How To Prepare Your Home For Holiday Guests: 9 Hacks

Getting your house ready for guests during the holidays can be stress-free. These simple tips show you how to prepare your home for holiday guests in no time!  

 

Early November is that last sweet spot in the year where things calm down once more before they get crazy again.

 

With the kids settled into the school routine and the holidays just around the corner, eliminate stress during the upcoming holiday season by taking a day or two to get your home ready.

 

The holiday season is busy and stressful enough without worrying about how to prepare your home for the holidays on top of everything else you need to do.  #amiright

 

If you are like me, time is a shrinking commodity, so using some simple cleaning hacks to prepare my home for holiday guests to help me get the job done quickly and efficiently is a must!

 

Here is a simple game plan to help you clean the house fast so you’re always ready for hosting family for the holidays this holiday season.

How To Prepare Your Home For Holiday Guests

 

If you find yourself wondering “how do I prepare my house for the holidays?” then keep reading because I have some gems so simple you’ll wonder how you never knew them before!

 

You have one objective here: to clean the house swiftly (and efficiently) as you prepare to host guests during the holidays.

 

With so much going on during the holiday season, I don’t know about you, but I need a solid yet simple gameplan to get it all done in as little time as possible and keep it that way through the holidays. 

 

Here is a 9 step plan to help you whip the house into tip-top shape for guests in no time so you can get back to the important stuff: enjoying the holiday season.

 

1. Remove Clutter

Two important tips here:

• DON’T start this process the day before your guests arrive (seriously, start now before things get crazy busy)
• DO only focus on the areas that yield the most benefit or importance. 

 

I’m talking ROI here. ROI means “return on investment”, so in this case, it means focusing the limited time and attention you have only on the activities that provide the biggest benefit as you decide how to prepare your home for holiday guests.

 

Here’s how:

 

Follow the path your guests will take and declutter the public areas and guest spaces: the entryway, kitchen, living room, dining room, bathrooms, and guest bedrooms.

 

This isn’t the time to deep clean the house. Instead, start with de-cluttering problem areas and getting rid of things that take up valuable space. A de-cluttered room gives the illusion of being clean even when it isn’t.

 

Remove anything unnecessary from countertops and coffee tables. Sort and clear out excess mail, newspapers, and magazines. Put away things that accumulate in the catch-all areas of your home (entryways, counters, the bottom of the stairs, etc).

 

As you do this, focus on one area or task at a time. Trying to multi-task here will only leave you with a list of half-completed projects. Start in one room and move on to the next only once the current room is done. 

 

If you run short on time, bag up the clutter and store it in out-of-the-way closets. Sort and arrange through that stuff after your guests leave.

 

In our home, our catch-all areas are the kitchen counters and the bottom of the stairs. Here are some great tips for clearing off your counters and keeping them clean.

 

2. Prepare The Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, at least it is in our home. That makes the fridge the main hub and the pantry the command center of the kitchen. 😉

 

During the holiday season, I spend a ton of time baking yummy goodies and cooking for my family and guests. Take a little bit of time now to go through your fridge and pantry to get rid of spoiled or expired food.

 

Finish up by organizing both so you know exactly where that baking powder is or where the eggs are hiding.

 

3. Get The Bathrooms Ready

Bathrooms are probably the most used rooms after the kitchen. First, clean them.

 

Then ask yourself “what should I have ready for overnight guests?”

 

After you clean your bathrooms, prep them for guests by making it easy for them to find whatever they may need. 

 

Anticipate their needs by stocking the bathroom with extra toiletries in an obvious drawer or open basket that they may have forgotten at home, including:

• toothbrushes
• toothpaste
• lotions
• shampoo
• conditioner
• feminine products
• body wash
• bars of soap 

 

Then, make toilet paper, clean towels, and extra toiletries easy for guests to find by putting them out on shelves or in baskets around the bathroom. 

 

Finally, make sure the soap dispenser is full and each toilet has a plunger (to avoid, um, embarrassing moments).

4. Get Guest Bedrooms Ready

As you prepare for having overnight visitors, here are some guest room ideas to help you get ready:

• Wash the bed linens
• put fresh sheets on the bed
• Fluff the pillows
• Add a few magazines or books, an alarm clock, Kleenex, and a reading lamp to the bedroom

 

Think about adding a fan or white noise machine to help your guests sleep better around the strange noises of an unfamiliar environment.

 

These small amenities will help your guests feel more comfortable and enjoy their stay!

 

 

5. Add Nightlights

You may know your home like the back of your hand, but your guests don’t. Take a few steps to make sure that holiday visitors are safe and comfortable:

 

• Make sure outside lights are working so visitors don’t trip on the way to your door
• Put night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms to ensure your guests can walk around safely after it gets dark.

 

 

6. Add a Festive Touch

It’s better to decorate earlier than later when you’re expecting guests around the holidays.

 

If you wait too long, you’ll feel stressed about trying to get everything done, or run out of time, or both and end up barely being able to get the tree up (forget about that winter village or anything other decorations this year).

 

Just know you will be busier than you probably think juggling other things as you get closer to the holidays; it’s better to get started early with your decorating efforts than it is to wait.

7. Put Out Throw Blankets

Sometimes it just feels chilly even when you’re inside a warm home and you need a cozy addition to feel comfortable.

 

These blankets are super soft and cozy (and stay that way after being washed) for the perfect evening hanging out or watching a movie.

 

 

8. Pick Out Some Games and Movies

Help kids and the young-at-heart to feel right at home by setting out board games in a very visible area.

 

Traditional games like Chinese checkers and Jenga are easy to play, while games like Settlers of Catan, Apples To Apples Jr, and Ticket to Ride will appeal to board-game fans.

 

9. Childproof

If you have guests coming with babies or toddlers, take steps to childproof ahead of time. As a mom of 3 who has traveled with small children, staying in an unfamiliar place and needing to keep an extra close eye on them because there are dangers or breakable objects within reach is stressful!  

 

Make your guests’ stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible by taking simple steps to cover exposed electrical outlets, moving lamps and vases away from table edges, temporarily putting sharp objects out of reach, and blocking stairways to prevent dangerous falls.

 

How To Always Be Ready For House Guests During The Holidays

 

Once you’ve done all the hard work of cleaning and prepping for your holiday guests, then all you have to do is maintain your home through the holidays.

 

But everyday life continues – here’s how to clean your house for guests right before they arrive:

• Before your visitors get to the house, take a quick walkthrough of all the areas where guests will be in your home and tidy it up.
• A light dusting and vacuuming, a quick wipe-down of the bathrooms and kitchen counters, and finishing up with double-checking your guest bedrooms should be plenty.
• Stuff any clutter into bags and toss them in a closet until your guests leave.
• Neutralize smells. Prevent having your visitors walk into your house and be overpowered by the smell by deodorizing. 

 

In addition to the house cleaning tips above, spray an air freshener made from essential oils to freshen the air.

 

Use these cleaning and prep tips to help you learn how to prepare your home for holiday guests this holiday season without taking away your time to enjoy the festivities. 

 

>> Don’t Forget To Download Your FREE Holiday Planner To Help You Stay On Track, Under Budget, and Stress-Free This Holiday Season! <<

 

More Holiday Prep Ideas:

Ditch Hosting Stress With This Checklist For Hosting Thanksgiving

Why Family Holiday Traditions Are Important

How to Practice Self Care During The Holidays