It’s that time of year again when Christmas is only just around the corner. The kids are amped with energy waiting in anticipation for Santa arrive and the rest of us are busy getting presents and the house ready.

Getting organised for the festive season now is the best way to reduce stress levels come Christmas Day – especially if you have family coming to stay. It’s not uncommon to have a few extra house guests staying over the holiday season. And whilst it’s definitely enjoyable for everyone, preparation is essential.

Here’s a few tips to make sure you get your home organised in time.

1. Get your guest spaces ready

Clearing out room for the family to come stay is the first step. If you’re anything like me and the guest room has turned into a junk “storage” space, start clearing it out and organising what needs to go. It’s the perfect excuse to chuck out stuff that’s been building up since last time the family came over too. Consider hiring a skip bin to encourage a full spring clean-up. This will make it easier to get rid of what you don’t need any more without the hassle of overfilling the house bins or heading to the tip.

If you don’t have a spare room, try and shuffle the house around slightly to provide as much space and privacy as possible. Even something as simple as having somewhere to put their things can make a big difference. Make sure there’s extra clean towels, fresh linen and other essentials your guests may need during their stay to make them feel comfortable.

2. Increase the security

As much as Christmas is exciting and fun for the family, it does come with one downfall. The holiday season provides an opportunity for thieves to target homes so it pays to check your security situation. If you are planning on heading away, even just for the weekend, make sure the house is securely locked and you give your neighbours a heads-up. Little things like tidying your garden and utilising timer lights can make a big difference too.

Also whilst it’s nice to keep Christmas presents under the tree, make sure curtains are drawn or the tree is positioned away from windows. Hiding gifts from prying eyes (and I don’t just mean your children!) will help to eliminate potential thieves seeing something they like and breaking in. Check all locks, windows and doors around the home to make sure everything is in working order. If you’re leaving a spare key out for family staying over, make sure you put it in a safe place that’s not obvious for other people.

3. Encourage the kids to help with decorations

It’s one of the most exciting parts about Christmas – putting up the decorations! Decorating the home should be done after you’ve completed a big spring clean-up and should definitely involve the kids. Encourage them to get creative by putting together some DIY decorations; this will also keep them entertained for a few hours while you focus on preparing the house. Hang out the Christmas stockings for Santa, put the tree up and get crafty outside with some fairy lights and other Christmas-y goodies.

4. Get house repairs finalised

There’s nothing like dealing with the house falling apart over the holidays. Dripping taps, broken steps or squeaky doors will only dampen the Christmas mood. Use this month to do a quick sweep over the place to check that everything is safe for family and friends. If you’re going to be having more children running around the house, it’s a good idea to childproof the home as much as possible too. Check decking outside to make sure no screws are loose or rusted, make sure any pool fencing and gates are in safe working order and remove any hazards from the yard.

5. ­­Cook ahead

Most people won’t enjoy spending most of the holiday season stuck in the kitchen when there’s family and friends to relax with. Cook ahead as much as possible and clear out the freezer for more storage space. Make sure the pantry and kitchen are stocked with staple items well in advance too. If you’re planning on cooking up anything new for the festive season, make sure you experiment with the recipe beforehand to eliminate any last minute stress. Organise some simple baking activities for the kids to help out in the kitchen too. Your home will feel even more welcoming and Christmas-like with the smell of backed cookies and meals!

Getting your home ready for the festive season doesn’t need to be stressful. By organising everything early on, you’ll have more time to sit back with the kids and enjoy a few glasses of vino with the family!

How do you prepare your home for Christmas? SHARE WITH US in the comments below. 

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