Are you expecting holiday guests this year? Does the mere thought cause a sense of dread? Perhaps panic? We understand. There’s nothing like house guests to test the limits of your home’s current state of livability.
From the availability of hot water to the way you arrange your furniture, everything will be under scrutiny. While you might not be ready to handle the in-laws, you will have to handle everything else about your home.
No pressure, though. Because we have some tips on how to prep and guest-proof your humble abode:
Freeing up every available surface
If you’ve got a big family and small living quarters, no need to apologize for it. The trick is to declutter and make the most of every available surface you have.
- Box up any unused books and magazines
- Hide away any knick-knacks and tchotchkes that don’t serve any purpose
- Make sure the sofa bed is sleep-able with thorough cleaning
Preventing plumbing and electrical problems
Nothing says “uninhabitable” quite like a slow-flushing toilet or a faulty heater. When’s the last time you had your air ducts cleaned? Do you have a plunger on hand to remove minor clogs? Do all the showerheads work? These are questions you need to ask yourself.
Save yourself the embarrassment by having all minor leaks fixed and clogs drained. Call a pro if you need help with the more major issues you’re encountering now.
Being mindful of bathroom needs
Bathrooms are one of the most heavily visited spots in your home, especially when you have people over. Here’s a checklist to make your guests’ experience as smooth as possible:
- Make sure towels are easy to find. Don’t leave your guests looking through cabinets to find what they’re looking for.
- Make storage available to guests by cleaning out drawers and cabinets.
- Make toilet paper as available as can be. Nothing is less horrific than finding out there’s no toilet paper ready.
If you have a guest room
If you’re lucky enough to have a spare bedroom dedicated to guests, make sure it’s ready for guests:
- Declutter so there are available spots where your guests can open and keep their luggage
- Leave spare extra pillows, blankets, and towels in an easy-to-find, accessible location
- Leave magazines and books on the nightstand, anything to give your guests something to read before bedtime
Making sure your kitchen is welcoming to guests
Your kitchen will be your home’s centerpiece, the place where people will converge and chat.
Seems self-explanatory, but don’t forget to toss out expired food items. Leave some room for any food that your guests might want to bring.
If they offer help with the cooking, make the ingredients easy to find. Don’t let them go on a hunt to find salt. Buy basics that you don’t really need but you think they might appreciate. Like a creamer for your coffee or sweetener for tea.
We know what you’re thinking – it’s a little too early to do all this prep when holidays are still a few months away. But trust us, you’ll be thanking yourself when you don’t have to panic-buy, panic-fix, and panic-clean before the big day.
