6 Ways to Prep the Home for Holiday Hosting

The holidays are coming, and you’ve got family coming. Or you just plan to have a party at your place. Before you defrost the turkey or trim the tree, take a close look at your home from a visitor’s perspective and determine what you need to do to transform it from family-friendly to guest-ready. Here’s six ways to prep your home for holiday hosting:

1. Start at the Curb

Go out to the street and pretend you’re visiting your home for the first time. What needs to be spruced up? It may mean removing annuals that have had their time, adding mulch to bare spots in the flower beds, or simply sweeping the leaves and acorns from your driveway and front walk. Don’t forget to look up — did wasps or spiders leave anything to clear away?

2. The Entryway

The porch and foyer are like a gateway into a person’s soul – okay, that might be a liiittle dramatic. But the state of your entryway really can influence how your guests perceive you! Are the kids’ muddy shoes and backpacks sprawled across the foyer? Maybe the lights are flickering on the porch? Your house doesn’t need to look un-lived-in, but paying attention to little details like this will improve your guest’s experience. 

This is also the time to consider where your guests will put their jackets. Do you need to clear out-of-season outerwear from the coat rack or add hangers to the coat closet? 

3. The Clutter

Don’t leave your personal belongings lying around for guests to observe. Do a walk-through of all of the rooms your guests will see or be in and remove any unnecessary or unsightly items (that tangle of charger cords — we’re looking at you.) Tidy up the horizontal surfaces that seem to scream “leave it here!”

Also put away anything that you don’t want accidentally broken or spilled on — your laptop, the irreplaceable candy dish your grandmother left you, that wonky objet d’art your kid made you in elementary school. Not only would you be heartbroken if something happened, but the guest who had the accident would leave feeling terribly guilty.

4. The Restroom

Now, this might be the only room you want to look like you’ve never used. The guest bathroom should always be a comfortable place for your guests, so they don’t feel like they’re invading your space while doing their business. 

Put the family’s personal items in a basket under the sink, and remove anything from the medicine cabinet you don’t want nosy Nellys to know about — people are curious and WILL peek! 

Restock the toilet paper with a new roll, light a candle or install an air freshener, and hang up freshly clean towels and a nice soap bottle.

5. The Smell

Those commercials that talk about nose-blindness don’t lie. You likely don’t notice your home’s unique odor until you return from a vacation. Since you spend so much time there, your nose becomes acquainted with pet odors and mustiness. 

Take advantage of the three perfect days of autumn weather to open the windows and air out. Use a lemon-rosemary mixture to make it feel crisp and clean. Simply boil a pot of water and add lemon slices and fresh rosemary. Or add something beautiful smelling — like warm apple cider or mulled wine with cinnamon — to the menu for the gathering. 

6. The Windows and Mirrors

You may look out your windows all the time, but when was the last time you stopped to look AT the window? Storms, pollen, and even pets pressing their noses to the glass, will all leave their mark. Even if you’re hosting an evening gathering, clean windows will reflect candlelight and bring a warmth to your home. Also take the time to wash and iron your curtains, as they provide the frame for those sparkly, shiny windows.