Contributed Content
Image Source
The holidays can be both a happy and stressful time. On the one hand, you get to spend lots of quality time with family, eat lots of delicious food, and see the look on your loved ones faces when they open the thoughtful gifts you got for them. On the other hand, you may have to cook for many people, share your home, and prepare your house for visitors. Take some of the stress out of entertaining this holiday season, and follow these tips to get your home ready for the festivities in plenty of time.
Prepare Your Home
Make sure you get any big cleaning jobs done early on, so you are not rushing to try and get them done at the same time as wrapping gifts, preparing food or welcoming guests! Jobs such as cleaning windows and carpets, waxing floors or deep cleans of the kitchen or bathroom are best to get out of the way, and it will be much easier to keep on top of when you are busy with ‘more important’ things. Smaller jobs such as tidying, dusting, and vacuuming can be done as you go along, and do not take up much time.
Make sure any potential problems are addressed in plenty of time too. Are all your appliances in good working order? The last thing you want to wake up to on Christmas morning is a puddle in the kitchen because your freezer has defrosted overnight. Are your roof and basement secure? Damage from water and wind is common over the winter months, so make sure you don’t end up having to call a tradesperson out in unsociable hours and pay higher rates!
Now is the time to throw out or replace any broken items of furniture, give a quick lick of paint to scuffed walls or clear the garden of debris. You don’t want to be worrying about any tatty areas when you should be enjoying the holidays. Digital coupons for home goods are a good way to save money on any items that need replacing on the run up to the holidays.
Check the Decorations
You’ve decided that the time has come to put up the decorations. The tree is up and ready for the baubles and candy canes, the festive music is playing, and the eggnog is flowing. Then, disaster strikes – your tree lights aren’t working! Make sure that you check all lights and decorations before you plan to put them up. Replace or mend any broken ones, and buy spare bulbs and batteries so there are no disappointments throughout the holidays.
Decorate, Decorate, Decorate!
You cannot make your house festive without putting up some decorations! Different people have different tastes, so make sure any decorations you put up suit your needs and style. For a truly festive feel, put decorations in each room – if not a tree, maybe just some Christmas lights or garlands. Don’t forget to spread the joy to your neighbors too by putting decorations or lights either outside, or in your windows. For that extra wow factor, why not theme your decorations, either across the house, or even a different theme in each room? Some popular themes include:
– Woodland – natural garlands, pinecones, and festive forest animals
– Scandinavian/Nordic – Simplistic, red, white, and natural wood
– Traditional – red, green, gold, and sparkles
– Winter Wonderland – blues, silvers, whites, and snowy decor
Ultimately, the holidays are a time to enjoy, so make sure you don’t take on too much. The key is being organized – give yourself plenty of time, and don’t forget to ask your family to pitch in