Tis almost the season. Is your home ready?
Are you planning on hosting friends or relatives for the holidays? As fun as the holiday season can be, it can also be taxing – not just on you but your house! Guests mean extra mouths to feed, large or extravagant meals, a messy kitchen, extra mudroom space, bathrooms at capacity, and extra sleeping spaces.
We put together a list of pre-holiday home improvement projects to prepare your home (and yourself) for winter guests.
Did we miss any? Share your best advice in the comments.
- Ready your fireplace.
- Santa won’t be the only one who appreciates you sprucing up your fireplace for the holidays! Keep your home and guests warm—and impressed—with a renovated fireplace.
Take a look at our fireplaces for inspiration here: https://christiescompleteservices.com/work/.
- Review safety features.
- Hand in hand with a cozy fireplace is proper fire safety. Inspect extinguishers, CO2, and smoke detectors. Not only good to do this annually, but it’s extra important when more people are around, and more potential accidents can occur.
- Inspect and repair walkways.
- Damaged walkways, drives, and steps are a hazard year-round, but their dangers are compounded when the weather turns icy, and you have extra cars in your driveway. Inspect before your guests ascend for the holidays.
- Touch up exterior paint.
- A touch-up can help prolong the life of your siding and trim, and it looks good for guests. A win-win.
- Clean your carpets.
- If you haven’t, now’s a great time to clean your carpets before the below-freezing winter days arrive. Open windows for ventilation to speed up the drying process. Do this ahead of the holidays for a subtle way to wow your relatives.
For more tasks to tackle before the winter frost sets in, check out our Fall Maintenence Checklist: here.
- Upgrade your entryway.
- An organized entryway will come in handy when you’re schlepping holiday packages across the threshold, provide extra space for guests’ luggage, and prevent slippery floors that can occur from leaving winter gear out.
- Renovate your kitchen.
- The kitchen is where people gather and a high-traffic work area for most of us during the holiday season, so it must be efficient and inviting.
- If you’re not in the market for a complete remodel, there are many simple solutions to make your kitchen feel brand new:
- Get a new island, countertops, or energy-efficient appliances.
- Create clear walkways, extra lighting, and seating to add space and maximize efficiency.
- Create a bar/beverage area.
- Make entertaining even easier with a self-serve bar. It can be as simple as adding a mini fridge or a small table.
- A separate space for drinks is a great way to keep food prep areas uncluttered and stress-free.
- Create a recreation room.
- Whether you’re temporarily converting a den or ready to fully transform a spare room or the basement into a rec room, having a designated area for large gatherings is ideal for the holidays. A recreation room is great for adults and the younger generation to hang out and have fun. Who doesn’t love game rooms?
- Organize cabinets.
- If storage space is an issue, add some cabinet organizers to your kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Organizers will ensure everything has a home and remains organized when your guests arrive.
- Get the bathroom guest-ready.
- Sprucing up the guest bathroom is an easy way to make guests feel welcome.
- Don’t forget the extra towels and toilet paper, too!
For some inspiration, take a look at our bathroom remodels.
Try these home remodeling ideas to spruce up your common areas or add extra sleeping space before holiday houseguests arrive!
If you need help with a remodel, Christie’s is here to help. Contact us for a complimentary consultation, and let’s discuss what works best for you!
Happy holidays from the Christie family to yours.
