Hosting a holiday gathering can be a lot of fun, but maybe a bit intimidating, too. You’d like your home to look its best, but now isn’t the time to carry out any major updates.
It’s likely that, you’re busy enough just preparing for the event. So, concentrate on just the areas of your house where your guests will spend time.
Whether you’re a first-time host or hostess with a few jitters, or an old pro interested in some new ideas, these tips will help you make sure that your home is ready for any gathering.
Home Repairs to Complete Prior to Hosting a Holiday Get together
Light the way
The sun sets early this time of year, so it’s crucial to make sure the entrance to your home is clean and well-lit.
If you have a huge front yard, try to concentrate on just the front entryway as well as the path leading up to it. Install porch lights, or replace the bulbs on existing lighting. Cut back any shrubbery that is obstructing the walkway.
On the day of your party, open the blinds on the front windows so your guests are able to see into your warm, festive-looking home while they approach. It’s a terrific way to create a sense of welcoming anticipation.
Pro tip: The simplest possible way create instant lighting for walkways and paths is by using the solar lights that you just stick into the ground. The sun does the rest of the work!
Take care of the bottom line
Our mothers used to say this, and it’s true: If your floors are spotless, they make the entire house look cleaner.
Even if you’re unable to do an in-depth house cleaning before your gathering, you may certainly want to make certain that all floors are cleaned before that first guest steps over the threshold.
Pro tip: For those who have carpeting, clean the carpets no less than three days prior to your affair to be certain they have dried fully.
Brighten up your bathroom
If you’re bothered by grimy-looking grout in your bathroom, try this easy, inexpensive, and non-toxic method to get rid of it nearly instantly: Just spray on some full-strength hydrogen peroxide, let it sit for 10 minutes, and after that wipe clean. That’s it!
Next, include some flowers, holiday decorations, or pictures on the wall to further spiff up your powder room, and it will be ready for your guests.
Tune up kitchen appliances
Your kitchen appliances will be the workhorses of your holiday party, whether you’re hosting a full family dinner or a cocktail party. You want them to be fully functioning and ready for action.
Make sure all stove burners operate. Now’s the time to clean the oven in case you haven’t done that for quite a while.
Clean out the refrigerator, and make sure that both the fridge and freezer are running at their optimal temperatures.
Make sure your dishwasher is in good working order. You can clean it easily by using a dishwasher cleaner that you simply run through a cycle.
Pro tip: Sharp knives can certainly make easy work of preparing the important meal. Ensure that all your kitchen knives are newly sharpened, and also check out the batteries in your electric carving knife, if you have one.
Help make your space kid-friendly
If you make your home welcoming for the kids, you will ensure that their parents have an enjoyable time as well.
If you happen to have kids that are the same ages as your young guests, you’re fortunate. But if not, think about adding some considerate touches that will make parents much more comfortable, and alleviate kid boredom.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Turn a spare room or an upstairs bedroom into a private nursing/changing spot for a brand new mom.
Toddlers and younger kids may wish to be near their parents, so a good suggestion for them is to set up a corner of your living or dining room with toys, books, a tablet for watching cartoons, as well as some comfy pillows or throws.
One of our favorite approaches for older kids would be to turn the dessert course into an activity. For instance, you could bake an enormous batch of sugar cookies in holiday shapes, and then put out different colors of icing to let kids (and adults) go to town with decorating their very own cookies.
Pro tip: If you don’t already have children, or if yours are older, don’t forget to kid-proof your home. Put away anything expensive, breakable, or unstable. Do some baby-proofing, if needed. By doing this you and the parents can relax and not have to worry about safety hazards.
Hopefully these ideas will take some of the worry out of holiday entertaining, and ensure that you as well as your guests can relax and enjoy each others company this season.
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