10 Things to Do Before the Holidays

Are you going to have guests coming over during the holiday season? Have you thought about the way they will see your home?

Here are 10 things to do before the holidays.

1. The Front Porch
2. The Dining Room Chandelier
3. The Foyer
4. The Kitchen
5. The Guest Bathroom
6. The Guest Bedroom
7. The Living Room
8. Secondary Spaces
9. Sconces
10. The Breakfast Nook

#1 – The Front Porch

Your front porch lighting provides a beacon to guide guests into your home, but it also provides safety by illuminating the door and the surrounding area.

REPLACE: Picking the right size porch light is easy.

• One outdoor light: 1/3 of the door height.
• Two outdoor lights: 1/4 of the door height.
• Mount them about 66 inches above the door’s threshold.

REPAIR: If your front porch lighting just needs a little love, time to show some affection! 

• Is the bulb burnt out? Replace it with an LED bulb that will give off bright light and last a long time.
• Is the light dirty? Grab some Dawn soap and a soft microfiber cloth. Lather up the entire fixture and scrub. Rinse with your garden hose.
• Are there bugs in the light? Open it up and remove them (safely, of course).

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Sweep, power wash, replace the welcome mat and add some plants.

#2 – The Dining Room Chandelier

Food is the centerpiece of every holiday gathering and your dining room sets the stage.

REPLACE: If you’re not in love with your dining room chandelier, dump it for something new!

• Measure your table’s width or diameter.
• Look for a chandelier that is between 2/3 and 3/4 of that size. 
• For long tables, try using two chandeliers that are 1/3 the length of the table.
• Hang chandeliers between 30 to 36 inches above the table.
• Consider adding a dimmer.

REPAIR: Give your dining room chandelier a little TLC.

• Dust your chandelier with a telescoping duster or a microfiber cloth.
• Remove glass shades and clean them with mild soap and a soft cloth.
• Replace burnt-out bulbs with long-lasting LED.

If you have a crystal chandelier, there are two different ways to make those gems sparkle.

Crystal Chandelier Cleaning Method 1:

1. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 3 parts distilled water.
2. Spray the solution onto gloves or a clean white cotton cloth, then wipe the crystal.
3. Dry it off with a dry glove or cloth.

Crystal Chandelier Cleaning Method 2:

1. Remove the crystals and label where they all go on the fixture.
2. Clean each crystal with lukewarm water and mild soap.
3. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth.
4. Put crystals back on the fixture.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Clear up clutter, add festive decor and make sure you have enough chairs for all your guests.

#3 – The Foyer

The foyer is the grand entrance of your home, so make sure it’s giving off a great first impression.

REPLACE: Here’s how to improve your welcome statement.

• Measure your foyer’s width and length in feet. Add those two numbers together.
• Take your room’s height in feet. Multiply that by 2.5 and 3.
• Those 3 numbers are an ideal width and an ideal height range for a foyer light.
• Hang your foyer light 7 feet above the floor.
• Use a ceiling light in smaller foyers.

REPAIR: If you like your foyer light, make sure it looks its best.

• Check for dust, cobwebs and burnt-out bulbs. 
• Clean with a duster or microfiber cloth.
• Use LED bulbs, especially in hard-to-reach fixtures.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Think about where your guests will put their shoes, coats and bags.

#4 – The Kitchen

Make sure your kitchen is well-lit to suit your style and needs.

REPLACE: Get cooking with new kitchen pendants.

• Measure your island’s width in inches.
• Subtract 12. That number is an ideal max width or diameter for pendants.
• Hang pendants 28 to 34 feet above the island.
• Space pendants every 2 feet apart.

REPAIR:

• Change burnt-out bulbs.
• Clean out any dust or cobwebs.
• Clean glass shades with mild soap and a soft cloth.
• Wipe down under-cabinet lights.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Clear up clutter, make sure you have enough dinnerware for your guests and purchase any cookware you might need.

#5 – The Guest Bathroom

A new light fixture will modernize your bathroom faster and easier than paint!

REPLACE: Decide if you want to use bath vanity bars or sconces.

For bath vanity bars:

• For vanity bars, measure your bathroom mirror’s width in inches.
• That number is your limit for bath vanity bar width.
• Many people choose bath vanity lights about 75 percent as wide as the mirror.

For sconces:

• Small bathrooms can use sconces of 12 inches or less.
• Average size bathrooms can use sconces that are about 18 inches tall.
• Large bathrooms can use sconces that are 19 inches or taller.
• Mount at eye level – 65 inches above the finished floor.
• Place sconces 36 to 40 inches apart, flanking the mirror.

REPAIR:

• Replace burnt-out bulbs with LED options.
• Look for bulbs with a color temperature of about 3000K.
• Clean dust or dirt.
• Clean glass shades with mild soap and a soft cloth.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Stock up with towels, toilet paper, a plunger and a way to make the room smell good.

#6 – The Guest Bedroom

Ensure guests can comfortably unwind before turning in for the night.

REPLACE: There are many different ways to light a guest bedroom.

• Use table lamps of up to 30 inches tall.
• For hanging lights, use the same guidelines as for foyer lights.
• For ceiling fans, read more in The Complete Ceiling Fan Sizing Guide.

REPAIR:

• Replace burnt-out bulbs with LED options.
• Clean dirt or dust.
• Use a sticky lint roller on lampshades.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Replace sheets as needed and add seasonal decorations.

#7 – The Living Room

Before spending quality time with your guests, make sure your lights are ready to party.

REPLACE: Say goodbye to blah old chandeliers!

• For sizing, use the same guidelines as for foyer lights.
• Hang your chandelier 7 feet off the floor.
• Use more downrods or chains in tall rooms to ensure the fixture isn’t up too high.

REPAIR:

• Replace burnt-out bulbs with LED.
• Clean dust or dirt.
• Shine up glass with a soft cloth and mild soap.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Add candles and seasonal decorations.

#8 – Secondary Spaces

Help your guests get around in style with hallway lights.

REPLACE: If you have old, outdated ceiling lights, replace them with something new.

• Use the same sizing advice as for foyer lights.
• Place a ceiling light every 8 to 10 feet.

REPAIR:

• Replace burnt-out bulbs.
• Dust fixtures and clean glass shades.
• Use a sticky lint roller on fabric shades.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Remove clutter so everyone can walk easily.

#9 – Sconces

Wall sconces help you layer your lighting in any room.

REPLACE:

• For dining room sideboards or buffets, hang the sconces between 60 and 72 inches off the floor.
• To light up art, place sconces beside the center of the artwork with 2 free inches of space around the sconces.

REPAIR:

• Swap out burnt bulbs.
• Clear off dust or cobwebs.
• Clean glass or fabric shades.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Dust your sideboard or buffet and ensure it is holding enough dishes for all your guests.

#10 – The Breakfast Nook

A breakfast nook, is a great place to serve special holiday breakfasts to your family and guests.

Because breakfast nooks are usually in the sightline of other lights, choose lights that are similar to those other fixtures. They don’t have to be matchy-matchy or from the same collection, but it’s very thoughtful and deliberate to play off similarities.

REPLACE:

• Use the same sizing and hanging guidelines as for dining room chandeliers.
• Dinette and breakfast chandeliers are designed to fit breakfast nooks like a glove.

REPAIR:

• Check for and replace burnt-out bulbs.
• Dust and clean your breakfast nook light.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Clean off the table and set places with fun holiday-themed placemats.

 

Don’t know what to do with your old fixtures? Donate them to an organization like Habitat for Humanity ReStore!

Need more advice? We’re here for you. Call us up at 1-866-688-3562 or email [email protected]. You can also leave a comment on this post.

Happy holiday season!