Each year when the holidays roll around, you can always look forward to good food and even better company. With all the family members that make their way over to your home for the holidays, you’ll probably be running around like mad trying to make your home perfectly ready for guests.
Instead of forgetting something and rushing at the last minute to get it done, here are a few things you should do when preparing your home for holiday guests.
Declutter Your Home
Do you normally have a lot of picture frames and knick-knacks spread all over your home? Well, when you're expecting guests, it’s often best to remove all that clutter for a short while. Not only does this protect your belongings from potential damage, but it gives guests more space to place their glasses and dinner plates while they’re mingling with other family members.
Stock the Bathroom
No houseguest wants to holler down the hallway because there isn’t any more toilet paper in the bathroom they’re using. Make an extra trip to the grocery store and buy a lot of toilet paper so your bathroom is fully stocked.
The same thing goes for bath towels. With all the family pictures you’ll be taking, it comes as no surprise that your guests will want to shower and be beautifully clean for the photos. Make sure you have plenty of towels for guests to use while they’re staying with you.
If you want to be a really great host, place a basket with some extra toiletries in your bathroom for guests who have forgotten to pack a few things. Having little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, and mouthwash can really make guests feel right at home.
Account for Food Allergies
With all the different kinds of food replacements out there, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to accommodate all your family and friends’ food allergies. When planning your holiday menu, make sure you offer foods that are dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and/or vegan.
Make Up the Beds
Whether it’s a guest bedroom or a pull-out couch, you need to give your guests a comfy place to sleep. Wash all the bedding guests will be using and remake all the beds.
Also, make sure to leave plenty of extra sheets and blankets out in case anyone gets a little cold in the middle of the night.
Get Extra Lights
The last thing you need is for a guest to get up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water only to bump into your furniture or knock something over because they can’t see where they’re going. Add a few night lights in your hallways and living areas to keep guests safe.
You should also add a few lighting fixtures to any areas guests will be sleeping in case they need a little bit of light to read.
Schedule a Few Tune-Ups
Hosting all your guests means your home systems are going to have to work overtime to keep everyone comfy. You should schedule a heating tune-up to ensure your HVAC system won’t break down in the middle of dinner and leave you and all your guests freezing.
You should also have your water heater inspected. Like we said earlier, there will probably be a few guests who want to shower before dinner — and we doubt that anyone will be okay with taking a cold shower.
Clear Out Some Closet Space
If you’re having guests stay for an extended amount of time, clear out a few drawers or some closet space so they can unpack and feel at home rather than live out of a suitcase.
When it comes to caring for your home’s HVAC and water heater, trust the experts at Air Treatment Heating & Cooling for help. We’ve been serving the Fairfax, VA area since 1958 and always stand by our work.
To schedule a service, just give us call at 703.270.0881.