Are you having family or friends over this winter? While it may be nerve-wracking to get your home guest-ready for holiday hosting, it can be done even with a busy schedule and limited budget!

All you just need to do is follow these eight holly-jolly tips on prepping your home:

1. Tidy Up

Before you start moving stuff and decorating, the first thing you need to do is clean your home.  For the living room and dining room, be sure to dust and clean surfaces, wipe furniture and decorations, mop the floors, and vacuum the carpets. Don’t forget to go through the often-overlooked spots, such as your light fixtures and ceiling fan. 

For the kitchen, clean your appliances, declutter your countertops and cabinets, and make sure that the pantry and fridge are stocked. For the bathroom, scrub the sink, toilet bowl, tub, and shower area.  For the guest bedrooms, replace the old sheets with clean ones and make space for storage. 

It will also help to tidy up your front yard or garden as these are the first areas your guests will see once they get to your place.

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2. Make Room

How many guests will be staying in your place? You need to know the exact number of visitors so you can make the necessary adjustments. You will definitely need to buy more food and drinks, but you may also have to buy additional pillows and blankets for the bedroom or chairs for the dining room. Moreover, you may need to put some stuff in the storage room or the garage to make room for the guests. 

3. Go For Comfort 

You’d want your guests to feel at home, so make sure to go the extra mile with comforts such as:

• Extra pillows, blankets, bedside lighting, and charging stations in the bedroom
• Toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, lotion, and other toiletries in the bathroom
• Books, games, and other entertainment options in the living room
• A variety of snacks, coffee and tea products, and drink options in the kitchen

You can also give them a small, holiday-themed welcome basket filled with food and/or trinkets. 

4. Make it Feel Like Christmas

Deck the halls with boughs of holly (and other holiday decor) to make your home look more festive and inviting to the guests. 

For example, you can put a holiday wreath on the door, a Christmas tree in the living room, and red and green scented candles in the bathroom. 

Be sure to use holiday dinnerware, serveware, and drinkware as these will make dining with guests more festive!

5. Keep it Warm 

Baby, it’s cold outside! On top of cranking up the heat, you can make your home feel cozier by adding texture and warmth. 

For example, decorate your living room with accents that add texture, such as faux fur pillows, flannel blankets, and woolen rugs. For added warmth, “Consider earthy tones like deep reds, browns, and golden hues to create a cozy atmosphere,” advises designer Diana Vincent. 

The right lighting can also add warmth to your home. Go for layered lighting — such as a combination of holiday lights, table lamps, and candles — to create a more welcoming home. Dimmer switches make it easier to turn the light up or down, thus making it easier for you (and the guests) to set the mood. 

6. Add Some Greens

Aside from the Christmas tree, adding some additional greens can enhance the mood and make your space feel livelier. 

This holiday season, your houseplant of choice should be poinsettia. Made famous by a Mexican legend, the Flor de Nochebuena needs bright light and well-draining soil to survive. 

Another plant that befits the holiday season is the Mistletoe. While tradition dictates that a bushel be placed under the doorway with a bow, you can also use it to decorate a Christmas wreath or embellish a dining table centerpiece.

7. Personalize it

If you want to go the extra mile, then be sure to add some personal touches to your decorations. For example, you could place name cards on the dining table, or provide pillow covers and blankets with your guest’s initials on them. Again, be sure to use tonal colors that could add more warmth to the room. 

If they love a certain food, perhaps include it in one of your menus. Remember to ask everybody’s dietary restrictions though, as you wouldn’t want a guest to have an allergic reaction during dinner!

8. Think About the Special Guests

As mentioned, you need to know the exact number of guests (from adults to children and pets) as they will dictate your design choices.

If you’re going to have children over, then you will have to create a small play area in your living room or guest room. You will also need to stock up on kiddie essentials such as books and toys. Moreover, you may need to childproof some areas by placing outlet covers over electrical sockets, anchoring furniture and appliances, and installing child-proof locks on cabinets. 

If your guests will be bringing their pets, you may also want to create a space for them. Make sure to dedicate a pet-free area for other guests as needed. 

Designing a guest-ready home for the holiday season may seem challenging, but it can be done with the use of Christmas decor, warm and textured accents, holiday houseplants, and even yuletide-themed modern serveware. You don’t have to go over the top — what matters, after all, is the companionship and the time spent with each other.