It’s the day after Thanksgiving, which for us means it’s a full day of Christmas decorating and holiday prep! Do you decorate with a particular plan in place? Do you prep the house with guests mind? On the Lowe’s website here, you’ll find a whole bunch of project ideas to help ensure a holiday ready home for guests. In fact, a few weeks ago, I shared some home decorating tips and awesome projects from Lowe’s following the Lowe’s Holiday Ready Home live webcast.  We usually have friends over a various points during the month of December, as well as out of town family. Making sure our house is decorated nicely & prepped for guests is important. So, here are a few tips for getting the house ready for guests during the holiday season!1. CLEAN. Do a really thorough cleaning of the house now. Then, you’ll just need to do maintenance cleaning during the month and won’t feel stressed if guests drop by or the night before parties! 🙂
2. ORGANIZE & PURGE. Tackle an organization project or two to free up space, take inventory, and purge unwanted stuff. It makes things look so much nicer and it’s great to have extra space before the holidays. We just tackled a HUGE overhaul of the garage (I’ll be sharing more of that in the upcoming months). And, we did a whole organization makeover in the pantry. It’s amazing how much difference some small changes can make!
3. INVITING ENTRY WAY. Whether you have a front porch, deck, yard, or just a front door, making it festive and inviting is such a nice way to greet guests. It can be as simple or elaborate as you want, but entry way decor really sets the tone. Last year, we made some topiary Christmas trees that I just love. They look great in our front entry! 4. HAVE GUEST ITEMS AVAILABLE. Make sure you have items for guests on hand – cute boxes of tissues, extra toilet paper in the bathroom, holiday themed soaps, maybe even some personal gifts. You could even have some holiday spice bath salts to have in the bathroom or a fun candy/gum bouquet out for guests to share.
What are YOUR tips for prepping the house for holiday guests? Let us know below and you have a chance to win a $50 Lowe’s Gift Card!!! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DisÂcloÂsure: As a memÂber of the Lowe’s CreÂative Ideas CreÂators & InfluÂencers NetÂwork, this is part of a sponÂsored camÂpaign with Lowe’s. I received a Lowe’s gift card to comÂplete my projects. HowÂever, all ideas, opinÂions, & expeÂriÂences are entirely my own.
67 Responses
Love to use natural items like pine cones in holiday decor!
I like using driftwood, teak and other natural accents to decorate.
My favorite holiday guest tips to to leave out a basket of items they can use when staying the night like soaps and shampoos.
get the lights up before the first really big snow
I like to use pine cones in decoration
Metallic spray paints are your friends :+)
I don’t have overnight guests, but I make sure I each station separate. Drinks, appetizer’s, deserts, etc.
My Favorite Guest Tip Is To Gift Guest’s A Personalized Item Such As Slippers Or A Bathrobe.
My favorite is an oldie: have that day’s desert baking/cooling in the oven when the guests arrive!
When we get our Christmas tree we also pick up extra branches to decorate our mantel with.
I love using pine scented candles
Make sure there is enough food!
My favorite holiday guest/decor tip is to use decorative scents to make a home feel welcome.
I have frozen meals, appetizers etc on hand for those unexpected guests that may drop by
I love decorating, but think simple is sometimes better!
My favorite holÂiÂday guest tips to always have snacks, fruit trays and soda on hand.
Have as much food pre prepared as possible!
Take things one day at a time! Don’t forget to breathe when it gets crazy!
I love to decorate with photos. I especially like making ornaments with photos displayed inside them.
I try to keep it simple
More twinkle lights are always a great idea!
use ornaments to design your own wreath
I love to add different decorations like ornaments on the presents under the Christmas tree. I also like decorating my fireplace with real Christmas tree garland and ornaments.
Keep an assortment of nuts, olives, crackers, cheese, and cookies or candies for unexpected guests. Just put them in pretty glass or silver bowls for a pretty presentation and great snacks without a lot of work!
I like to decorate the inside of my house with lights and I put small Christmas trees in a few corners.
I love to wrap our pictures on the wall with Christmas wrapping paper and ribbons and bows! Then I hang them back up!
Put bottles of water in the guest’s room in case they get thirsty or have to take medicine, etc. It’s just handy.
dried Okra can be painted and used as a decoration as well as pinecones and two old style clothes pins can be glued and turned into a reindeer.
My tip is dont go crazy with schedules, just have fun.
I like to have nice soaps and hand towels for guests.
I love to put small glass ornament balls intermingled with tinsel or garland into glass vases and jars it is very pretty and stylish, if it has a lid keeps cats out or you can put plastic wrap and tie with a bow or like to keep the cats from tearing apart your decorations..
What is your favorite holiday guest/decor tip?
INVITING ENTRY WAY. Whether you have a front porch, deck, yard, or just a front door, makÂing it fesÂtive and invitÂing is such a nice way to greet guests. It can be as simÂple or elabÂoÂrate as you want, but entry way decor really sets the tone. Last year, we made some topÂiÂary ChristÂmas trees that I just love. They look great in our front entry!
wont work here though
My favorite tip is to leave new bottles of soap, toothpaste and goodies in the guest bathroom!
We like to do a lot of crafts for decorations. We look for great handmade tutorials.
I like to save the sweet Santa photos we get from friends and family, but what to do with them all? I finally made a Santa display, with Santa photos in red (only) frames and Santa figures placed among the photos. I look for paintable frames in all shapes and sizes at the thrift stores during the year. Too fun!
I definitely like my place to smell festive – like pine or pumpkin (via candles, etc).
We spray branches with metallic paint to make centerpieces for the table!!
I love having edible favors for party guests to take home!
Its hard to decorate with pets! Small things placed up high where cats and dogs can’t reach are best.
I love to bake, so when I have time at the beginning of the month before all the craziness begins. I like to bake some breads, muffins cookies that will freeze well. That way I have goodies available to pull out for guests or up coming parties. Same thing can be done with meals and be stored in the freezer.
make the place smell nice with candles
Definitely having guest items available!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Love setting guests up with their own mini coffee bar in their room! That way they can have their coffee in their jammies while they get ready!
I love using natural, fresh decor. I absolutely love the smell of fresh pine!
I like to have bagged treats or candy canes by my door with a note that says “Thank you for sharing the holiday season with us! Merry Christmas!” Then whenever guests stop by, I have a little gift to give them.
During the holidays I like to use natural wreaths so the house smells of pine. I also like to setup guest towels with guest soaps in the bathroom
I love earthy colors for my guests!
Each year I find myself simplifying more and more. Also, I try to place all ‘like’ items together to make my decorations look more cohesive. For example, my small Christmas tree collection is together, all the angels are in one spot, and all the snowflake items are in another area.
Plan in advance to make things easy!
I love making a Hot Chocolate Station that stays through the holidays!
i like to leave a pile of magazines & catalogs in the guest room for them to read while they are staying. Plus I also love to leave a welcome gift in the guest room.
Make sure you have enough chairs/seating for all your guests!
My tip is to buy small items throughout the year when they are on sale..wrap them close to Christmas and keep them on hand for unexpected company so that they will have a nice gift to take home!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I like switching out pillows and sheets for festive prints.
I always bring something like food or some wine if im going somewhere for a holiday party
Leaving over the counter remedies to common ailments out in a decorative box/basket in the bathroom. It is a party and people may over indulge so things like Tums, Aspirin, etc. can be appreciated.
My best tip is always treat others as you would like to be treated.
My holiday guest decor tip is to have a nice wreath on the front door. It’s the first thing your guest will see before they come in and it will get them in the Christmas spirit!
My favorite tip is to use air fresheners to make it seem more welcoming
Great tips! I agree with organizing and purging! I plan on doing that soon!
Try to do as much as you can ahead of time!
Prep for guests way in advance. It’s so stressful prepping in the last minute!
My best tip is to keep things organized and neat.
I like to put up lots of Christmas lights.
Enjoy the guests. Enjoy the decorating. This should not be a chore 🙂
Thank you again, Sara! Thank you so much!
I like to display old pictures of christmas partys – its a great conversation starter.