Do you love entertaining over the festive season, or do you find it stressful? Let’s be honest, preparing our homes for the holidays can sometimes be overwhelming as our homes are ‘the hub’ where we gather to eat, play, and celebrate together. Although we are well-aware Christmas comes at the same time every year, somehow, most of us still end up frantically shopping, cooking, and cleaning minutes before Santa’s arrival. Please remember, the holidays are supposed to be a time for relaxation, rest, and a time to enjoy with family and friends, and most of all, FUN! So, to guarantee your time-off is enjoyable and not all hard-work, we have put together some helpful tips to ensure you are well-prepared.
Start early – The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us very quickly! Try and focus on the things that can be prepared now. If you are hosting guests or entertaining, you may find it helpful to make a ‘to-do’ list or a timeline leading up to the event. Attempt to have your gifts and wrapping sorted first, which then allows you to focus on organizing and cleaning the home and then preparing the food. You can also ready your family by making meals in advance and freezing them to take the stress off dinner preparations in the lead-up.
Clear out the fridge and freezer – Whether you’re hitting the road or spending the holidays at home, it’s a good idea to give your fridge a deep clean. If you are heading away, you don’t want to be returning home to a fridge full of rotten food. Also, it’s a good chance you’ll need the extra fridge and freezer space for leftovers and large items like ham or turkey.
Stock your pantry – Stocking the pantry early and buying items in bulk will keep you from last-minute, budget-busting shopping.
Declutter – This is a great time to clear out unwanted household items including toys, clothing etc. Remember, if you can, donate items in good condition to your local Salvation Army or other donation drop-off points.
Secure your home – If you’re planning a trip away, you want to make sure your house stays safe and secure until you return. That means taking the usual steps, like enlisting a neighbour to pick up your mail and water your plants and unplugging unnecessary appliances. You probably want to set up some extra security measures like turning on pre-programmed or motion-sensor-based lights to ward off any potential intruders and potentially investing in a home security camera to keep an eye on things while you’re gone. Remember to post your holiday snaps on your socials upon your return – you never know who is viewing your account.
Plan your décor – Don’t wait until Christmas morning to plan your décor – starting early will make the job much easier! Pull out your decorations in advance – it’s important to know what you have stored away. Weed out what you don’t need and take the time to dust off, assemble, un-tangle and plan what you will use on the day.
