As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to think about decorating your home for the celebrations. Colorful Christmas lights give your home a vibrant, festive touch, and they’re a wonderful way to welcome neighbors, family members, and friends. If you’re planning to have guests over this holiday season, it’s also important to make sure that your home is ready to welcome them in style. From decorating your home with lights and interior décor to getting it guest-ready, this guide contains various helpful tips to make the process easier. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a beautiful holiday home that’s warm and inviting.
Planning
Before you start hanging Christmas outdoor lights, it’s important to do a little prep work in advance to ensure success.
Examine your exterior: Take a quick walk around your home and look at areas that could use some lights and a few places that may need a little TLC. Trim overgrown hedges and tree limbs, and make sure that all of the home’s entryways are clear for visitors to enter and exit safely. Repair any cracks in your sidewalk and ensure that your front porch is clean and that all stairs and railings are secure.
Consider every area: As you look at ideas for decoration with lights, consider various areas, including the porch, the front door, walkways, and even the driveway. You can also add sparkling lights to your landscaping by hanging them in trees or shrubs for a festive glow.
Decide on your design: Whatever festive design you like best, think about the main theme and overall look of your holiday decorating before you start. If you need some inspiration, sketch out a few ideas on paper or go online to find others who have decorated their homes in a style you love; you can also check out some Christmas light displays to get some ideas on what you would like for your home.
Pick a focal point: Choosing a focal point is a basis for all decorating, including holiday lighting and décor. Whether it’s a large inflatable Santa Claus or a gorgeous wreath, decide what focal point you want to use, then decorate everything around it for a beautiful look.
Popular spots: Here are some popular areas where you can add holiday lights:
o Roofline: Lighting up your roofline is a classic move, so be sure you add strings of lights around at least the front and sides along the roofline of your home.
o Pillars: If your front porch has pillars, consider wrapping some lights around them to create a stunning and festive illuminated touch.
o Around bushes and trees: Recreate your holiday tree outside by hanging lights on and around a few bushes and trees.
o On shutters: You can even add holiday lighting to your shutters if you choose. Attach the lights around the edges of your shutters to create a gingerbread house-inspired look.
o Around railings: Wrap some string lights around the railings in front of your home. Not only will it add a festive glow, but it’s a great way to make things safer for your guests at night.
o Framing windows and doors: Add lights around your windows and door frames for a bright and festive touch.
o On driveways and pathways: Use unique lighting to illuminate walkways or your driveway. You can find a variety of solar stake lights or just string some lights along the edges to brighten things up – secure everything to the ground since any loose cords can be a trip hazard, so just make sure they are secured to prevent injuries during the holidays.
Measure: Before you start your outdoor holiday decorating, you must measure the length of each area you plan to add some lights. This will ensure that you have enough lights to cover the entire area. Don’t forget to consider the distance to a power source such as an exterior electrical outlet. An extension cord can help you gain more length so that everything reaches and covers the whole space you plan to decorate.
Prepare your lights for installation
Now that you have some planning in place, it’s time to prep your lights for installation.
Types of lights: Most holiday lights are either LED or incandescent. Here is some information about the two.
o LED: When it comes to saving money and energy, LED lights are a great option. These long-lasting lights come in a huge range of styles, and they last for years without having to change a lightbulb.
o Incandescent: These classic lights are still in use, but they’re not as popular as more modern LED options. Incandescent lights create a broad-spectrum white light but are often covered in paint to give them a variety of colors when they’re turned on.
Pick a color theme: Do you adore white lights? How about festive colors? Decide on the main color theme before decorating and keep it consistent throughout your home. You can also add other colors with decorations, including metallics like silver and gold, or classic colors like green and red.
Check the lights before displaying them: Before you spend time and energy hanging and displaying your lights, plug each strand in to confirm that they’re working correctly to save you lots of headaches later.
Set up light clips: Light clips hold your Christmas light strands in place, so set them up before hanging your lighting to make the process easier. These clips will keep everything secure, and they also make it easier to set up your template before you hang the lighting.
Set up the electricity source: Make sure you have access to electricity near the areas you plan to decorate. You can use an extension cord or a generator to extend the source, but always make sure everything you use is safe and outdoor rated.
If you have a very high roofline, or if it’s hard to get up there to hang light strings, you can get Christmas laser lights and projectors, these are a good option to decorate your home without the hassle of hanging lights.
Prepare your home for overnight guests
Once you’ve decorated your home with lighting, you can also add some indoor decor. Maybe try a basic minimalist Christmas decor if you don’t want to spend too much on decorations, or go for a Santa’s home decor if you’re really into the Christmas spirit. You can even opt for having an eco-friendly Christmas, and maybe try renting a Christmas tree instead of buying a natural one that you will have to dispose of at the end of the season.
Once you have that setup, it’s time to prepare your home for guests during the holidays. Here are some tips to ensure that your home is holiday-ready and comfortable.
Stock up your pantry and fridge: Be sure to fill your fridge with various beverages and healthy snacks. You should also stock up the pantry with items like granola bars, chips, and other easy snacks so your hungry guest can easily grab something to munch on between meals.
Declutter and deep clean: A clean home is a welcoming home, so make sure you take some time to declutter and remove excess “stuff” from the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and guest room. A deep clean is also recommended so that everything is spotless and sanitary. Scrub the bathroom and kitchen counters, dust, vacuum, and mop the floors. Wash all bedding before putting it in the guest bedroom.
Get the guest room ready: Here are some quick tips to get your guest room ready for visitors.
o Comfy bed and pillows: Make the bed and use fresh linens, including comfortable sheets and blankets. Include plenty of soft, cushy pillows, so your guests get a great night’s sleep. An extra quilt or throw blanket laid across the bed will provide additional warmth and make the room look cozier.
o Prep the nightstand: Add some items to the nightstands in the guest room like a pitcher of fresh water and drinking glasses, a box of tissues, and a beautiful vase full of flowers for a nice touch.
o Amenities: Make sure you have plenty of amenities available like coffee, water, and tea. Don’t forget to give your guests the password to your Wi-Fi so they can stay connected while away from home.
o Space for unpacking suitcases: Give your guests lots of room to store their clothing and other items after unpacking their suitcases. A dresser or cabinet in the bedroom is a great choice, and be sure to free up room in your guest bedroom closet so they have a place to hang their clothes. Don’t forget to include plenty of hangers as well.
o Sleeping items: Add a fun touch to your holiday home by providing your guests with some items like an eye mask and some earplugs. This is a great way to help ensure they get a good night’s sleep, and it adds a thoughtful touch.
- Get the guest bathroom ready: Don’t forget to equip the bathroom when you prepare your home for guests. Here are some tips to ensure that this space is fresh and ready for holiday visitors.
- Extra TP and wet wipes: Stock your guest bathroom with plenty of toilet paper and put it in a lovely basket or in an area where it’s easy for your guests to find. Don’t forget to add a large tub of wet wipes or provide your guests with some small packets of wet wipes in case they need them.
- Towels and washcloths: Be sure to have plenty of clean towels and washcloths on hand. Fold and stack a few extra towels and place them on top of the vanity, so your guests have plenty whenever they shower.
- Small-sized toiletries: Create a hotel-like atmosphere by adding a few small essentials like trial-sized tubes of toothpaste, shower gel, soap, shampoo, and conditioner. You can also provide guests with new toothbrushes. A small bottle of lotion or moisturizer is always nice, too. If you have a female guest, be sure to offer them some extra sanitary pads, too.
- Hairdryer: Make sure you provide your guests with a hairdryer just in case they need one. Place it in a visible bathroom area near an outlet, so they know it’s available to use.
From creating a beautiful holiday light display to making sure your home is ready for guests, keep these tips in mind when preparing your home for the season. With some brilliant, festive lighting and a cozy space, you’ll create a home that your guests will love, and all there is left to do is find the perfect gift for every member of your family to enjoy a cheerful season.
