Before your driveway is full of cars and your hallways full of guests, you’ll most likely be setting your sights on preparing your home before everyone arrives for your holiday get-togethers. At first, this could seem like a daunting task, but at Riverside Homebuilders, we’ve put together a checklist for you to ensure that your home is ready for anything this holiday season. 

Create additional seating arrangements

Sometimes the dining room table simply isn’t big enough to fit everyone around it, but if you have an open-concept floor plan, your kitchen island can always be used for additional seating, while still allowing your guests to join in on any conversations. For larger family gatherings with children in attendance, you can also add in a few small folding tables to your living room for additional space. Easily spruce up the look by adding a simple tablecloth or festive centerpiece, and they can quickly be stored away once the meal is finished.  

The living room is where you and your guests will undoubtedly be spending most of your time together, so you’ll want to take the time to figure out the best way to accommodate more people in your home. You may want to clear a few unnecessary items out of the space and slightly push any couches or chairs back from their current location to open up the room more. If you have any accent chairs throughout other rooms in your home they can easily be added to the living room for more seating space. For kids, sometimes all they need are a few cushions on the floor and an activity or game to play, and they’ll be occupied for hours on end. 

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, always keep an eye on the weather as well, and if there are blue skies on the horizon, spend the afternoon and evening hours enjoying each other’s company on your back patio. 

De-clutter the necessary areas

Cleaning your home is probably close to the top of your list of things to do, but in reality, you only need to make a few rooms the priority. Wipe down the microwave and fridge in the kitchen, but leave the deep clean of the oven for after the night ends, add in a basket of extra toiletries to your bathroom so guests can easily find anything they might need and give your living room and dining room a little TLC to spruce them up. Comfort is key for holiday gatherings, and if you have a few people coming in from out of town, make sure you have your guest room ready for any overnighters. 

Keep toddlers and pets in mind when decorating

Decorating for Christmas is something that could start as early as November 1, so keep in mind  if you have children and pets coming for any holiday parties, it’s best to keep any breakable decorations out of reach from little hands and ensure that nothing too small is lying around. For the Christmas tree, try placing your larger, more durable ornaments near the bottom of the tree (perhaps starting a bit higher than you might usually) and add your smaller, more delicate ornaments to the top. This is a good way to ensure nothing is easily pulled off and broken, and it adds a cohesive look to the overall tree decoration. 

Plan ahead and enjoy the moment 

The main purpose of the season is to spend time with your loved ones, so plan ahead where you can, and don’t stress if you don’t get everything done— simply enjoy the time spent with your friends and family. 

At Riverside Homebuilders, we hope that your holiday season is filled with love and laughter, and if you decide that perhaps it’s time to upsize your home for when the next holiday rolls back around, give us a call at (817) 601-6230 or contact us online and we’ll help you find the perfect home for you and your family in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.