The holidays are almost here.
For many of us, that means welcoming, and sometimes stressing over, holiday guests. No need to worry though, these steps will help you get your home in order.
Plan Ahead
Eddie Ross, East Coast editor of Better Homes & Gardens, says it’s all about the preparation. “Try to plan in advance as much as you can. Make sure you’re not doing the last-minute grocery shopping runaround. Make things ahead that you can put in your freezer.”
Put Up a Good Front
Hang up a festive wreath, lay out a new holiday-themed welcome mat, and spruce up your plant containers with autumn or winter foliage. Seasonal decorations let guests know you’re excited to be hosting the holidays. Wilmette’s Chalet has a large selection of these items.
Clear Out the Closet
Is your spare bedroom closet a critical mess? Time to purge! Give your guests some space by clearing out a few shelves or drawers, and, at the very least, pushing your items to one side and giving them a selection of empty hangers.
Basket Case
You may feel frazzled by your holiday to-do list, but your home shouldn’t reflect that. Need some shelf help? An easy way to keep things organized is to use stylish baskets to clear clutter. Visitors from warmer locales will find cold comfort in baskets from where they can borrow mittens, hats and scarves. Pier 1 and World Market both have a large selection of unique baskets.
Good Scents
Aroma makes a big impact on guests as soon as they walk through your door. Let visitors feast on how warm and cozy your home feels with a lit fire. Don’t have a fireplace or the time to light one? A spicy scented candle like Joe Malone’s Incense & Embers is an easy way to conjure up the aroma of roaring log fires and pinecones.
Child’s Play
“Don’t forget your littlest guests,” Ross reminds. Instead of just watching hours of TV after the big meal, why not make it a game night? Pull out a favorite like Monopoly or Scrabble. Little ones will enjoy the chance to play a classic with their grandparents or extended family. Invest in a few new board games if you’re not sure you still have all the pieces.
Sweet Dreams
Lay out a few local guidebooks on the bedside table. It’ll help your guests fall asleep while helping them figure out what to do the next day, so you won’t have to! The Chicago Architecture Foundationgift shop has a large selection of books that will inspire your guests to get out and enjoy the sights. If you have kids visiting, “The Kids Guide to Chicago” is a handy resource.
Holidays are a time to give thanks for the most important and most basic blessings: family, friends, food. With a little preparation you’ll be able to do just that—even with a house full of guests. Cheers!
