It is officially November which means that the holiday season right around the corner. If you are expecting guests in your home this holiday season, you may be both excited and nervous you will get it all done! Hosting for the holidays can sometimes feel like a daunting task, but if you take some preparatory steps, it can actually be quite enjoyable.
Kitchen - A lot of festivities during the holiday season center around food. If you are entertaining guests in your home for the holidays, you will likely spend a large amount of time in the kitchen. Below are some simple preparation tips:
- Since the kitchen will likely be a popular gathering spot while cooking, it might be a good idea to have extra stools and seating handy in case people want to chat while they cook.
- Clear as much counter space as possible. There may be some appliances that are usually on your counter tops that can be removed and stored in cabinets and then brought back out when needed. Since there will likely be a number of people cooking at one time, the more counter space you have, the easier it can be for everyone to work together.
Guest Room - If you are having overnight guests for the holiday, below are a few simple steps you can take to make sure the guest room is ready for their stay.
- Make sure to have fresh linens available. An extra set of linens might also be nice.
- Clear some closet space or a drawer to make your guests feel more at home. No one likes to live out of a suitcase.
- Your guests may want to use the internet - make sure to have your username and password readily available so that they have easy access.
Living Room - Besides the kitchen, the living room will likely be another popular gathering spot.
- Have games and activities available for kids (and adults). It might be a good idea to stop by a department store and pick up some board games and card games. This way your guests have things to do when waiting for food to be prepared.
- Prepare vacuum cleaners. Empty canisters or replace bags on these appliances and position them in a hall closet or other location for rapid deployment.
- If needed, Child Proof your home. Ask parents to bring hardware that keeps their small ones safe, such as baby gates and cabinet locks. Transfer toxic cleaners and medicines from base to wall cabinets. Hide matches and lighters.
The last tip is to prepare early - give yourself ample time to prepare for guests so that you do not feel stressed or overwhelmed with your 'to-do' list. Remember that holiday gatherings should be enjoyable.
