With the end of the year in sight, school breaking up and the holiday season just around the corner, what better time to spruce up your home than now. The holiday season calls for plenty of food, friends and family and if you are planning to play host this year, you might want to start getting your house in order. 

It is important to remember is that over this time of the year it is likely that you will have people over, kids will be on holidays and family could be staying with you, all of which need to be considered in order for a smooth holiday season. It is a perfect time of the year to get the big jobs out of the way, like cleaning the oven, tending to the garden and carpet cleaning.

Below are a few tips and tricks you can use to get your home ready for the holiday season, stay organized and be in control and ready for a great time.

Stock Up

This time of the year the supermarkets are crazy, especially right before Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. It is important to figure out what you will need and when you will need it, as well as some back up meals and tin-fillers for when people just drop round. First, write a list. Check out this Ultimate Christmas Checklist leading up to the holiday season. This is one of the most powerful tools for making sure you get everything you need, and nothing you do not. Try to separate it out based on the stores you will find each product in. For example, keep all of your groceries on one list and presents on another to save time and keep you feeling in control. Stock up on food, beverages and extra household items. This could be cleaning products, paper towels, tin foil and toilet paper. 

Declutter

With the days getting longer, and the weather is getting a little warmer this is a perfect time to do some good old-fashioned tidying and decluttering. Not only will this help to spruce up the house or apartment, it is a sure-fire way to help clear the head and give you a fresh start. Start by going around the house and using the ‘need it, use it, love it’ test, where you ask yourself if you “Do I need this?”, and “Do I use this?” and so on. If it is a no, then it has got to go. This is such a quick and easy way to declutter your home before the chaos of the holiday season. It is important not to use the ‘need it, use it, love it’ trick on the whole house all in one day as it can become a fairly arduous task. Start small and work your way slowly throughout the house over the course of a week or so.  

Garden 

If you’re in warmer areas during this time, a quick touch up in the garden and a good watering will do wonders for both you and your garden. This is one of the instant reward jobs that will not take too long but will look so much better after. It’s important to get out there and take care of them before it turns into a jungle. If you are tight on time, focus on the areas around entrances and outdoor entertainment areas. Pull weeds, sweep the driveway and paths, shake door mats and give the garden a good watering in the cooler parts of the day. Also, keep on top of the lawn as mowing them is a quick way to make your garden pop. 

Cater for Comfort

If you are going to have people staying over the holidays, make sure you have plenty of items to keep you guests comfortable and entertained. These do not have to be super fancy and break the bank, but a collection of little things that add up to create something special. Hand towels, freshly ironed sheets, nice soaps, outdoor games and toys for baby is a great start. Little touches of thought and care really go a long way, and will make your guests feel like they are holidaying at a 5-star resort.  

Maintenance

Now is the perfect time to write a list and schedule the big jobs. This might be the kind of jobs you have been putting off for a while, but it is important to get on top of them now before the holiday season gets into full swing. 

This one can be trickier if you are short on time, but will leave you and your home ready for the busy holiday season ahead. Cleaning things like ovens and fridges both inside and out, cleaning the floors and most importantly the carpets and upholstery. Carpet cleaning is one of those things that make a massive difference to any area, as most of the time you do not actually know how dirty they really are. Do-it-yourself cleaning methods work great for small spaces or stains, however always be sure to check with the manufacturer’s guidelines and test on a small area before attempting any DIY carpet cleaning. Professional carpet dry cleaning will not only take the hassle out of the job and let you focus on the more exciting things that come along with the holiday season, but the end result can be astounding.  

With a little planning, and careful preparation of the home, your holiday season will go by smoothly and effortlessly. The holiday season is a time for relaxing, and having fun with family and friends. These five tips will help take the unwanted stress that comes along with it, and get your house ready for this exciting season.