to clean up your home this fall and keep pests out throughout the holidays. The spending is worthwhile, even if you pay a bit.
Stock the pantry
Think beyond the holiday cleaning and decor because a lot more goes into setting up your place for the festivities. Stocking up your pantry is another essential aspect of prepping your home for the season. You will need more groceries to cook holiday meals and host parties. Wine and alcohol will also be in high demand for the parties. Steer clear of last-minute, budget-busting shopping by buying early and taking bulk deals when they are available in stores and online marketplaces. But ensure proper storage of groceries and wine to keep them fresh and safe. You need not worry about pests nibbling the boxes and packets if you invest in a pest control service on time.
Prepare your space for guests
Holidays are about parties and guests, so you must be ready to embrace them as they arrive. You may even expect friends and families to drop in for an overnight stay. Preparing your space for guests prevents last-minute hassles. Set up your guest room to accommodate them. You can create a sleeping area in your living room if you do not have a spare bedroom for unexpected visitors. Investing in a new mattress makes sense. Create a welcoming ambiance by ensuring comfort for visitors, whether they stay overnight or leave after the celebrations.
Check the essentials
Home heating, air conditioning, and water pressure are some essentials you must address while preparing your place for the holidays, guests, and colder temperatures. Sadly, homeowners tend to miss out on this part of the prep and end up facing last-minute issues. The bigger challenge is that you may not get a plumber or electrician easily to resolve these issues during the festive break. Assess your systems or even get a thorough maintenance check by experts to ensure everything is in place. Follow up with a maintenance or repair service if something is amiss.
Making your home holiday season ready need not be a burdensome task, provided you plan well and take care of details. Your home should look good and have a warm and welcoming vibe that matches the spirit of the festive season. A little planning makes you a perfect host during the holidays, so do not skimp on it.
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