Deck the halls with boughs of laughter, not stress
Between the hustle and bustle of holiday decorating, gift buying, and planning for family gatherings, your home may inevitably take a back seat during the most wonderful time of the year. While prioritizing significant home improvements might not seem important during the holidays, there are some easy things you can do to prioritize your home while keeping your sanity. Grab a candy cane, take a sip of eggnog, and add these small (but mighty) home projects to your winter to-do list.
If you’re taking a short trip to visit family or a much larger vacation from the winter snow, it can be easy to get swept up in planning details. However, no matter if you live in a frozen tundra that can receive upwards of 20 inches of snow at a time or in the sunny skies of the south, one thing must be considered before you go—your front yard. Do you have flowers that will need to be watered? Or maybe a driveway that will need to be plowed while you’re gone?
While relying on a neighbor might serve you well while you’re gone, it might be beneficial to you to hire this project out to a professional, especially if you plan to be away for a while. You can hire a local snow removal company on a contractual basis for any major snowstorms that might head your way in your absence. Or, if you live in better weather, consider hiring a lawn care professional near you to mow your lawn as needed and water your garden to keep your yard looking beautiful, even if you’re not there full-time.
Nothing can make the holidays less holly and jolly than having inconveniences—music that skips, lights that you have to find the switch for, or having a house that is too cold for guests to enjoy. Smart technology is there to work for you, and at the times that are typically the most stressful, it’s not a bad idea to have it available. Even better, having smart technology can make your home safer, which is always a top priority.
You don’t need to go fancy with a whole-home makeover to incorporate smart devices. You can start small by installing a smart doorbell at your front door. Especially during a season when you're getting a lot of door activity, like packages, guests, and even carolers, it’s nice to see exactly who’s at your door, even if you’re not home. Or, you can install a smart thermostat to control your home's temperature from anywhere, ensuring that you (or your guests) don’t walk into a cold house.
Whether hosting lots of parties for friends and family or keeping it simple with just you and your sweetie, setting the stage for holiday get-togethers can seem like a big task. No matter if you keep the decor simple and minimal or go full-on extravagant, having a plan in place can significantly make this task seem less like a chore, allowing you to deck the halls with a smile on your face (instead of a scowl).
One of the more tedious holiday decorating tasks is setting up your outdoor holiday lighting. If you have a multi-story home, hanging outdoor lights can be downright dangerous. To make the outside of your home twinkle with the magic of the holidays without the risk of personal injury, hire a professional holiday lighting installer in your area. Some other ways to make your home holiday-ready include:
Cleaning your refrigerator to get it ready for your holiday feast.
Stocking your bathroom with all the essentials, such as toilet paper, hand soap, and towels.
Prepping your kitchen with enough serveware for your guests.
Ridding your home of pet hair, especially if you have guests visiting with allergies.
Once the holidays are over, it’s time to de-decorate your home of all the garland, tinsel, and holiday lights to return to your everyday home decor. And while it can be tempting to throw all the decorations into a pile in your garage to tackle for next year, you’ll most likely regret that decision later. Some ways to get your home out of a winter wonderland and back to your cozy quarters include:
Organize your holiday decor into boxes or bins to make them easily accessible for next season.
Hiring a professional cleaning service to deep clean your home after large family gatherings.
Cleaning your upholstered furniture to rid them of any newly-acquired stains from holiday parties.
Properly store your holiday lights by packaging them in their original box or perhaps on a clothes hanger.
