The holidays are almost here… the time for enjoying festive dinners around the table, the company of out-of-town guests, and welcoming friends and family into our homes. Our team at Rooms With Style has tips on how you can prepare your home for guests and enjoy “the most wonderful time of the year.”
Declutter and Clean
Now is the perfect time to declutter and clean your home. You can go even further by deep-cleaning your space now, before the holiday hustle and bustle. We recommend decluttering first. Start with high traffic areas of your home such as the entryway, and public spaces like the kitchen and living room. Remove anything unnecessary and put away items that don’t belong. Make room in your entryway closet for extra jackets and shoes. Consider adding more seating to living areas for extra seasonal visitors. After decluttering, you can clean your home. Cleaning before putting up holiday decorations will really make your holiday accents sparkle and shine.
Guest Room Essentials
If you plan to host friends and family this season, take some time now to prepare your guest spaces. Start with the main floor bathrooms. Make sure they are fully stocked with items such as Kleenex, toilet paper, lotion, personal care items, and extra towels. If you have pets, add a lint roller in the bathroom too! If you plan to host overnight guests, take time to prepare the guest bedroom. Clean and tidy the room, wash bedding, and gather extra pillows and blankets and put them in a basket in case they are needed at night. Make sure the guest room has a small lamp and a clock. Add some hook to the bedroom wall. Go the extra mile for your guests by adding a welcome basket of convenience items such as water bottles, a few packaged snacks, and a note with your WIFI password.
Stock Your Pantry & Prepare Your Dining Room
Just as important as it is to prepare guests spaces for the ease of your visitors, it’s just as important for you as the host to stock your pantry. Sit down before-hand and plan out menus, meals and grocery lists. Shop early and stock up with everyday essentials as well as meal ingredients so that you don’t have to run to the store last-minute. Consider buying frequently used items in bulk. Beyond grocery items, take inventory of your dining items like plates, glasses, silverware and linens; so that you have the proper quantity of each item. Plan your table decorations as well such as tablecloths, runners, candles, votives and seasonal florals.
Festive Decorations
Add some festive touches to your décor before hosting holiday guests. Take inventory and plan what you will add to your home. Donate any items that your no longer need or use. Consider adding fresh greenery to your home. It smells wonderful and is always a beautiful choice. We love balsam and magnolia wreaths, boxwood accents, eucalyptus and fall florals. Pick a warm-weather day to put up your outdoor lights. Add spruce-tip pots or a wreath to your front entry. Create a cozy ambiance by adding soft details in your home such as throw pillows and warm blankets.
As you prepare your home to welcome guests this holiday season, remember that all of the work you spend to plan, declutter, clean and decorate will really pay off. The memorable time spent with family and friends will surely make your season bright.
Author: Marla Carlson, RWS Guest Blogger
