The holiday season is a wonderful time to invite friends and family over to enjoy the warmth of your home. If you are like so many of us here at Global Realty, chances are you have already made plans for hosting over the holidays. The main problem is that while making these plans, you promised yourself that you would perform necessary maintenance and cleaning and more likely than not, that has not occurred.

Don’t fret! Now is the time to proactively clean and work on your home to prepare for guests.

Focus Your Efforts

Squeezing in time into your busy schedule is difficult, especially during the holidays. With time of the essence, focus on the main spaces of your home which guests are likely to spend most of their time. These spaces typically include kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas. Other areas of the home can be looked over until you have more time.

To make your home as fresh and guest-ready as possible, clean appliances and surfaces in your kitchen with material-specific cleaners. Replacing dated lighting fixtures is a quick way to add contemporary or tradition appeal – depending on your tastes. Other easy improvements include cabinet hardware, table linens and floor mats. Replacing these three things in your kitchen can transform the area into an entirely new space.

Accent Pieces for Maximum Impact

Rotating the accent pieces of your living areas can reinvigorate a room for the holidays. Our favorite addition is to swap old pillows and blankets for coordinated pieces by color, style, and size. Dark red tones are a great way to infuse the holiday spirit within living areas without going overboard.

Since Michigan experiences some of the coldest weather in the United States during the holidays, it is important to consider the material of these accent pieces. Choosing warm fabrics such as wool and cashmere for pillows and throw blankets can give guests a cozy feeling. Rotating these accent pieces is an inexpensive alternative to painting walls and replacing furniture. Remember that accent pieces are just accents, do not overpower guests with too much visual stimulation.

Holiday Cleaning

Spring cleaning may receive special attention in your home; however, you should not wait until then to get started. Dust and clean hard to reach areas, that way your quick, last-minute cleaning can be as effective as possible. Reorganizing personal effects in an orderly fashion show attention to detail and make spaces especially inviting. One way to go above and beyond in providing your guests with hospitality is to pre-arrange space for their personal items in your coat closet.

Make Guests Feel at Home

One of the most important considerations to make when preparing to receive overnight guests is how they will feel when they are in your home. Leave simple written instructions on how to use appliances and connect to WiFi around the home.

We hope you have a very happy holiday season. For more real estate tips and tricks please visit our blog.