Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and holiday cheer. However, preparing your home for holiday visitors can also be stressful. There is a lot to do, from cleaning and cooking to shopping and wrapping presents. And if you’re hosting holiday parties or get-togethers, the pressure can be even greater.
Where do you even begin? What kind of Christmas decorations should you use? How can you make your home look its best for holiday entertaining, especially if you’re on a budget? It’s no wonder that a recent Healthline survey found that over 60% of respondents felt some stress during the holiday season. The most significant sources of stress were family obligations, finances, and travel.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to manage holiday stress. Taking time for yourself, setting realistic expectations, and delegating tasks can all help to reduce the pressure this year. And we’re here to help you ready your home for the holidays with ease, so you can enjoy the season and everything it brings without feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
Follow these helpful decorating tips, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a relaxing Christmas home this holiday season.
How to prepare your house for the holidays
The holidays are a wonderful time of year. When family and friends gather to celebrate, there’s nothing like coming home to a warm, welcoming house. If you’re hosting this year, it makes sense that you might feel pressure to make your space look perfect. If that’s the case, here are some suggestions for creating the ideal hosting accommodations without giving yourself anxiety:
Start with a Plan
The best way to tackle any big project is with a plan. And that’s especially true for prepping your home for holiday guests. By taking some time to plan the interior design, menu, and gift list in advance, you can avoid the last-minute scramble that often leads to holiday burnout.
Once you have your list, prioritize it according to what needs to be done first. That way, you can check items off as you go and avoid getting overwhelmed. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help or delegate some of the tasks to friends and family. There is no reason to burden the holiday preparation solely on your shoulders.
Get your seasonal décor ahead of time
One of holiday prep’s biggest hassles is dealing with the store’s last-minute shoppers. Save yourself the headache and pick up your holiday décor early.
Pro tip: many stores start putting out their holiday merchandise in October, so keep your eyes peeled. This way, you can avoid the crowds, get a jump start on decorating for your winter wonderland, and avoid the last-minute rush.
Upgrade accommodations if needed
If you’re expecting many guests this year, now is the time to start thinking about any upgrades or changes needed to accommodate everyone comfortably. Maybe you need an extra table for presents or additional chairs for the dining room table? Perhaps you need to upgrade your sofa or rearrange your furniture to create more open space. Whatever needs to be done, do it now so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
What’s more, if you’re looking to spruce up your living room for the holidays, there’s no need to break the bank. Shopping secondhand for items such as vintage ornaments and other festive decorations can easily be found at consignment and thrift shops, often at a fraction of the price. Not only is this a sustainable way to shop, but it can also add a unique touch to your holiday decor.
Additionally, with the living room being the primary gathering spot, it should be a priority to ensure it’s comfortable and inviting. Plush blankets and throws are always welcome during the colder months, and they can also add a pop of color or pattern to your decor. Or, if you have hardwood floors, consider adding an area rug to help cozy up the space even more.
How to transform your home for the holidays
The holidays are a time for gatherings, parties, and, more importantly, home entertaining. However, before everyone piles up in your home or apartment, you may find yourself in dire need of a holiday makeover. Once you have a clear and organized plan for your decorating, you can start setting the scene.
Whether you’re a first-time holiday decorator or a seasoned pro, there are always new ways to dress up your home and make it feel extra special this time of year. Here are some easy tips on transforming your home for the holidays this year:
Choose a Color Scheme
One of the first things you need to do when decorating your home for the holidays is to choose a color scheme. Do you want to go traditional with red and green? Or go for a trendy look this season with more muted and moody colors, lots of metallics, or a focus on sustainability with natural elements and materials? Whatever you decide, make sure your color scheme is consistent throughout your house. This will give your home a cohesive look and feel.
Start with the entryway
Your entryway is the first thing guests will see when they come over, so you want to ensure it creates a good impression. A traditional wreath or garland hung on the door, and a festive rug or doormat is a great place to start introducing your holiday decor.
If you have the space, set up a small table or console in the entryway and deck it out. You can incorporate some festive greenery, holiday-themed scented candles, presents, or any other decorations that will help this space come together.
If you don’t have much space to work with in the entryway, there are plenty of other options for creating something special as soon as guests walk in. Try hanging some holiday ornaments and snowflakes from the ceiling, incorporating a simple garland around the front door, or putting up some framed holiday photos of friends and family. These are just a few decorating ideas that can instantly transform your entryway before friend or family gatherings.
Think outside the tree
Of course, no Christmas décor is complete without a tree. But that doesn’t mean your Christmas tree has to be plain and boring. This year, get creative with your tree by trying a new theme or style. For example, you could go for an all-white look with white lights and creamy ornaments.
Alternatively, many people are opting for something more natural this year by using a real tree and decorating it with burlap ribbon, pinecones, and various twinkly lights. If you’re jumping on this natural look too, being sustainable and using recycled materials or secondhand items can be used to make your tree something unique in the most affordable way possible. With so much waste generated yearly from this time of the year, being mindful of our environmental impact can all help make the holidays a little more eco-conscious.
Another way to make your tree pop is to get creative with your tree skirt and decorations. A patterned or brightly colored skirt can really make the tree pop. Or you can make your own tree skirt from old fabric or blankets if you don’t want to spend money on a new one.
Either way, getting creative with your Christmas tree decorations will instantly create a focal point in your living room for everyone to admire and enjoy this year.
Garlands & Christmas wreaths galore
One of the quickest and easiest ways to get your home feeling festive is to drape garlands around doorways, railings, and windows. You can never go wrong with a traditional evergreen garland. That said, if you want to do things a little different, don’t be afraid to get creative with other materials like burlap, yarn, ribbons, or vintage accents.
And let’s not forget about the power of a well-placed Christmas wreath. You can use wreaths in many places throughout you home. The best locations to incorporate them include the doors, windows, and dining table centerpieces. Wherever you put them, they are a perfect way to add a pop of the holiday spirit to any space.
Elegant and easy embellishments
Once you have your garlands and wreaths up, it’s time to start thinking about embellishments. This is where you can really have some fun. A few well-placed holiday accents can go a long way in giving your home that festive touch. Look for items like mini snow globes, candles, glass balls, and nutcrackers to create a Christmas vibe.
But don’t be afraid to get creative—you can often find great holiday accents at thrift stores or even the dollar store. Remember that a little goes a long way. You can quickly make your home feel cluttered without being conscious of how many decorations you have already put out. Less is more these days.
Dress up your windows
Another great way to transform your space is by dressing up your windows. This is especially effective if you live in a colder climate where it’s dark outside early in the evening and you want to create a cozier effect. Ribbons, holly berries, pinecones, fairy lights, and other holiday-themed decorations can all be added to your windows to create a more festive look.
Or you can go all out with holiday-themed curtains, valences, or drapery. No matter how far you go with your window treatments this year, adding a little something special to these areas of your home will help give it a more festive feel this holiday season.
Set the mood with lighting
Speaking of light, setting the right mood with lighting is crucial when transforming your home for the holidays. We recommend mixing candles, lamps, and Christmas lights to create a warm and inviting ambiance. While string lights are always popular this time of year, don’t be afraid to experiment with your lighting choices.
Chandeliers draped with garlands or candelabras adorned with greenery make beautiful centerpieces for any holiday gathering. You can also use lanterns or tea light holders to create a warm and inviting ambiance in any room. And don’t forget about outdoor lighting! Illuminating your front porch or yard is a great way to light up your yard and create a festive first impression.
Let Kaiyo help
This holiday season, make your home the gathering place for family and friends with Kaiyo. We have a little bit of everything with an extensive inventory of sofas, chairs, bed sets, media consoles, and buffets. So, if you need to upgrade your home, let us help you become the host of the year affordably and sustainably.
Plus, you can shop from the comfort of your home without getting caught up in the rush and stress of holiday shopping. So, this Christmas, let Kaiyo help you make your home the gathering place for all your holiday festivities and gatherings.
