As the twelve days of Christmas begin to count down, it’s time to get your home ready for friends, family, and best of all, Santa. Getting your home prepped for the holidays can be stressful. Between buying gifts for the kids to cooking meals for your holiday dinner, there’s a lot you need to get done. The best way to stay calm and unstressed this holiday season is by staying prepared and organized. With this list of eight tips on how to get your home ready for Christmas, you’ll be able to sit back and relax and enjoy your time with your loved ones.

1. Decorate Your Christmas Tree

This goes without saying, but you can’t celebrate Christmas without a Christmas tree. You can turn this activity into a fun adventure for the whole family. Pack the kids up in the car and head over to your local Christmas tree farm. Bringing your kids along to find a tree is a great activity to do during Christmas break. Once you find the perfect tree, strap it to the roof and begin decorating once you get home. You can turn this into a lasting memory by playing your favorite holiday classics such as Jingle Bells and O’ Christmas Tree.

2. Send Out Christmas Cards

Once your tree is decorated, it’s time to get everyone in an ugly sweater and pose for your family Christmas card. Whether you opt for a smiling photo or a silly one, all of your recipients will light up with joy when they see your family’s faces the moment they open their mailbox. You can also use your Christmas cards as invitations for your holiday party or Christmas Day gathering.

3. Bring Some Flowers Indoors

Just because the cold winds and temperatures of winter cause all of your flowers and plants to die outside, doesn’t mean you can’t bring some life indoors. There are plenty of flowers you can place throughout your home that adds some color and fresh air to your home. Some popular Christmas-time flowers you can put in vases include:

• Poinsettia
• Carnations
• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Amaryllis
• Orchids

4. Decorate Your Front Lawn

You don’t want Santa to land on your roof and see no Christmas spirit in your front lawn. Your yard is the first thing guests and reindeer see, so make sure you make a great first impression. To spruce up your lawn this holiday season, place Christmas wreaths over all of your windows and doors, assemble light-up reindeer and snowmen on your front porch, and wrap your trees and shrubbery with Christmas lights. Your home will look like it belongs in the North Pole in no time.

5. Make Closet Space

Throughout winter, you’re going to have a ton of guests coming in and out of your home, which means you’re going to need ample closet space to store their large and puffy winter jackets. Remove any unnecessary garments such as light jackets and beach towels and store them in your attic or basement until winter is over and it’s time to bring them back out.

6. Prepare Your Chimney

There’s nothing like the sound of a crackling fire as you watch your favorite Christmas movie or eat a delicious home-cooked meal with your family. However, chimneys need regular upkeep, so before winter rolls in, make sure you hire a freelance chimney sweeper to remove any built-up soot and debris that’s accumulated throughout the year.

7. Begin Meal Prepping

If you’re expecting guests to come over on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, you’re going to need to set aside a large chunk of time to cook dinner and dessert to fill everyone’s bellies. This means you need to meal prep well in advance. Grocery stores are madhouses around the holidays, so try your best to gather all the supplies you need for your recipes a week or two in advance in case there’s a shortage.

8. Clean Your Home

From slush to mud and snow to freezing rain, your home can become dirty pretty fast, especially if you have kids who spend hours playing in the snow. Before your guests arrive, make sure you thoroughly clean your home. This means decluttering your home by getting rid of anything you no longer need, and getting the guest room ready for family visiting from afar.

Key Takeaways

Getting your home ready for Christmas is going to take some time and elbow grease. But there’s no better feeling than being in the Christmas spirit, surrounded by family and friends and a warm fire. With these tips, you can rest assured knowing your home will make everyone feel comfy and cozy.