With the holiday season comes a to-do list that feels a mile long. From attending events and entertaining guests to online shopping and mall hopping, it’s normal for stress to creep in. If you’re planning to host this season, the key to pulling it off with a joyful heart is preparing as much as you can in advance.
Let’s look at the areas of the home that see plenty of action during the holiday season, and walk through our experts’ holiday entertaining tips for each.
During seasonal celebrations, the demands on your kitchen spike. Clean out your pantry before any holiday meal prep takes place, and donate anything you won’t actually use that isn’t expired.
This cuts down on unnecessary clutter so you feel less stressed when cooking and baking kick into full gear, and it also frees up space so you can stock up on holiday entertaining essentials. A tidy space creates a clear mind, and it gives you room to keep everything you need on-hand.
We all know how it feels to run out of a key ingredient for a holiday staple, so you have to rush to the store during the busiest time of the year. When you’re making a list of everything you need to bring to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, check it twice, and consider doubling up on items and ingredients you know you’ll reach for repeatedly this season.
Don’t make the same mistake so many hosts do: Remember to leave space in the refrigerator for drinks and beverages. And, if your holiday entertaining plans include decorating gingerbread houses or baking cookies, pull out the sprinkles, frosting, and candy ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need for a fun-filled night.
Once your pantry is decluttered, give your holiday décor a home there, too. Tall shelves and upper cabinets are ideal for storing pieces you only use a few weeks each year, like festive platters, cake stands, table linens, and candles.
Group items by category in labeled bins so you can grab exactly what you need when it’s time to set the table. Keeping seasonal pieces together also makes them easy to find next year, and it leaves lower shelves open for everyday essentials.
You know the sound of scissors slicing through wrapping paper as holiday music plays in the background? That’s the sound of a host who has everything under control. Knowing what you have and having what you need makes holiday entertaining and gift wrapping fun instead of stressful.
Take stock of how much wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbon, and twine you have now. Count the number of boxes and gift tags you have leftover from last year, and compare it to what you need this year. The difference gives you a shopping list.
When the season wraps up, put leftover supplies in a dedicated space so they’re ready to go next year. Wrapping paper storage works best when rolls stand upright in a tall bin or a vertical slot in your closet. Tissue paper and gift bags slide neatly into under-bed containers, while ribbon, twine, and tags stay tidy in labeled bins on a shelf.
Few things can take over your kitchen island or dining room table like rolls of wrapping paper and ribbon. To contain the chaos, create a dedicated wrapping or craft station where you can be messy so it isn’t visible from your main holiday party hosting areas.
A gift wrapping station only requires a few well-chosen design solutions. Start with a dedicated work surface, like a fold-down shelf or a cabinet countertop, that’s big enough to cut paper and wrap boxes. Then, add vertical wrapping paper storage to keep rolls upright, and a gift wrap organizer with hooks to prevent ribbon spools and bows from tangling. Lastly, shallow drawers with dividers will keep tags, tape, and scissors organized in one spot.
Think about who’s coming and what things they might need to make their stay restful and relaxing. If your guest room closet and bedside drawers are crammed full, consider cleaning them out so your guests can settle in more comfortably.
A clear section of closet hanging space lets family and friends unpack instead of living out of a suitcase, and adding a few spare hangers, including some for pants and skirts, is a thoughtful touch. An empty drawer gives them a place for folded clothes and small items, while a luggage rack or open closet floor keeps bags off the bed.
If space is limited, consider adding a Murphy bed to your home office, playroom, or any spare room. Our Murphy beds feature cozy mattresses (twin, full and queen), built-in nightstands, and overhead lighting, making them much more comfortable than an air mattress or the living room couch. And the best part? A Murphy bed quickly and easily folds up and away, so you get your space back after your guests are gone.
A few thoughtful guest room essentials go a long way toward making visitors feel at home. Extra blankets let them adjust to their own comfort level, and a phone charger on the nightstand means they won’t have to hunt for an outlet.
A water bottle or carafe by the bed and a small basket of basic toiletries, like a toothbrush, travel-size shampoo, and lotion, cover the things people most often forget to pack.
The holiday season goes so much more smoothly when your home is ready for it. A decluttered pantry, a dedicated gift wrapping station, and a guest room stocked with essentials mean less scrambling and more time enjoying the season with the people you love.
If you’d like help creating organized spaces that work all year long, schedule a free in-home design consultation with Inspired Closets, and our designers will build a plan that fits your needs.
Our designers are great listeners, and fabulous at what they do, too, so let’s talk. Oh, the best part? Our in-home design consultations are free. Yep. FREE! Let’s get started.
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