Even though you just began to settle into the cozy, enchanting atmosphere of fall, now’s the perfect time to think about how you can get ready for the holiday season. Soon, you’ll find yourself Christmas caroling, baking, shopping and spending ample time with the ones you love. But before you host the big holiday get-together, you may want to consider giving your space some much-deserved attention. There are a plenty of ways to get your home in top shape before the guests arrive with presents, baked goods and pure holiday splendor.

Here are a few tips for preparing your home to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year:

1. Get organized
Don’t worry – we’ve all thrown jackets on the designated cluttered chair, let mail pile up near the front door and left dozens of pairs of shoes near the entryway. But this is a recipe for disaster when you’re expecting guests! Get organized for the big get-together by taking time to recycle excess newspaper and magazines and place jackets and shoes in the closet where they belong.

2. Create an accommodation area
Do you know where you’ll keep your guests’ coats and scarves when they arrive for the party? You need the living room space to accommodate friends and family, not their belongings. Now’s a good time to assign a designated area for these items. If you don’t have a large coat closet, consider purchasing a coat stand and placing it in the guest bedroom during the holiday season.

Decorate the mantel and other focal points for the holiday season.

3. Decide how you’ll deck the halls
One of the most exciting parts about hosting for the big party is deciding how you’ll showcase your holiday decor. Beyond decking the halls with the big, vibrant Christmas tree, think about decorating the mantel, entryway and other focal points of your home to ring in the festive spirit.

4. Provide ample seating
Unfortunately, your normal living room seating arrangement isn’t going to cut it – you’ll have plenty of other people to make room for! It’s time to assess your current setup and consider investing in more furniture to accommodate your friends and family. A simple lounge chair or additional sofa can meet your needs if you have few people coming over. If you’re expecting a lot of people, you may want to invest in a sectional.

The holiday season can be rather stressful – between cooking dinner for family and friends, buying presents for the kids and finding time to enjoy yourself, decorating might be the last thing on your mind. To ensure you don’t lose your cool and still create the perfect winter wonderland of a living room, think about calling a personal decorator from Decorating Den Interiors. He or she will come to your home to provide a free consultation to assess the space and provide suggestions based on your ideas. Consider it the perfect present to gift yourself!

So what are you waiting for? The holidays will be here before you know it. Reach out to a design consultant today!