Contributing Author: Olivia Forgette

The holiday season is just around the corner. If we’re being honest, that means the stress of hosting is looming as well. Whether it’s you’re first time cooking the Thanksgiving turkey, or your tenth time carving the Christmas ham, preparing your home for holiday hosting is a must.

It’s easy to dive down a Pinterest-perfect rabbit hole and think to yourself, “I can never compare to this!” But the truth is, hosting a holiday really boils down to one important factor: spending and enjoying time with loved ones. If you plan your party with joy, joy will flow through your party.

 

Set the stage for success: make a plan

Getting into the festive spirit is often the easy part of hosting, until your mind traces back to the last time your entire family was together. Maybe Aunt Mable surprised everyone by bringing her 100-pound dog to the event and chaos ensued. Or maybe Great Uncle Bob was carving the holiday roast when a slip occurred and the ambulance showed up.

Whatever happened last time, just know that nothing will go perfectly to plan, and that is step one of setting your holiday hosting stage for success.

Making a plan is step two on how to prepare your home for holiday hosting. You should begin planning your event four to six weeks before the holiday. Create a to-do list to ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

1) Guest list and invitations: Make sure that if it’s necessary, set boundaries. You can (and should) insist that Fido goes to doggie daycare if it will make your event go more smoothly.

2) Menu planning: Decide whether you will be cooking, doing a potluck, or hiring a caterer for the event. Plan the menu based on the traditional holiday fare and be sure to consider guests’ dietary restrictions. You can have fun with food! Do some cute themed hors d’oeuvres or add a playful sauce to spice things up!

3) Decorations: More on this when we discuss preparing your house, but know that holiday decorations and ambiance should definitely be on your to-do list.

4) Shopping list: It’s best to compile your to-buy list early. Think about items you can purchase ahead of time, and perishable items that must be bought a day or two leading up to the event. This will help you stay organized like a hosting pro!

 

Preparing your home for holiday hosting

Now that you have a solid plan, it’s time to get your home in holiday hosting shape!

Ensuring your house is ready to host can be one of the most stressful parts of offering up your space for an event. Don’t worry! Follow our easy steps on how to prepare your home for holiday hosting and your holiday party will be as smooth as your lump-free Thanksgiving mashed potatoes.

You ideally should start preparing your home to host seven days before the event. This is where action should be taking place!

Deep clean

A big part of preparing your home for holiday hosting is to ensure that the space is clean for guests to enjoy their time. Give your house a good, thorough cleaning. Do your typical cleaning routine, and add in some extras like dusting baseboards, making sure that little spot in the corner the vacuum always misses isn’t missed, changing out that dead lightbulb, and doing a restock of hand soap and toilet paper in the guest bathroom.

Give yourself some quick-hide zones tucked in a closet or in a spare room no one will see so you can easily remove excess life clutter.

Home essentials test

The next task on our how to prepare your home for holiday hosting checklist is to do a home essentials test. This means testing your appliances, plumbing, and HVAC systems. The last thing you want when you have 20 guests at your home is to realize the never-used guest bath toilet is on the fritz. Ensuring your secondary oven is working before cooking a large family meal is always a good idea.

If you need a referral for any home repairs, contact Maureen Forgette for someone to help from her trusted business network.

Also, be sure you have some necessary items on hand such as:

  • Extra serving utensils
  • Wine opener
  • Candle lighter
  • First aid supplies
  • Stain remover
  • Phone charges

Prepare your guest rooms

If you’re hosting family from out of town to stay at your house, it’s essential that you prepare guest rooms where they can sleep and feel comfortable. Making sure your guests feel welcomed is the true key to hosting guests for an extended stay.

Some ways you can prepare a comforting space for them include:

  • Changing sheets and offering a comfortable bed
  • Give a luggage space where they can unpack and store their luggage
  • Add a touch of holiday décor to their room for a festive vibe (think a throw pillow or an accent wreath on a mirror)
  • Ensure small essential toiletries are available to them
  • Provide guests with the Wi-Fi password and thermostat instructions
  • Offer nightlights in guest rooms, hallways, and bathrooms for easy navigation in unfamiliar spaces
  • Have a self-serve coffee station stocked

Holiday decorations

The final step in preparing your home for holiday hosting is to add holiday decorations. Part of what makes the holidays so special is the cozy décor that goes along with said holiday. Guests will appreciate an ambiance that matches the event. Some things to consider adding include:

  • Cozy blankets
  • Twinkle lights
  • Subtle but beautiful holiday decorations sprinkled throughout the space
  • Holiday appropriate music
  • On-theme holiday candles offering comforting, nostalgic scents
  • Board games for guests to play

Our hope is this post will help you feel more prepared before hosting a large family gathering for the holidays this season. Enjoying the planning, welcoming, and cleaning up will bring joy to your event that your friends and family are sure to recognize and appreciate. Happy hosting!