Summer is winding down and the holiday season is rapidly approaching. Whether you’re getting ready for the Jewish High Holidays, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving or even Christmas, you want to be prepared well ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute to stress about making space in the guest room or getting the perfect decorations. Here are a few ways to prep your home for the holidays:
Declutter and Organize
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be limited to springtime. While the weather is still hot and you’re stuck inside, take the time to tackle some of those cleaning projects, especially in spaces where your holiday guests will be. Start with the guest room closet. Is it still full of jackets you never wear and keepsakes you never look at? It’s time to sort through the must-keeps and items that can finally be donated. Go through dresser drawers in the guest room and give everything a good deep cleaning. Then move on to communal areas like the living room, kitchen and dreaded front-hall closet. Get rid of items you don’t need (you don’t want to be searching for that necessary kitchen utensil while your casserole is burning), and buy some organizational items so you can put everything back in the right place. It’s also worth noting that when it comes to cleaning, it’s not only about the insides. The outside environment of your house is also significant. Landscaping, sewage, and gutter cleaning (look for Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Athens or similar others) are all part of outdoor spring cleaning. Once this is completed, you may feel reassured that the bulk of the work is completed. As they say, “well begun is half done”.
Upgrade Living Areas
It’s finally time to take on those home upgrades you’ve been putting off. You want to impress your family and friends who are coming out for the holidays, so you better start early. Break your big project down into smaller parts and create a calendar for yourself of what you want to have accomplished before your guests arrive. For example, if you’re doing a kitchen remodel, you can break it down into cabinets, countertops, appliances, paint, backsplash and decor. Devise a plan for each piece to help you meet your deadline.
If you want to start making your home feel a little more like the holidays without doing a major remodel, look at small things you can upgrade. Come up with a plan of how you’re going to fit all of your guests into bedrooms. Make room for cots and blowup mattresses, and create space in the closets. Start putting together welcome baskets with holiday-themed toiletries and supplies to leave in the bathroom or on their beds. Open up your living room to account for extra seating and make sure you have enough space for everyone to eat dinner in the same room. The earlier you come up with a plan for every part of the holiday, the less stress you’ll feel when it’s action time.
Get Your Decor in Order
Now it’s time for the fun part – holiday decorations. Start looking for the perfect pieces to make every part of your home look festive and fun. Make or buy a wreath for your front door in the holiday colors, and put out decorative lights to line your front walkway. Deck out your dining room table with beautiful tablecloths, place settings, plates, glasses and centerpieces. Find cute items for every nook and cranny of your living room and guest bedrooms. The benefit of starting early is that you have enough time to search for pieces that speak to you without breaking your budget all in one month.
The holidays should be fun, not stressful. With enough prep time and organization, you can make it the best year yet.
