Organizing Your Home for Guests This Holiday Season

Organizing by Jan
18 hours ago
4 min read

With the holidays right around the corner, family and friends might be dropping by or staying for a visit (cue visual of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!) While hosting means spending time with loved ones, it also means getting your home house-guest ready. Yep, nothing like adding a little decluttering and organizing to the list of things to do- shopping, wrapping, cooking, decorating- to feel your stress level rise!

The good news is that with a little planning and organizing now, you can avoid the last-minute scramble of tearing through closets to find extra sheets that match. Keep reading for your ultimate guide to preparing your home for holiday guests, so you can focus on the fun and not the panic-cleaning the night before.

Organizing your entire home from top to bottom is best saved for after the company has come and gone. (Give us a call!- www.organizingbyjan.com) Focus on the main gathering areas, making sure those spaces are ready. These are the “seen” areas, where guests will sit, mingle, and take notice of the décor, the decorations, and, of course, any visible clutter. Stay focused as you work and keep your eye on the prize. You’ll come across items you want to go through (photos, piles of papers, kids' artwork), but it’s essential to set those things aside when you’re not working under a deadline, like when holiday guests are around.

So, what can you do for some quick fixes to get you through? First, stay focused. Before emptying closets and alphabetizing spice racks, prioritize areas your guests will use (and see) the most. Think-

Entryway - Your entryway sets the tone for your entire home. A clean, organized entrance makes people feel at home as soon as they walk in. If you don’t have a coat closet, create a natural spot for coats and shoes so guests aren’t left wondering where to put them. Hooks or a coat rack work well for winter gear, and a small shoe rack or door mat signals a place for shoes if you're a ‘no-shoes’ household. Ensure that there is enough room for everyone’s shoes and outerwear- guests and family members. Remove any coats or other items not used daily and store them elsewhere. If using a closet, check there are enough hangers for guests’ coats. If there is space, adding a small basket or tray for guests to leave their keys adds a welcoming touch.

Living Room - Take stock of seating. Are there enough chairs for everyone? If additional seating is needed, consider borrowing or purchasing a few folding chairs. These are great to have for drop-ins as well. Sit in your living space and look around. Do you see Amazon boxes in a corner waiting to be returned, or piles of magazines and catalogs that need to be tossed, or kids’ toys that can be moved elsewhere? Tidy up cords, remotes, and random items that live on coffee tables. View your area as a guest would.

Kitchen + Dining Area - The kitchen is the heart of the home- especially during the holiday. A cluttered countertop can singlehandedly make a kitchen look and feel disorganized. Whatever items aren’t used daily (think rarely used appliances or too many decorative items) should be stored away. Think like your guest- make sure they can easily find glassware, utensils, and condiments. Many kitchen and dining room tables are repositories of stuff- mail, packages, bags, school or gym items. Clear them off and make sure your seating and place settings are adequate for your company. And don’t forget about the fridge! Check for expired items (while you’re at it, you can check the pantry too!) and create space for food for your guests as well as holiday party foods.

Plan Ahead Tips:

Stock up on dish soap, napkins, paper towels, and snacks.
Ensure you have enough food storage containers for leftovers. Discard and containers that have outlived their life, without lids, or covers that no longer seal properly. The last thing you want is your guests’ leftovers spilling in their bags or cars!
Have serve wear washed and ready ahead of time. Use notes to label serving dishes (“green bean casserole here”) and place with the matching utensil.

Guest Bathroom - This is where cleanliness really counts. Make sure all the essentials are there: toilet paper, soap, tissues, and fresh hand towels. A diffuser for a fresh scent, a few fresh flowers, or a hand lotion are always nice countertop touches. If your space doesn’t have a separate guest bath, and it will be shared with the rest of the family, remove as many personal care items as possible to allow your guests the most space. For overnight guests, a nice touch is to provide a small caddy to hold their toiletries and keep them separate. Go through your towels and make sure there are sufficient for each guest- and there are no holes!

Pro Tip: Keep a small cleaning kit under the sink for easy touch-ups.

Guest Room - Overnight guests deserve a space that feels calm and comfortable, not like a forgotten storage room. Remove anything that doesn’t belong, and clear the surfaces so guests have a place for their things. If there is a dresser in the room, clear a drawer or two so they can unpack and not live out of a suitcase. If there is a closet, make sure they can easily hang their items and that there are enough hangers. A bedside lamp, fresh bedding/pillows, and an extra blanket are sure to make them feel at home. For that little extra something, provide a water carafe/glass, a charging station, and a magazine to give the space that homey feel.

Thought you weren’t having guests, but suddenly you learn you are?? Last-minute drop-ins, oh my! You can do a lot in a few minutes: clear surfaces people will see (tables, counters, entryway drop zones)- dump it all into a basket and deal with it after they leave. Pick up stray glasses, kid/pet toys, and stacks of mail.

Remember, organizing your home for holiday guests doesn’t have to mean perfection. Focus on how you want your guests to feel, not how Pinterest-perfect it looks. It’s about creating space — physically and emotionally — for connection. With a little planning and decluttering, your home will be ready so you can enjoy the holiday season. And if you’d rather skip the stress and have a professional help you get guest-ready, I’d love to help!