Having friends and family stay with you during the holidays is always a treat — but it can also be overwhelming. Still, you don’t need to let the stress of hosting ruin your holiday spirit. Here are my top tips on how to prepare your homes to host holiday guests.
Start by thinking about any unique needs your guests may have. For example, if you have an elderly guest staying with you, you may need to clear out hallways and add some extra lighting to make the space more accessible.
Next, make sure your guest room is clean and comfortable. Put fresh bedding on the bed and bring in extra throw blankets, just in case. If you don’t have a guest room, try to make your guests’ sleeping area as cozy as possible. Make sure they have room for storage, such as dresser and a clean closet with plenty of hangers.
Prepare your entryway to make the best first impression of your home. Make sure it’s functional by having space for guests’ shoes, belongings, coats and so forth. Declutter by removing excess items, add a small bench if you don’t already have one and hang a festive decoration such as a wreath on the door.
You should also stock your guest bath with anything you think your guests might need — whether it’s clean towels and washcloths, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and some small toiletries.
If you want to make your guests feel extra special, consider putting together a small gift basket with their favorite snacks, drinks, a candle and other small items. You can leave it in the guest room as a fun surprise.
Your kitchen is going to see a lot of traffic as friends and family visit, so a good deep clean before they get there (and after they leave) can help remove holiday food prep stress. Remember to pull out and wash the holiday or fancy dishes and glassware as you clean.
Along with cleaning surfaces and sweeping/mopping floors, organize the countertops. Move unnecessary items to make room for holiday snacks. In your pantry, keep your holiday spices and baking ingredients in one area, so you can find them quicker and easier once holiday cooking commences.
To relieve some stress, you can also bring in a professional housecleaner to get the house ready before your guests arrive. This checks something off your to-do list and also makes sure the visit starts smoothly.
If you have a fireplace, a cheery fire brightens every festive occasion. Before the holidays, hire a professional chimney sweep to clear out the chimney of ash and soot and sweep out the fireplace. Once they’re done, give the doors and fireplace utensils a polish so they’re bright and shiny.
Stock up on safe firewood. Make sure the wood is kiln-fired or dried before bringing it in (green wood creates too much smoke). Never use treated wood in your fireplace. The chemicals are toxic when burned.
