Don’t wait for the last minute to address these essential tasks.
In This Article
- Declutter Holiday Decor
- Check Your Seating
- Count Your Dishes
- Fix Broken Appliances
- Prep for Guests
Summer is over and back to school has come and gone, so the next big thing to think about is the holidays. Though December may feel very far away, it’s actually just around the corner. While you might not be making your gift list just yet, there’s still a lot to do—especially if you’re planning to host some guests. Whether you consider yourself a planner or you’re just really looking forward to the season ahead, here are five ways to get your home ready starting right now.
Don’t Forget to Clean These Things Before Guests Visit for the Holidays
Declutter Old Holiday Decor
Many of us have a box or six of ornaments (or other decor) in the garage or attic just collecting dust. While you probably have some family heirlooms or new gold balls you purchased at an after-Christmas sale last year, you probably don’t need a paper glitter snowflake your kid made in second-grade art class. So get rid of it. This rule applies to anything that’s broken or cracked.
These 11 Storage Solutions Make It Easy to Organize Your Christmas Decor
Make Sure You Have Enough Seating
Are you having four or 40 people at your annual holiday dinner? Make your guest list and check it twice. While it’s perfectly acceptable to use a chair from your home office at the dining table or drag in that accent chair from the living room—you may need more than that this year. After all, the holidays are stressful enough. So don’t wait until the last minute to nail your seating arrangement.
Remember, if you’re purchasing dining chairs to match your current set, delivery could take a few weeks. Or consider buying a set of folding chairs, which can easily be stored away when you aren’t using them.
Count Your Dishes
Remember when Aunt Jenny dropped her salad plate and it broke everywhere last Christmas Eve? You’re going to need to replace that—or anything else that’s damaged or missing. While having one large set of identical plates is ideal, you can always mix and match, such as alternating plain white and holiday dishes. If you’re having a large party, renting tableware could be easier and less expensive.
You can also hit up your local thrift store or estate sale for vintage China at an affordable price. After all, if you start now, there will be plenty of time to find the right thing.
Fix Broken Appliances
Have you been ignoring that burner that has been on the fritz since last spring? If you’re planning on cooking—take care of this now. Call your local repair person and schedule an appointment. If you need a new part, it may not be readily available, especially if you have an older appliance. Or you may need a new oven altogether. Waiting until the last minute could end up being a disaster.
Don’t forget other things that may need repair or replacement like your HVAC or even small appliances you use for cooking like your air fryer or food processor.
Get Ready for Guests
Do you have family or friends visiting you? Now is a better time than ever to get your guest room ready. Check your sheets and towels. Do they need to be replaced? Do you have a fresh throw blanket to put on the bed? Make a list of what you need to make sure your guests have all the comforts of home.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • Licensed General Contractor • Real Estate Appraiser • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of Executive Appraisers Louisiana, an MBE-certified real estate appraisal firm, and EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu