Preparing Your House For Thanksgiving Guests

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Thanksgiving can be a beautiful time of warmth and love.

Planning for Thanksgiving is a great investment of your time, because it pays off with a fun, stress-free day with your family.

Some preparations for holiday guests take only a few minutes; some take a lot longer. My advice: start preparing your home for the holidays now. See the steps to take this week to enjoy Turkey day this year.

Prioritize

The day before guests arrive is no time to pull apart junk drawers and clean out linen closets. Declutter guest rooms and public areas – foyer, kitchen, living room, den, and dining room. Remove anything unnecessary from countertops, coffee tables, and ottomans; if it’s out of sight, keep it out of mind, for now.

If you run short on time, bag up the clutter and store it in car trunks, basements, and out-of-the way closets. Sort and arrange after your guests depart.

Safety

Light the way: Even though you can navigate your home blindfolded, your guests can’t. Make sure outside lights are working so they don’t trip on the way to your door. Put motion-activated night lights in hallways, bathrooms, and bedrooms to ensure safe passage after the sun sets.

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Child proofing: Ask parents to bring hardware that keeps their small ones safe, such as baby gates and cabinet locks. Transfer toxic cleaners and medicines from base to wall cabinets. Hide matches and lighters.

 Summer Infant Multi-Use Deco Extra Tall Walk-Thru Gate, Bronze Safety 1st Magnetic Cabinet Locks, 8 Locks + 1 Key

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Fire prevention: If you didn’t freshen smoke detector batteries when you switched the clocks to Daylight Savings Time, change them now. After your guests arrive, run a quick fire drill: Make sure they can locate exits and fire extinguishers, and that they know how to open windows and doors.

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Stock Up On Toys

If your home is an ode to artful arrangements and small children are on the way, this is a good time to put away your most precious objects. A basket of dollar-store toys and books will occupy them while the adults catch up.

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Provided Designated Storage Space

Equip the room with a bench or luggage rack for their suitcases or for guests staying more than one or two days, clear out a few dresser drawers so they can completely unpack.

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Kitchen Prep

Your kitchen is command central during the holidays, so make sure it’s ready for guests and extra helpers.

To increase storage, install a pot rack to clear cooking items off countertops and ranges.

Move your coffee station into a family room so guests don’t crowd the kitchen when you’re trying to fix meals.

If you like to visit while you’re cooking, place extra stools and chairs around the perimeter of your kitchen so guests can sit a spell.

 Square Pot Rack with Chrome Chains and Hooks, Black Mind Reader Coffee Condiment and Accessories Caddy Organizer, Black Winsome Saddle Seat 24-Inch Counter Stool, Walnut Trademark Gameroom Black Cushioned Folding Stool, 24

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Bathroom Storage

Bring toilet paper, towels, and toiletries out of hiding, and place them on open shelves so guests can find them easily.

If you don’t have enough wall space for shelves, place these items in open baskets around the bathroom

Also, outfit each tub with a bath mat (to avoid falls) and each toilet with a plunger (to avoid embarrassment).

 Cottonelle Ultra ComfortCare Big Roll Toilet Paper, Bath Tissue, 12 Count Pinzon 6-Piece Egyptian Cotton Towel Set – Grey Whitmor Woven Strap Small Shelf Storage Tote w/ Liner, Espresso [Updated] VDOMUS Non-slip Microfiber Shag Bath Mat Bathroom Mats Shower Rugs – Gray 20 x 32 inches Master Plumber Deluxe Plunger w/ holder

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Grab-and-go

Create a simple breakfast station by keeping fresh fruit, breakfast cereals and other essentials together on the counter for early risers. Give guests a quick kitchen tour the night before so they can get their morning coffee or tea without waiting for you in the morning.

If you want to set an extra-special table, adding a monogrammed mug and a small flower arrangement is lovely and doesn’t take much extra effort.

 Kellogg’s Cereal Variety Pack, Single Serve Boxes (Pack of 72) Gold Monogram White Porcelain Coffee Mug Tea Cup Letter M Cypress Home Polyester Poppy Burlap Tabletop Floral Decor

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Stock the Essentials

Your guest room doesn’t need to be outfitted like a four-star hotel, but certain basics should be in place to make your visitor comfortable. The essentials include fresh sheets, pillows and blankets on the bed, window coverings, a working light, bath towels, a wastebasket, and a cleared shelf and hanging area in the closet.

Bonus items include a fan, iPod docking station, hairdryer, snacks, mini toiletries such as razors, aspirin and hairspray, and a surge protector for charging devices.

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Jump Right In

When dinnertime rolls around, feel free to have guests pitch in with a few simple tasks in the kitchen. Ask them to set the table, pour the wine, choose the music or prep greens for a salad, and soon your visitors will be feeling right at home.

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Prepare a Thank-You Gift For Your Guests

Top off your celebration with a little extra love for your family and guests to take home. It can be big or small. For example, you could wrap a few Hershey kisses and butterscotch candies in cellophane and tie it with some string. This reminds your guests that you’re thankful they came.

KISSES Milk Chocolate (Silver Foils, 66.7-Ounce Bag) Classic Butterscotch Discs 2 lb tub 100 Pcs 4×6 Clear Resealable Cello / Cellophane Bags Good for Bakery, Candle, Soap, Cookie Norpro Cotton Twine

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