7 Holiday Home Updates You Can Tackle Today

If you're hosting family from near and far for the holidays, it's never too early to get your home in order for upcoming gatherings. Read on to discover 7 ways you can update your home for the holidays, starting, well, today!

1: Clear Out the Clutter  It may feel like those holiday gatherings are still a ways off. As we all know, though, they come up quicker than you think. If you're hosting this year's festivities for your family and friends, clearing up some clutter is a perfect way to begin prepping your home for the good times ahead. Scrap, recycle, or donate things you no longer need, and put what you want to keep away in proper places. If space still feels limited, this is a perfect time to rethink the way you organize your belongings.

2: Breathe New Life Into Your Walls  Few things can make your home look better than giving your walls a fresh coat of paint, or even simply cleaning them! If you've been meaning to paint your walls, there's no better day than today. Touch them up with the same hue, or switch up the colors if you really want things to feel different. If you don't want to bother with painting your walls, just give them a good scrubbing. You'll be amazed at the difference.

3: Brighten Your Lights  It's easy to overlook how much the lighting in your home lends to its beauty. Replacing older lighting fixtures and adding dimmers are simple fixes, but the warmth and functionality they add to your home is immeasurable. Changing out older bulbs and updating exterior lighting fixtures with sconces or lanterns will make your home feel cozier and more inviting, perfect for setting the holiday mood.

4: Tackle Common Problem Areas  Is your dining room rug starting to look a little worn out? What about that wobbly coffee table in your living room? These problem areas can make you feel self-conscious about the look and feel of your home. Before you have guests over for the holidays, take some time to address areas you feel are problematic. Some may just need a quick repair, while others may call for a replacement of the fixture. No matter which fix is needed, you'll feel better about the presentation of your home in the end.

5: Freshen Up Your Guest Rooms  It's inevitable that visiting family members may want to stay over at your home, especially if they've travelled a long way to see you. Giving your guest room, or rooms, a refresh is a great way to make them feel comfortable. This can be as simple as adding a table lamp or some new curtains, or as detailed as giving the room a complete overhaul. Any touch you make will help your guests feel warm, wanted, and welcome.

6: Spruce Up Your Entryway  Your entryway is the first impression the inside of your home makes on your guests. For this reason, you want it to look as put-together and tidy as possible. A coat rack will give your guests a place to hang up their coats and purses, while a shoe rack will help guests who want to kick off their shoes keep them in an easy-to-find place. Adding additional small touches, such as benches, rugs, and seasonal decor, will make your home's first impression on your guests one to remember for all the right reasons.

7: Wrap Up Your To-Do List  Currently remodeling your kitchen? Been meaning to update your bathroom sinks? Make sure you get these things taken care of before hosting season comes around. Not only will they make your home feel complete, they'll remove a lot of unnecessary stress and worry. Trust us - the last thing you want while you're hosting guests is to have to manage extensive ongoing home improvement projects!