Family is a blessing. It is the foundation that keeps us grounded and connected with each other through thick and thin, throughout our entire lives. But lately, as our lives move on increasingly fast-paced, the amount of time we spend with our family is decreasing. That is why a family gathering is a very special event and we all long to spend some quality time with our families. However, whether it is just you and your siblings or all of the cousins, aunts, and in-laws, a family reunion can become really challenging if not planned properly. So here are some useful tips on preparing home for family gatherings.
Rearrange the furniture
Since a family gathering is a big event, it requires a lot of organizing and rearranging. For preparing home for family gatherings, start with rearranging the furniture in your living room. There will also most likely be a lot of people in your living room. Meaning you need more space for your guests to mingle.
For example, you can push your sofa and other furniture up against the walls. You can also move some of the movable furniture from your living room to another less traffic prone area to avoid space shortage. Also, create additional seating by bringing in benches for areas you see fit. Having adequate seating is especially important if you’re having older guests over.
Deep clean the home
Events like family gatherings are very special for a multitude of reasons and it is very important to make your guests feel welcome in your home. The first step is to clean your entire home, from top to bottom. Vacuum or mop clean your entire home and make sure any space you plan to have people in is properly cleaned.
Don’t forget the existing clutter. Clutter can give a spotless home a messy appearance and it can dramatically reduce the space of your rooms. So this is crucial for preparing home for family gatherings. In an event like a family gathering, this is something you want to avoid at all costs.
Next, move on to your bathrooms. Odds are your bathroom will be used a lot during the event. Make sure it’s clean and stocked with hand towels, hand wash, and toilet paper. Also, make sure it smells good.
Prepare for minor cleaning emergencies during the party. Be aware that children can make a lot of mess and can leave stains all over. And as far as stains are concerned they are probably the number one culprit when it comes to making your space filthy. Stock up on your favorite stain removal products.
Remove valuables and breakables
Most of our homes are not planned and decorated to handle a large number of people every day. We decorate our homes with a lot of things including valuable items and all kinds of fancy items. In most cases, they can be very fragile. If it’s breakable and it’s important to you, find a safe spot for it away from the festivities. As careful as your guests may be, they don’t know your space as you do and they may not be aware of something fragile nearby.
Fix or repair home issues
Nothing is more unwelcoming than a home with broken things here and there. And it is important especially when you are preparing home for family gatherings. Nobody wants to make their guests feel uneasy in an event like a family gathering. Fix your home issues that need to be fixed or repaired. Maybe you have a broken door handle or a tear in your sofa cover. If it’s something that your guests will surely see, consider repairing it. Besides, look for whether or not your drains are clogged. Most clogged drains are caused by hair or grease and grime and you can clear it out yourself. Skip the chemical drain cleaner and grab a plunger to clear the clog and save on a service call.
Also if you have any doors that bang shut or make weird noises whenever you try to open or close it, fix it by applying lubricant or sticking a bumper on the back of the door. Whichever works. A paint job of your home is another thing that might need your attention. If the paint is wearing off, it’s high time you should fix it. Almost nothing is quicker, easier or refreshes a room more than a new coat of paint.
Check out this article on how to make your room feel more spacious with color.
Add Ambiance
After you are done with cleaning and fixing, you should move on to the most fun task of decorating your home. Add some cozy touches to your home. You can change the lighting of your home to a warmer tone or change the cushion cover and curtains so that it complements the interior. That way you can make your space inviting to your guests. To make your home feel festive, you don’t have to put up an over-the-top holiday display. Just concentrating on the ambiance can help put guests in a convivial mood.
Apart from these, the number one thing to remember when preparing home for family gatherings is that you want to be able to enjoy the activities as well, so plan ahead to avoid missing out on the fun.
Don’t forget to share your thoughts on these tips. Leave us your comments in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.
