Prep your home for the holidays
Start checking tasks off your to-do list now
With holiday parties, concerts and last-minute gift shopping on the horizon, the last thing I have time for in December is a deep clean of my townhouse. I like to be ahead of the game by getting my house ready for decorating and the fun of entertaining guests. I call it my November spring clean.
I start outside by cleaning the handrails, front door and light fixtures of dust build-up and then get my greenery and outside decor displayed because once that's complete, it looks great all season.
Then I tackle all the indoor chores and preparations.
Here are my top-of-list chores for the next few weeks. Once they're done, the house is ready
for holiday fun and so am I!
GUEST READY
Are the bed sheets laundered and the guest room cleaned? If you don't have a guest room, an inflatable mattress, and extra pillows and bed linens will help you comfortably accommodate a last-minute guest.
If you live in a condo, ask if there is a guest suite to reserve for out-of-town guests.
KITCHEN READY
The kitchen is one of the hardest working rooms during the holidays (and where all the best parties end up!). Now is a great time to organize the cupboards, clean out the fridge, put the oven on self-clean and ensure your most-needed countertop appliances are standing guard and ready to go for baking and entertaining tasks. Get ahead of the game by getting those special attachments you'll need to prep extra-special recipes for the holidays.
ORGANIZE, CLEAN TABLE LINENS
Whether you use paper napkins for casual gatherings or fine linen for sit-down meals, having on hand a selection of cocktail-, lunch- and dinner-sized napkins eliminates this task from the last-minute holiday to-do list.
PLAN YOUR SIGNATURE HOLIDAY SCENT
Sweet cookies, fresh pine or candy canes? It's best to choose one delectable fragrance for scented candles, sprays and diffusers throughout the home, so stock up early. I have an artificial tree so I like to dot the scent of evergreen around the house to bring my tree to life.
Clean the floors and shampoo carpets
Now is the time to rent the carpet shampooer and get out the Swiffer! As my mother would say, if the floors are clean, that means they are free of clutter and the house is organized. So get the hardwood gleaming and the carpet smelling fresh and looking vibrant.
GET READY FOR THE KIDS
Keeping little visitors busy ensures everyone has fun when families visit.
Stock the freezer with prebaked holiday cookies and have store-bought icings on hand for a fun and impromptu cookiedecorating session; or throw a fuzzy blanket on the bed and have a favourite kids holiday movie to keep the little ones cosy and entertained.
SPEED ROUND
Short on time? Here are a few services that will help get your home holiday ready:
Most florists can provide outdoor planters filled with easy-care holiday greens to last the season.
A cleaning service is often the remedy when work days are long and energy is low. Schedule early, as cleaners are the most busy two to three weeks before Christmas.
Your local bakeshop can supply you with all the pre-baked cookies you need for your entertaining.
Order undecorated cookies and then have a cookie-decorating party to personalize them for gifts, treats and to enjoy at home.
Karl Lohne has worked as a home decor expert and product designer for 25 years.
POSTMEDIA NEWS KARL LOHNES