Getting Your Home Ready for the Peak Entertaining Season
The last three months of the year are statistically the busiest months for entertaining. Many people would like to host a gathering but shy away from doing so because they feel their homes aren't up to par. With a simple guideline, anyone can get their home in the best entertaining shape prior to an event.
Set small goals for each day (no slacking!). Make a list and stick it on your refrigerator if you have to. Seeing tasks checked off as "done" will motivate you to keep going. Do your windows need cleaning? Tackle one or two standard sized windows each day. This takes no time at all. Start with the insides and move to the outside windows on nice, cool days. If you really hate doing windows, consider hiring a window cleaning contractor. This could be money well spent, freeing you up to move on to the next task on your list. Which ever way you go, any smudged windows can be freshened up the week prior to an event and the task is no longer overwhelming!
Clean out the clutter and unused "stuff" around your home. Again, break your tasks down into small increments. And getting this major task accomplished early will make you feel more capable of planning a party. One night, instead of watching TV (such a time-waster) get rid of the paper blizzard (we all have it). Keep it under control on a weekly basis and you won't have to stuff it under the bed an hour before your guests arrive. Less clutter will definitely increase your self confidence in inviting guests over.
Is your furniture looking a bit tired? No, you don't need to run out and buy new. If you did that, you wouldn't have any money left over to have a party! Look into having a service come in and professionally steam clean the upholstery and rugs/carpet. Watch for sales and purchase some new throw pillows and see what a difference this will make to the freshness of your rooms.
If you really feel like a new coat of paint is needed to get your rooms looking festive, get this task done as early as possible. I know I've been guilty of deciding on this must-have like the week before guests are due and adding greatly to my stress factor, not to mention the inescapable "fresh paint" smell.
The kitchen and baths are usually the rooms that need the most continuous upkeep. Tidy up a drawer or two each night. Recycle or toss out excess plastic containers. One task that is often neglected is to de-grime the kitchen cabinets. You know what I'm talking about! That layer that coats particularly the upper cabinets. Get this job done early (say late October) and you won't have to deal with it for several months (long enough to get you through the holiday season). It will make a huge difference in the freshness of your kitchen - again encouraging you to want to have people over. It will require some elbow-grease on your part and the better part of a Saturday afternoon, but it's so worth it.
Strive to keep the bathroom that is available to guests as tidy as possible now. Simple tidying up on a daily basis will result in just a quick freshening up on the day of your party. In fact, why not carry this practice over to all the bathrooms!
If you can afford it, consider hiring a cleaning service for the next few months. A visit once or twice a month will keep these larger tasks in order and will save you a lot of time. This time-saved can then be used to plan a party.
However you manage these clean-up jobs, the goal is to get them done early with only light maintenance needed for the next few months. A clean, fresh home is essential in encouraging you to go ahead with that party you want to host! So get moving! Start your organization plans early and break them down into manageable increments. And remember, have fun!
Set small goals for each day (no slacking!). Make a list and stick it on your refrigerator if you have to. Seeing tasks checked off as "done" will motivate you to keep going. Do your windows need cleaning? Tackle one or two standard sized windows each day. This takes no time at all. Start with the insides and move to the outside windows on nice, cool days. If you really hate doing windows, consider hiring a window cleaning contractor. This could be money well spent, freeing you up to move on to the next task on your list. Which ever way you go, any smudged windows can be freshened up the week prior to an event and the task is no longer overwhelming!
Clean out the clutter and unused "stuff" around your home. Again, break your tasks down into small increments. And getting this major task accomplished early will make you feel more capable of planning a party. One night, instead of watching TV (such a time-waster) get rid of the paper blizzard (we all have it). Keep it under control on a weekly basis and you won't have to stuff it under the bed an hour before your guests arrive. Less clutter will definitely increase your self confidence in inviting guests over.
Is your furniture looking a bit tired? No, you don't need to run out and buy new. If you did that, you wouldn't have any money left over to have a party! Look into having a service come in and professionally steam clean the upholstery and rugs/carpet. Watch for sales and purchase some new throw pillows and see what a difference this will make to the freshness of your rooms.
If you really feel like a new coat of paint is needed to get your rooms looking festive, get this task done as early as possible. I know I've been guilty of deciding on this must-have like the week before guests are due and adding greatly to my stress factor, not to mention the inescapable "fresh paint" smell.
The kitchen and baths are usually the rooms that need the most continuous upkeep. Tidy up a drawer or two each night. Recycle or toss out excess plastic containers. One task that is often neglected is to de-grime the kitchen cabinets. You know what I'm talking about! That layer that coats particularly the upper cabinets. Get this job done early (say late October) and you won't have to deal with it for several months (long enough to get you through the holiday season). It will make a huge difference in the freshness of your kitchen - again encouraging you to want to have people over. It will require some elbow-grease on your part and the better part of a Saturday afternoon, but it's so worth it.
Strive to keep the bathroom that is available to guests as tidy as possible now. Simple tidying up on a daily basis will result in just a quick freshening up on the day of your party. In fact, why not carry this practice over to all the bathrooms!
If you can afford it, consider hiring a cleaning service for the next few months. A visit once or twice a month will keep these larger tasks in order and will save you a lot of time. This time-saved can then be used to plan a party.
However you manage these clean-up jobs, the goal is to get them done early with only light maintenance needed for the next few months. A clean, fresh home is essential in encouraging you to go ahead with that party you want to host! So get moving! Start your organization plans early and break them down into manageable increments. And remember, have fun!
posted by global take off at
5:08 AM
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