Don't wait until the last minute to get your house ready for your holiday party! Plan your plan, and then work your plan a little each day. Get your holiday decorations out and start decorating your house inside and out early! Remember; keep detailed lists of what you need to do each day.
Here are some things that you might want to consider:
- Be sure to check that all of your lights in your house (both inside and out) are in working order.
- Allow room in your hall closet for your guests’ coats. Have plenty of hangers on hand.
- If you live in a rainy area, have a place to receive wet umbrellas and boots. Be sure to have a mat out side your door and one inside your door so that your guests will think twice about wiping their feet before they enter your home.
- Plan on moving large bulky pieces of furniture to the garage.
- You want to establish clear pathways for your guests to move around. Yes you need places for your guests to sit but not if they are cumbersome to get around.
- Be sure you have places for your guests to put down a beverage, if needed.
- If you have pets, it’s a good idea to plan on isolating them during your party. With all of the comings and goings, your pet could easily get loose and wander away. Guests may be allergic to pet hair and pet dander. Someone may be afraid of cats. Someone else may step backwards and trip over your dog, sending a wine glass flying. It’s better to keep your pet away from the hubbub.
- Think about if you have invited any smokers to your party. Where will they smoke? Nowadays, more and more smokers are accustomed to going outside to smoke. Provide a designated smoking area for them, complete with ashtrays, tables, and possibly a canopy or an overhang to protect them for the wet and wild weather.
Time to clean your house! Everyone dreads this task, so my suggestion is to try to do this by areas rather than all at once. Again, make a plan and work it. Keep detailed notes.
- Clean your fireplace and flue. Bring in plenty of kindling and wood so that starting a fire will be easy. A fireplace adds character and ambiance to a room, and often becomes a focal point... especially when a warm fire is glowing on a cold night.
- Make room in your kitchen cabinets so that the “night before your party” you can put away all appliances that you will not be using, such as your toaster, electric mixer, and juicer. The more counter space you have, the better.
- Your refrigerator needs to be free of smelly items and leftovers. Make room for large platters of food. Wipe down all shelves with bleach water. Marry bottles of dressing and condiments, allowing more space for beverages. If you have an ice machine and have room in your freezer, start bagging ice it in advance - this way you will have all you need for your party on hand.
- Clean all of your bathrooms from top to bottom. I would recommend disposable hand towels. Your guests will appreciate this gesture, as it shows that you have a conscious approach to germ warfare.
- Have extra toilet paper in a basket for your guests to refill themselves. Also, have a basket or a bowl of emergency items on your bathroom counter, such as Band-aids, aspirins, Tylenol antacids, a nail file, mouthwash, gum, hair spray, hand lotion, and sanitary napkins. Be sure to have a spray bottle or room deodorizer in each bathroom. A candle is a nice touch as well. Hand sanitizer is a must!
- Be sure the entry to your home welcomes your guests. You do not want your guests falling, so you can prevent this by being prepared ahead of time. Is your outside entry well lit and clear of any debris? Are your gutters clean? If you don’t have an entryway, is their room for your guests to leave their wet boots on your front porch? Can you make a boot area for them? Can you spruce your entry by adding some lighted potted plants that add color and light at the same time?
