Is it Christmas yet? Transitioning your Home for the Season

Our homes work extra hard in the last few months of the year, so let's talk about transitioning them to be the most hosting friendly, beautiful, and fun that they can be.

Halloween is officially over so we are firmly in the holiday season. We're so excited for the season of hosting, celebrating, eating and gifting, and we're going to give you a lot of thoughts, tips and tricks on how to make your home work for whatever the goal is for you. To kick off our 6 holiday tips we’re going to talk about sales!

Tip #1 Buy What Is Helpful

A lot of us are thinking about shopping as Black Friday nears, and I think more people this year will be opening sales up early. Keep in mind just what would be helpful to you and how you can use sales specifically to your advantage.

And think about the needs that you have specifically for this season. Do you need a popup table because you're going to have extra guests over for meals? Do you need to have some extra chairs to fit at that Pop-Up table? Do you need an air mattress? Think about what you need, what could help make your life easier, and shop smart!

Tip #2 Remove decor before adding more!

You can easily get overwhelmed in the holiday season, especially if you're a big gift giver with all the stuff in your house it can easily get pretty cluttered. That is why our next tip is so helpful: Remove some decor before you get out the seasonal stuff. Take down some of your mainstay simple stuff. If you have coffee, table books, knickknacks, different even pieces of art, if you want to add more things to the walls, sometimes providing a blank slate to then decorate for the holidays can really help you from feeling completely overwhelmed in your home. Getting the clutter out of the way would definitely help as you have more people and more things inevitably in your house.

And a bonus is that at the end of the holiday season, when you're putting your regular décor back, it feels fresh and  it's exciting to put the seasonal decor away and take your regular decor back out.Now, I want to be clear. We're not putting pressure on you to go buy all of HomeGoods and put it in your house. Now, if you want to do that, we're in full support, but decor does not have to be so overt.

Tip #3 Subtle Seasonal Decor 

When you walk into the front door of your home it doesn’t need to say “It’s Fall” or “It’s Christmas Here”, your decorating can speak for itself by being subtle instead of overt. If you want a change, that 's a change in all of the senses, it's not just visual decor, but it's also things having to do with smell, taste, feel. So seasonal snacks, seasonal fabrics, think flannel sheets or plaid blankets. Since we know that we love a good candle, those can be just as impactful as visual decor and making sure that your whole house isn’t decorated in red and green. Small changes can really make it feel more like the season.

Tip #4 Pick a Holiday Color Scheme 

One of the easiest ways to decorate is to decide on a general color scheme, Christmas decor, if we're talking specifically about the Christmas season, does not have to be all red and green. You could be regal and still be Christmas-y. Decide on that general theme and keep in mind you don't have to use all of the Christmas decor that you have this year. You can save some of it and bring it out next season. Add a little bit here and there! Even wrapping your gifts could coordinate with that scheme and that you could treat your gifts as part of your decor, so your gifts wrapped under the tree can be totally part of your decor. (A rule of thumb should be, if they're not fun for you to put up, it's time for you to get rid of them.)

Tip #5 Outdoor Decorations Are Fun For Everyone

Let's talk about decorating the outside of our house for the holiday season. It's kinda part of being a good neighbor - helping make it fun for everyone. A lot of times it just exemplifies that people care for their homes. I live in a community where a lot of houses look pretty similar, because they're newer in our small little community and it brings me much joy to see the Christmas lights. Some people are all out and decorating the exteriors in different ways. 

Go big with an inflatable, because they sell one for everything OR a simple wreath, which is also so nice and seasonal. Outdoor decor is fun and we encourage you to be a good neighbor and put something outside!

Tip #6 It’s About Celebration, Not Perfection

It's really common for people to feel extra pressure about having this Instagram worthy Christmas tree, etc, etc. We do not want to be adding that pressure to you! It's about fun, enjoying and celebrating, not perfection. If there was a huge home project that you didn't get to this year, just let it go, reschedule it for the spring. Enjoy the season. I've had a couple of friends that have done kitchen renovations in October that all of a sudden ran into Thanksgiving, and they were so stressed out. Just enjoy your house exactly where it's at by looking for the good, instead of what it’s not. 

When do you put up your tree? Are you a...

Thanksgiving Tree: Nostalgia, traditions, and wanting as much time to enjoy the joy that Christmas brings as possible.

Christmas Tree: Fall is for Thanksgiving and Winter is for Christmas, enjoying each individual season/ seasonal decor. 

We'd love for you to head on over to social media, give us some comments, vote on when you like to decorate, and we'll see who's in the majority here! Which one are you?

Reason For the Season

This season is just all about celebration and it is so sweet to just remember the reason for the season. Take or leave whatever advice really suits you today. We hope this season provides a little reprieve from the weight of this year in particular. If you need some direction on preparing for hosting, we've got a blog for that, so check out our blog called 10 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Guests at WhereWeLivePodcast.com. Lastly, don't forget to tag us in your holiday decor photos, we would love to see them!

Happy Holidays! (too soon?)

Brianna & Keelie

10 Ways to Prepare your Home for Guests

Up your hosting game this holiday season! The holidays can add a lot of stress with traveling to visit family, or hosting them in your home.

We’ve compiled a list of 10 things you can do to up your hosting game, and make things a little more comfortable for your guests, and less stressful for you!

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1. WiFi Password

   Make it easy. Easy to see, easy to type, easy to remember. In our guest room, the wifi network and password are at the bottom of a chalkboard that we use to welcome guests. We have a guest network with a simple password, “welcomehome" - Not only is that easy, but it always makes our guests smile.

2. Phone Charger

Such an unexpected surprise! Just make sure you write your name or initials on the charger, to make sure it stays put for your next guests.

3. Assorted Pillow Options

Everybody has such different pillow preference, even one night with a totally wrong pillow, and your day can be ruined. You don’t need to spend a small fortune on pillows for the guest room, but a small assortment of soft to firm will be sure to please your guests!

4. Luggage Stand

I have two of these luggage stands from Amazon in our guest room. Not only does a luggage stand save your back and knees, but it keeps things up off the floor and more tidy. You probably always use the luggage stand in a hotel room, why not have one for your guests at home?

5. Extra Blankets

Again, everybody has a different preference! Some of us pile on the blankets to sleep, and some don’t even use the sheets. Don’t assume your guests will have the same habits as you.

6. Hooks

Whether on the wall or an over-the-door hook, somewhere to place a bag, jacket, clothes, or towel is always needed.

7. Bottled Water and Snacks

Another clue from hotels! Traveling is exhausting, and although you are likely already feeding your guests well, make sure they have plenty of options on hand.

8. Floor Length Mirror

An easy way to make them feel more at home.

9. Essential Consumables

Shampoo, body wash, lotion, hair spray, Kleenex, toothpaste, extra toothbrush, comb, Tylenol, etc.

10. Fan

Some will use it for the air movement, but some like to fall asleep to the sound of a fan.

If you don’t have a dedicated guest room, keeping all of these items together in a closet will help so much! We suggest giving your guests a room with a door for privacy, rather than an open room. Even if it’s one of the kids’ rooms, and the kids either sleep together or with you temporarily, that will make it so much more comfortable for your guests!