The holidays are such an exciting time to create new memories with your family, spend time with your loved ones, and eat lots of yummy food. If only it were that simple! A lot of prep goes on behind the scenes before your guests arrive, so we’ve gathered a few quick and easy tips to get your home ready for the holidays.
Start Early
And the earlier, the better! The holidays sneak up on us every year, so be sure to put a plan together – it will keep you from scrambling at the last minute. Start your shopping early, declutter a little bit every day, write out a grocery list for that big holiday shop (including the liquor store) and then move on to tidying up common areas and guest rooms in preparation for hosting and entertaining.
Declutter
There are few things more satisfying than getting rid of clutter. Start with a quick walk-through of the house, removing any random items that have been left out (especially that pile of “things” you’ve left on the stairs and said you would get to – now is the time!) Clean or not, unnecessary clutter will make your house look messy. Once you’ve removed all unnecessary items, you will be able to focus on your deep cleaning and organize more effectively.
Get the Kitchen Ready
During the holiday season, lots of time is spent in the kitchen – cooking, baking, and entertaining. The kitchen truly is the heart of the home! Give your appliances a nice clean-down, purge those drawers and empty out the fridge. As mentioned above, get a head start on this before you’re in the thick of visitors and family arriving.
Essentials Stock-up
Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner, have family visiting, or a surprise sleepover happens, it’s always nice to have those few extra essentials. Stock up on toilet paper and paper towels, shampoo and conditioner, hand soap and body wash, toothpaste and extra toothbrushes. It’s also nice to have a few extra snacks on hand (we love the Balanced Snack Box), extra bedding washed and fresh towels. It never hurts to be prepared in case someone forgets something or people just start popping in, as you never know who’s going to show up.
Subtle Decor Changes
There are lots of things you can do to spruce up your home for the holidays. Swapping out some simple décor and adding in some festive touches can easily create a new “holiday mood” throughout the house. Change things like bedding, decorative pillows and throws. We’re big fans of front door refreshes, adding scented candles throughout the house and garland over railings and on mantles. Here are some quick & easy tips to refresh your mantle this holiday season.
Final Walkthrough
Before the craziness arrives, do one last walk-through. This allows you to do one final scan of each room. Then it’s time to turn on some holiday music, light a festive candle, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the holidays!
To your Balanced health,
The Balanced Company