10 Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Upcoming Season

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tbwb/23411490762/in/photostream/

As soon as the Halloween costumes were put away, it seems like the Christmas trees instantly went up. It’s that time of year again!

If you’re anything like me, you think it’s still a little too soon for the Christmas décor to come out. I mean, we can’t forget about Thanksgiving—which means more pumpkins and gourds. Fall isn’t over just yet. Although, I’m all for getting the Christmas shopping started early. Those last minute gift runs are stressful!

Regardless, the upcoming holiday season means one thing for your home: lots of guests. Dinner guests, neighbors popping by, overnight out-of-towners… you name it. It’s called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason. Nevertheless, constantly having people in your home can cause even the most relaxed among us some stress.

Never fear, though, you’ll be ready!

10 tips to prepare your home for the holiday season:

Photo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-pumpkins-248469/

Make your home smell amazing. This is easy to pull off, and the way your home smells has a significant impact on the impression it leaves. Realtors keep this in mind when trying to sell houses. Candles or wall plug-ins will do the trick, or try this: Put two full caps of vanilla extract in a mug, then place in the oven at 300 degrees for one hour. It’s a surefire way to make the house smell great.
Organize the bathroom to make things easy to find. There’s nothing worse than having to ask where the toilet paper is stored. Set out some extra toilet paper, as well as soap, tissues and any other amenities your guests may need. At James Décor, we carry a line of soap that would be perfect for your guests.
Check furniture for nicks and dings. If you find one, grab a touch-up kit to cover them up. You can find kits with markers in several shades to match a variety of finishes. Another trick is to fill in small cracks with crayon wax. Don’t overlook these minor imperfections—it’s all in the details.
Try setting up a leftovers station. Gather some inexpensive plastic containers and bags, then fill them with leftover food for guests to take home. Label them with your guests’ names. It’s the easiest way to get rid of all that extra food, so nothing gets wasted.
For overnight guests, keep extra toiletries in stock in case they forget something. Shampoo, face wash, lotion and toothbrushes are all good things to keep on hand.
Prepare for a wide range of temperature preferences. Guests may wake up cold or hot and not want to wake you, so get ahead of the game. Set out extra blankets, a heater and a fan.
Leave a notebook with important information you’ll need to communicate to your overnight guests on the nightstand. This could include the wifi password or any alarm codes they may need to know. This will save extra time exchanging information.
Set out a key on a noticeable key-chain for your guests to borrow during their stay. This will make them feel welcome to come and go as they please.
Declutter the area where your guests will be staying. Whether they get a whole room or a corner, make your guests feel like they belong by clearing out the area they will be staying in. This is a no-brainer, but something that can be easy to forget when your holiday to-do list is endless.
Leave out some food and snacks for your guests in the morning, as breakfast is often overlooked with dinner stealing the show. Don’t forget to keep all the staples on hand—even the ones you may not usually use. Coffee, tea, cereal and fruit are all good choices.

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/proflowers/15698301000

These 10 simple tips will get you started on preparing your home for the holidays. Most importantly, though, don’t forget to relax and enjoy this time of the year. There’s nothing better than a house full of ringing laughter, the smell of turkey and plenty of guests gathered around to make new memories.

The house doesn’t have to be perfect for your guests to feel right at home.

Michaela Satterfield

James Décor Intern

Sources:

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-prepare-your-home-for-holiday-guests-254272

https://www.highya.com/articles-guides/29-tips-to-prepare-your-home-for-holiday-guests

https://lifehacker.com/5828262/get-rid-of-household-odors-with-vanilla-extract

https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/holidays-occasions/prepare-guest-room-houseguest

https://theartofsimple.net/prepare-your-house-for-holiday-guests/