The air is crisp and the colors are changing, these are signs that holidays are right around the corner. 2020 has been a tough year for all of us and this festive season is all about being grateful. Whether you are a Thanksgiving person or not, this is the year all of us need to be thankful for several reasons. If you have friends and family visiting, you need to look around your home and start tidying up. A little advance cleaning and organizing will help keep the holiday stress at minimal. Here are seven ways you can prepare your home for the holiday season.
1. Dust off the plates
Whether you have nice flatware, festive china, or crystal, you need to find a peaceful weekend before the holiday stress sets in to take the pieces off the shelves and give them a thorough cleaning by hand. You do not need to spend a lot of time washing and cleaning them, it will only take a couple of hours before they are ready to go. All of us have gone through the heartache of breaking a loved piece while rushing around the house. Dusting off the plates will make them clean and ready for when the guests walk in.
2. Keep the kitchen ready
If you are popular for the yearly parties and delicious cookies, you need to clean up the kitchen. The holiday season is all about warm, delicious food being served in gorgeous platters. No matter how you decide to celebrate this year, food will remain a crucial part of it. Now is the time to open up the deep storage and look for pans and cookie cutters that you use only during this time of the year. You also need to ensure that the key appliances like the stand mixer and processor are in good working condition. Check the pantry for unusual ingredients and stock them up before they are harder to find.
3. Dress up the bathroom
Never neglect the bathroom when it comes to cleaning and decorating. The bathroom is one of the easiest places to decorate! Simply place a warm scented candle or some bright hand towels to ring in the holiday cheer and create a place to destress during this time of the year. You can also do a deep clean well in advance and stock up on items like bath salts and shower gels to wash away the stress and cold.
4. Work on the walls
You want your house to look inviting and the simplest way to do this is to work on the walls. Clean the windows and laundry the curtains. Clean curtains will instantly uplift the mood and vibe of the room. You can also add classic elements like a round mirror, or family photos on the wall. The decor in the living room should reflect your personality and style. And because your windows are a crucial feature of your walls, treat them to some beautiful blinds and curtain that make it easy to let the light filter in or out anytime of the day.
5. Do ornament maintenance
You may have packed the tree decorations away at the end of last holiday season and the tools might have gone missing or the tassels might have got tangled, but you need to find that box and take a good look at all the ornaments. Do not wait until it is decoration time to open the box, especially if you have little time and impatient little kids in the house. Take some time out and look for the ornaments before you get the tree. This way you will be able to decide whether you need to purchase new Christmas ornaments or not. Set aside all the heirlooms that are in need of little extra care this year and give yourself enough time to clean the mess.
6. Focus on the garden
When it comes to preparing the home for the holiday season, you also need to consider the exterior of your house. You do not want the garden or backyard looking like it has not been cleaned in two years! You need to take out time on a quiet weekend and work on the plants, patio, or backyard. You can also use string lights on the pathway to create a feel of the holiday season.
7. Make a wrapping station
No matter how soon you start to prepare for the special day, there is always that one day when everyone is running around to wrap last-minute gifts. This is the time when the tape and wrapping papers are high in demand. You can make things easier for one and all. Simply set up a corner with all the wrapping essentials. Place double-sided tape, gift tags, stickers, and scissors to make it easy for everyone.
The holiday season can be less stressful and a lot more fun if you start to prepare well in advance. Set out to achieve one task each weekend and you will have your home ready before the festive season.
