Check off these holiday home improvements before your guests start to arrive
The holiday season is a great time to tackle your home improvement list.
However, you don't want to plan any big renovations that are going to take weeks to tackle and create an even bigger mess.
Instead, stick to smaller chores like cleaning your windows, blowing all the leaves off your driveway and lawn, and ensuring you have no creaky stairs or slippery entryways.
As you prepare to get your holiday feast on and host people in your home, there are some tasks you may want to tackle first. While you’ll probably want to avoid major home improvements before the holidays, these smaller fixes and maintenance items are things you can do right this very moment. Plus, any home improvements you make now can help create a more festive and calming atmosphere for everyone.
The last thing you want greeting your guests is a slippery, 2-foot-deep carpet of wet leaves at your entrance. So, before you open your home to others, it’s smart to take a leaf blower to remove all debris from your driveway, front walkway, and any patios or decks. Leaf blowing will serve the dual purpose of keeping guests from tracking grime into your house, meaning less mess for you to clean up later.
How can Santa shimmy down your chimney if it’s clogged with ash and soot? For safety reasons, it’s a good investment to have a local chimney sweep inspect your fireplace and chimney annually, particularly before you light the first fire of the season.
Planning to hang wreaths, lighting or other exterior decor pieces on your house? Allow an extra hour to clean the glass, both inside and out, before you do. All eyes are going to be on your stunning window displays once your decorations are up, and you want the wreaths to shine, not the grime, right?
What’s more welcoming than a cheerful front door? Adding a fresh coat of paint to your front door is a great way to change the look of your home's exterior with minimal work and investment. You could also consider doing any interior touch-ups at the same time or transforming a smaller space like a powder room that could use a holiday glow-up.
Not confident in your painting ability? Consider hiring a local painting contractor.
Every home has that one creaky stair, and chances are you’ve been putting off fixing it until later. Before grandma and her squad arrive, though, you’ll want to make sure all entry steps and other stairways are solid with no loose or rotting boards. While you’re at it, check to make sure all handrails are secure and add rubber treads to stairs or other parts of your house where visitors (and you) may need more traction.
If you're preparing for the holidays early enough, it may be a good time to do a deep clean around your home's exterior and landscaping. Any abandoned branches or lawn waste can rot and cause issues with pests when things start to warm up again. You can also plan to winterize any outdoor elements before you get too busy with the holidays.
Planning an even bigger lawn makeover? Contact local landscapers and lawn services.
Whether you’re hosting a major holiday dinner or just planning to stay at home, the holiday season is a great time to get your kitchen in order. Scrub down your oven and stove by hand—then run the oven’s self-cleaning cycle if it has one.
You can also re-oil your counters if you have a stone top like soapstone and strip and polish your flooring if needed. Also, consider giving all your pots and pans a good scrub down. Future you will be thankful for the foresight when you’re too busy for fussy projects like these next year.
Deck the halls and stock the bathrooms: Ensure that all of your powder rooms and other bathrooms have an ample supply of toilet paper, hand towels, air fresheners, and anything else you need to make your holiday guests feel welcome.
While you’re at it, do a once-over of all towel hooks and toilet paper holders to make sure they don’t need to be re-secured.
As the weather starts to turn, many organizations across the country are in dire need of coats, scarves, gloves and other warm-weather wear donations. Allot an afternoon to sift through all of your winter wear and donate anything that no longer fits or serves you.
