Practical Tips To Prepare Your Home For Holiday Guests

Today I will be sharing how to prepare your home for holiday guests with cozy decor; plus some practical tips that will take the stress out of hosting guests!

This post contains affiliate links. You can read our full disclosure here.

Happy Thanksgiving friends! For the past several years, I have hosted a big family Thanksgiving dinner at my home, so I know a thing or two about how to prepare your home for holiday guests with cozy decor. I also know that while hosting a big gathering can be lots of fun, it can also bring on some stress.

If you know anything about me, you know that I can be a bit of a perfectionist. Okay, maybe more than just a bit haha However, I think God knew what He was doing when He blessed me and my husband Mike with four boys, because they have really taught me how to let things go and be more relaxed when it comes to keeping a “perfect” home.

I won’t lie to you though, I still can find myself getting a little stressed at times preparing for holiday guests. The perfectionist in me wants my home to be a beautiful, spotless picture of Thanksgiving or Christmas perfection for my visitors, but that is just not attainable. A lesson that I am continually having to teach myself is that a “perfect” house full of holiday decor does not always equal an inviting atmosphere.

Sometimes a home can look so spotless that your guests may not feel welcome haha Yes, a clean home with pretty decor can create a cozy atmosphere, but let’s not forget that the holiday season is about more than just holiday decor; it is about the time we spend with our loved ones making memories together, and more importantly the One who saved us all, Jesus!

So yes, give me all the comfort and warmth of cozy decor, but don’t get so hung up on the decor and cleaning and organizing that you miss the moments filled that special holiday spirit. Okay, enough of me preaching to myself haha let’s get into how to prepare your home for holiday guests with cozy decor and some practical tips for hosting!

Cozy Holiday Decor

Okay probably the most obvious, yet important piece of decor for a cozy home is blankets and throw pillows!! We are getting into the colder months, and your guests will appreciate having an easily accessible basket of blankets in the living room to curl up on the couch with. Plus you can bring in colors with your pillows and blankets that you maybe wouldn’t normally decorate with.

For fall, I have a beautiful floral blanket with some orange hues in it that I have draped over my arm chairs. Orange really isn’t in my preferred color scheme, but it works for Thanksgiving decor! The same idea applies for Christmas too – a pretty red pillow on your guest room bed, or a green chunky blanket on a bench by your front door really helps to bring in the colors of the season and some much needed cozy holiday essentials!

What better way to add some cozy ambiance to your home than with string lights, lamps, and a scented candle! There is just something about turning off the overhead lights and filling the room with the sparkle of Christmas lights on a wreath or garland, or reflecting off ornaments on the tree. It really turns your seasonal decor into the focal point of the room and sets the holiday mood.

Lamps are another way to decorate for the season using patterns or colors you normally wouldn’t use. Try switching out your lamp shade with a cute holiday plaid, or completely replace a lamp with a holiday themed one! The thrift store is full of fun and unique seasonal decor at affordable prices. A vintage lamp can also bring in that warm fuzzy nostalgic feeling.

Candles are a must when I am hosting guests! I love to use tapered candles on my holiday tablescape, but honestly the glow of candles all throughout my home not only adds ambiance but also fills my home with yummy smells of pumpkin, cinnamon or vanilla. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have a candle burning in your guest bathroom counter to make your guests feel a little more at ease when they have to go haha

Practical Hosting Tips

If you are hosting guests for a dinner or party, my biggest tip would be to prepare as much as you possibly can well before your guests are due to arrive. Deep clean your home the day before. Bake your pies and sweet treats the night before. Prep your main dish so all you have to do is put in in the oven the day of. If you are waiting to do everything the day your guests come, you are going to end up stressing yourself out trying to get everything done on time.

If you are hosting guests for an extended amount of time, my biggest tip would be to do as much as is in your power to make your guests feel comfortable and at home. I like to set my guests up so that they have to ask as little of me as possible, not because I don’t want to be inconvenienced, but because I know it can be hard for guests to speak up when they need something for fear of being a “burden” to their host.

Thankfully, I have a fully finished basement that has a sink area and a mini fridge so that my guests really can have their own little private space down there. But you don’t have to have a finished basement to make your guests feel at home! Simply set them up with everything they will need in their guest bedroom or guest bathroom. The more you prepare before they arrive, the less stress you’ll likely feel once they are there.

A welcome basket filled with toiletries such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, soap can really go a long way! Make sure your guest bath is stocked with extra towels, washcloths, shampoo and conditioner and let your guests know they are welcome to use anything! Have some goodies laid out like snacks and water bottles so they don’t have to go to the kitchen if they don’t want to. These are just a few practical tips to make your guests feel at ease and to take some stress off of hosting!

Well friends, I hope this post on how to prepare your home for holiday guests with cozy decor and practical hosting tips helped you feel more prepared for the season! Do you have any practical tips you would like to add? Let me know in the comments below! I know this can be such a busy and stressful time for some people. I truly hope you are able to slow down and enjoy the season this year.

PIN IT FOR LATER