With the holiday season underway, it’s still not too late to get your home guest-ready for entertaining. Having people over can be stressful enough, so you don’t want to be worrying about the little things when you’ve got turkeys to stuff! So what’s a person to do this year?
Planning and preparation solve pretty much everything. Don’t leave things to the last minute, and you will have an easier time. From a warm welcome to ambiance, here are some ideas.
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Tackle Any Glaring Embarrassments
Even in a perfect home, there is always that one thing that you try to hide. Sure, the coffee table can hide a wine stain, and a new mirror can conveniently obscure where the kids drew on the wall. But you can only keep up the ruse for so long! You know they are there, so what will the guests think? So what to do? Fortunately, you can just Google the best carpet cleaner in your area. Then you have won the game and no longer have to keep up with the shameful charade!
Get Your Home Guest-Ready with a Warm Welcome
Feeling welcome and appreciated is what really makes lovely memories during the holidays. Around 60% of Americans entertain guests for the holidays each year, and we can all recall that one time that ended with arguments! Why not go out of your way to be a warm host this year?:
- Leave a welcome pack with treats, toiletries, and snacks in the bedroom.
- Be polite and cordial as soon as someone enters your home, and treat them well.
- Accommodate the need for extra space so no one feels like they are a burden.
- Make a point of accommodating the dietary, accessibility, and special needs of guests.
- Spruce up the entranceway so guests feel welcome as soon as they enter the home.
No one wants to feel like a burden when staying in someone else’s home. This is a guaranteed way to ruin what should be a great time. A little extra effort has far-reaching benefits for guests.
Makeover of the Guest Bedrooms
Of course, guests need somewhere to stay, and this is usually in a spare room. However, no one wants to feel like an afterthought. You can make your holiday entertaining and memorable and something your guests will talk about for years with some TLC in the spare bedroom. If the room is rarely used it may need airing out. It may also need dusting and a vacuum. And don’t forget about the bedding. Your guests may need an inviting bed after a long drive from another state!
Hide Personal Items in Shared Spaces
Not everyone lives in a home big enough for bedroom extensions, en-suites, and guest houses. Guests want to feel welcome in your home, and personal stuff lying around can destroy the illusion of the holidays. Of course, most of us usually have things like laundry strewn about sometimes. But your guests don’t need to see that! Additionally, certain things, such as medication, women’s products, and underwear, are private and can cause embarrassment.
Get the Kitchen Organized
If there’s one thing people look forward to over the holidays, it’s the food. Some of us love to eat, and others love nothing more than cooking for guests. Either way, the kitchen and dining space may need some TLC. Also, there might be guests and kids in and out, making the space a little more dangerous. An organized space just makes things much easier. It also helps things go smoothly when guests want to help out preparing food, which most guests usually offer to do.
Pack the Pantry Full of Treats
Further to food, guests also love to graze! Waiting for a turkey dinner all day can be torture, and some snacks and treats are an excellent way to pass the time before everyone sits down to a wonderful meal. Adults can be pretty bad when hungry, but do you also want hungry kids hounding you all day? Snacks for the kids will help keep them from harassing you when trying to cook. And, of course, be considerate of dietary needs by asking the parents first.
Get Your Home Guest-Ready with a Deep Clean
It takes some work to get your home guest-ready for the holidays. Like spring cleaning, you may need to get stuck in with a deep clean. Most people dust their homes less than once per week, which isn’t even enough for you personally. So, make sure you put in the effort for the holidays.
Dust the walls, corners, and ceilings
No one wants Grandpa’s asthma to act up, and extra mites will do just that! Now is a good time to grab the telescopic duster or vacuum attachment and get into those hard-to-reach places!
Wash curtains and blinds
We typically don’t look at them so curtains and blinds can actually get pretty filthy. If they haven’t received any TLC for a while, you might want to check them to avoid some embarrassment.
Replace the light bulbs
Okay, so we can all have a little too much to drink. Do you really want guests stumbling around in the dark after a few too many? Replace worn-out bulbs to avoid funny family mishaps!
Wipe down high-touch areas
No one is suggesting that your family or guests are filthy. But people do have a lot of germs on them. Wipe down high touch areas with antibacterial products to help avoid the holiday flu.
Don’t forget about HVAC filters
Grandpa’s asthma may go acting up again! Perhaps it’s because dusty air is being pumped all over your home because guess what? You forgot to replace the HVAC filters, yet again!
Make Sure there are Enough Linens
Linens such as bedding and towels are some of those things we don’t give much thought to, especially if we don’t entertain much, if at all. So make sure you remember this when hosting guests. No one wants to see a relative doing a naked door dash because they can’t wrap themselves after a shower! So, take stock of linens and towels and ensure there are enough for all your guests. If necessary, order some from Amazon or visit a local Bed, Bath and Beyond!
Declutter Wherever Necessary
A decluttered home is a tidy home. But it’s also a matter of safety and security. The things we like to have around us can be a great source of stress when entertaining guests. That collector’s edition plate you waited years for and spent a lot of money on is just waiting to be knocked over! Check around the house and remove anything that can be knocked over, broken or just seems a little untidy. You can put them all back once your guests have gone home.
Redecorate a Few Weeks Before
Decorating is like Marmite. You either love it or hate it. However you feel about DIY, you always love the results. If your home hasn’t had any TLC for a while, entertaining guests is a great motivator to give it the once over! Of course, plan to do this a few weeks prior to guests arriving. The odors of paint, varnish, and even new furniture can be overwhelming and can last a few weeks. But time might be a tickin’. So get moving to take advantage of holiday DIY deals.
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Get Your Home Guest-Ready with Ambiance
Every season feels different and brings its own unique gifts. While winter is, of course, cold, around 56% of people love the overall feeling. It’s a privilege to be cozy inside, watching the snow fall. And you can make something special of the time with friends and family:
- Adorn the home with seasonal decorations such as wreaths and garlands.
- Carefully and safely place candles around rooms where you will be entertaining.
- Layer lighting with lamps and LEDs to provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere.
- Cozy up the space with soft furnishings, throws, and cushions for a comfy space.
- Cook holiday treats and food to invoke memories of previous good times.
A warm and inviting atmosphere makes things a little bit more special over the holiday season. We can take time to appreciate it together at a unique time for giving thanks and goodwill.
Don’t Forget About the Garden
Staying warm and cozy indoors makes beautiful memories. But of course, the outdoors offers some fun and unique experiences. If you are lucky enough to have outdoor space, then you can make it welcoming for guests. A covered area such as a patio, decking, and pergola is excellent for sitting outside in fresh air, in relative comfort. Space heaters keep the cold at bay. LED lighting and solar lamps create an intense ambiance for a fun outdoor festive party.
Summary
Taking care of embarrassing issues like a stained carpet will help get your home guest-ready for the holiday season. A deep clean ensures to avoid any mishaps and freshens up the house. The backyard can also be an inviting space with some additions, such as LEDs and heaters.
