Ways to Get Your Home Ready for The Holidays

The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year with decorating, cleaning, and cooking to prepare a huge family get-together. Seeing your friends and family should be the main focus of the holidays, but it's hard not to get stressed about all the things that need to be done before the big day. With your regular maintenance cleaning, preparing your home for the holidays' excitement can be a fun and stress-free time! There are many simple things you can do that will have your home rivaling any magazine picture!

If you're anything like me, I tend to base the scent of my home around the seasons or holidays in general. When it comes to Christmas time, I like to focus more on comfortable scents like warm vanillas or a pleasant spruce scent to compliment my tree. Having these scents in the form of candles or wax burners can give a warm and inviting feeling to your home with minimal effort! There are other ways to bring an inviting scent to your home for the holidays beyond candles. A Christmas tree, for example! You don't have to invest in a real tree to get the smell of one. Many stores have come about with small icicle-like ornaments that hang behind your ornaments that smell like the real deal! On the day of your get together, you can have a mixture on the stove simmering to give a great scent that is perfect for both Thanksgiving or Christmas. I like to do this throughout the Fall season because of the warmth it creates in my home. Bring a few cups of water to a boil, add a few slices of orange, a cinnamon stick, a couple of tablespoons of vanilla, and some cranberries. This simmering mixture has given the best smell to make it feel like the holidays.

While you may already have a regular cleaning schedule, it may not include some of the high spots like ceiling fans, light fixtures, baseboards, and window sills. Having these areas in your home clean can give a great blank canvas in preparation for decorating. No one wants to put lights up in a dirty window or put up the tree and realize you have a dusty baseboard. Getting these areas clean can give a great impression on the day of your get together and make your decorations stand out! Having a clean home is a great way to settle in and prepare for all the enjoyment of the holidays.

You may only be thinking of all the great food you're going to enjoy a few days before your get-together, but there are things you can do even a week before the big day to prepare your home! Think of everyone that will be coming to enjoy this holiday meal with you and any potential allergies. Nothing is more embarrassing than trying a homestyle recipe for sweet potato casserole topped with candied walnuts and having an allergic family member. Our family has a pecan allergy, but other members request a pecan pie every year. To prepare for this situation, plan to have alternate options available like a pecan pie and a cherry pie. This can keep everyone happy and make for an enjoyable meal with no medical issues! About a week or so before your meal, you can begin making your menu and preparing a grocery list. The holidays are some of the busiest times of the year for the store, and trying to go out even a few days before the big day can be a fight weaving through isles. Make your menu and get to the store to make sure you have everything in preparation a week in advance to save time and hassle. Finally, you can begin some of your prep work a day or two in advance. Many casseroles can be frozen and popped in the oven the day of your get-together to save on time and premaking things like salads and deviled eggs.

A great way to ensure you are ready for the holidays and get your home that fresh and clean feeling is professional carpet cleaning. This isn't just limited to your carpets but can also include your tile, air ducts, and upholstery. While it is recommended to clean your carpets professionally twice a year, it can be beneficial to do a cleaning near the holidays to give you peace of mind and a comfortable and inviting space for family and friends. Think of the company that will be visiting and sitting around the table or conversating on couches and how great it will feel to know they will have a clean and freshly scented environment to enjoy all this time together in.