Stephen Roake - Home Sweet Home

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO PREPARE FOR HOLIDAY GUESTS

The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and welcoming loved ones into your home. As exciting as it is to host family and friends, the preparations can sometimes feel overwhelming. From ensuring your home is clean and inviting to planning meals and activities, there’s a lot to consider to make your guests feel comfortable and cherished. However, with this step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to get your home ready with minimal stress, so you can focus on creating warm memories when the guests arrive.

STEP 1: START EARLY

There are tasks you can’t complete until the last minute, such as picking up fresh food or putting clean sheets on the bed. However, there are many other things you can accomplish well in advance. Start by making lists. Include everything you’d like to get done before the company arrives, but be realistic in terms of budget, time, and energy. Prioritize those tasks that must be done, like unburying the guest bed or creating space for the dining room table. Decluttering all spaces is a great way to get a jump on your organization and cleaning too. Focus on the areas you’ll use the most while guests are visiting and work on other spaces if you have the time. When you make lists, include a schedule so you don’t find yourself trying to accomplish everything last minute. For example, if your guest bedroom is unused, you can prepare it early. On the other hand, the final grocery store run will probably have to be last minute, so give that task a list of its own.

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