The holidays are fast approaching, and many are busy preparing for all that comes with them. For some, the holidays means hosting! While having a house full of love and laughter is fun, it can also be stressful and draining. When bringing your family and friends together to celebrate, try these solutions for decorating for Christmas and other holidays, and to prepare to be the host with the most.

Make Your Guests Feel Special

A great way to make guests feel welcome is a basket of goodies awaiting their arrival. Fill a basket with bottles of water, coffee and tea, some chocolates, washcloths or hand towels, and extra toiletries to make their stay a little extra special. That way, your guests have everything they need to feel welcome in your home and more. This is a great place to place a personalized note as well!

Take this as a moment to refresh your guest room. Wash your favorite bedding, or purchase new bedding so that your guests can tuck in after a cold day and feel comforted. It’s also a time to refresh guest bed pillows. An extra thoughtful host will offer different pillow styles for their guests to choose from when settling in for the night. Draping a throw blanket on top of the bed also provides guests with extra warmth and can bring an updated style into the space. You could even gift a new throw blanket to guests for comfort at your house and a memento to take home.

It’s also a good time to decorate your guest rooms, since they often get overlooked during the holiday decor switch. Add a few cute holiday pieces to tie the room together with the rest of your home and add a little seasonal cheer. Holiday throw pillows, a decorative wreath or garland, and a friendly holiday gnome to keep your guests company are great options.

One of our favorite guest bedroom decorating ideas is a practical one, if you have the time to learn a quick new skill. Folding your guests towels in fun and interesting shapes is a great way to give them their necessities and make them smile. There is a plethora of online tutorials for adorable, beautiful and simple towel designs such as Christmas trees, reindeer, snowmen and more! Show off your creative side with a little towel design. Make sure to stock the bathroom your guests will be using with fun hand towels as well, or stock up on paper guest towels, and don’t forget peppermint candies for the bathroom counter.

For those without a spare bedroom, section off the area your guest will be sleeping in, if possible. This gives them a sense of privacy and creates a cozy nook for them to spend their downtime in. Room dividers are great temporary solutions to partition a guest space on demand, and can be useful far past the holidays as well!

Busy Home Means Busy Entryway

More bodies in the home means more winter gear: make sure you have somewhere to store all of the extra coats needed to bundle up for the holidays. A coat rack, stand or hanger makes a great addition to an entryway for easy access for guests to drop their winter gear. You can also find a boot tray to catch all of the snowy shoes before they make a mess on your floor.

Preparation is Key

Nothing is worse than trying to juggle a million things while trying to make food for everyone. Prep ahead of time for your meals and snacks so that you don’t have to run out to grab that missing stick of butter. Now is a great time to do menu prepping, and it can be helpful to not only get your guests excited for meals, but so that you can prepare for any food allergies or intolerances. Use your preparedness to your decor advantage by putting out a chalkboard or sign with today’s meals displayed.

Although your meals may be some of the main events, don’t forget about the downtime. Drinks and snacks are just as important to keeping your guests well-fed and comfortable. Keep your fridge (and if it’s cold enough where you live, your deck, patio or garage) stocked with available drinks so that guests don’t feel like they have to bother you for water. Additionally, some of the best winter snacks also make great winter activities! Flavored popcorn is an easy favorite, and it’s simple to make multiple types of popcorn from one big batch. Get your household together for a day of caramel corn, chocolate covered corn, cheddar corn and more. Everyone can grab a handful of their favorite and feel accomplished by helping to make some.

Stock Up on Fun

On that note, make sure you have several activities on hand for the downtime and in-between moments. Another tasty activity? Gingerbread houses! Have kits ready to make so that when people seem restless during the winter evenings, you can break out the candy and begin crafting. This activity is a duo of winter decor and tasty treat. You can also plan for a holiday movie marathon to end the day with as well. Take votes for everyone’s favorite seasonal flick, grab that homemade popcorn, and get comfortable.

Keep Kiddos and Pets in Mind

Don’t forget to consider the kids and any four-legged friends. If you’ll be hosting little ones this holiday season, make sure to keep kid-friendly snacks on hand, especially for picky eaters. It may be a good idea to pick up some extra bedding for them, as well as a toy or two when they arrive so that they don’t feel left out. And there’s almost no better way to win over a kiddo than with a freshly baked cookie. If a fur-baby is visiting for the holidays, add a few pet treats to your holiday shopping list.

Appeal to All Senses

Make your home inviting using all of your senses! While you may go all out on the holiday decor, don’t forget the smell of your home. It’s typical for families to become “nose blind” to the scents of their home, but a guest won’t be. To create an inviting space, find beautiful holiday smells to brighten up the space with candles, essential oils or other freshening strategies. Pine, cedar, and other woody scents are a great solution for a clean and fresh smelling home, while apple, cinnamon and sugar are wonderful aromas to create a cozy atmosphere.

Keep One or Two Presents Behind the Tree

If you’re doing your holiday shopping this year and stumble upon a gift you love but no one to give it to, grab it! It’s a great idea to wrap a spare gift or two in case your household becomes busier than you expect. You never know if an unexpected plus one or surprising guest will stop by, and preparing ahead of time so they have something to open as well will be a great surprise for everyone.