Get Your Home Holiday Ready

With the holidays right around the corner, it can be easy to let the cleaning and preparations become overwhelming, but don't worry. With a few decorating ideas, organizational tips, and planning, you will be ready for the season in no time.

1. SCRUB DOWN THE HOUSE

Get your home ready for decorations and guests with a seasonal scrub down. Pre-holiday cleaning is the perfect time to de-grime any areas that will display sentimental holiday decorations. Take the time to do a deep clean and get those hard to reach spaces, like ceiling fan blades and blinds slats. Your oven will most likely be working overtime this season. Put it through a cleaning cycle now and save yourself from the smell of burning food in the future.

2. PREP THE PORCH

Set the tone of your holiday home by outfitting your front porch with cheery decorations. Whether you prefer a subtle nod to the season with a festive door mat or a fully decorated scene decked out with garlands, wreaths, and lights, your front porch is the perfect opportunity to set the mood for the holidays.

3. AMP UP THE AMBIANCE

Treat yourself, and your guests, to an inviting space by amping up the holiday ambiance. Light some candles, and add festive touches around the house. Twinkle lights aren’t just for outside; they also look great wrapped around a banister or draped along a windowsill with garland. Make the whole house feel like a HOLIDAY wonderland by including wreaths on every door or adding bells to door knobs and cabinets.

4. SET YOUR TABLE

Prepare for upcoming feasts and parties with a breathtaking tablescape. A festive tablecloth is an elegant foundation for holiday specific dinnerware. Get creative with your centerpiece and arrange something that fits the theme of your holiday decor. Mini Christmas trees, candles, pumpkins, and fresh greenery are all excellent options. Finish your table with chic glasses and customized place cards.

5. STOCK THE KITCHEN

If you plan to do a lot of cooking and baking this holiday season, now is the time to stock up on essential kitchen tools. Replace things that are broken or past their prime and upgrade to items that are more fitting to serve a crowd. Extra cookie sheets and cooling racks are a must for time-effective baking. Add silicone bakeware to your supply to help ease your efforts. You should either make sure you have enough matching dinnerware and utensils for all your guests or commit to an eclectic mix-and-match look. Don’t forget to wash and organize all your new kitchen supplies before you start cooking.