Get Your Home Ready for the Holiday Season

The holidays are a special time of year because we get to spend it with the family and friends we love.

At Kay Builders, we build our CUSTOM-i-ZABLE homes so they’re perfect for all your needs. It's a key component in our success as the Lehigh Valley’s 3rd generation, family-owned builder. We hope this holiday season that your house is picture-perfect for you and your loved ones to enjoy together.

Getting your home ready for the holidays takes a little bit of planning, but we’ve made it easy for you. Here’s your Holiday Entertaining Guide to help you get your home ready:

Step One: Choose Your Holiday Theme

Do you envision your home decorated in a classic holiday theme? Or are you thinking of something more fun and whimsical? The choice is yours, but you want to give it some thought before you get started. Here are some options:

• Classic Elegance: Red, green, and gold colors with plaid patterns, poinsettias, evergreen garlands, vintage ornaments. Use candles or candelabras to add warmth and coziness.

• Winter Wonderland: White, silver, and light blue, faux snow, icicle lights, crystal decorations, and sparkling ornaments. Use mirrors or metallic accents to reflect light to mimic the effects of ice and snow.

• Whimsical Holiday: Red, white, pink, and even lime green (think various colors of candy canes) with oversized ornaments and candy cane stripes. Use fun shapes like reindeer, elves, or gingerbread houses.

• Farmhouse: This rustic style is popular in decorating today, and also in construction (we use Modern Farmhouse in our exterior styling on some of our homes) so a farmhouse holiday might make sense for you. It uses neutral tones with green and red accents, galvanized metal, chalkboard signs, and mason jars filled with holiday decorations. Mix natural wood and white finishes to achieve that modern farmhouse feel. One bonus: you can easily decorate in this style for Thanksgiving and just leave it up through the end of the year (maybe with some holiday touches added!).  

Whatever theme you choose, your entryway provides a welcoming theme as your guests enter your home. Consider hanging a wreath on your door or find the perfect holiday-themed placemat.

Step Two: Optimize Your Space

At Kay Builders, we design our homes to give you plenty of living and entertaining space. These few simple moves can help you optimize your space for holiday entertaining, no matter how many guests you’re expecting:

• Optimize Seating. Arrange your furniture for comfort, conversation, and ease of movement. Add some extra seating with stools, poufs, ottomans, or even folding chairs. Buy some extra cushions and blankets to make sure everyone is comfortable and cozy.

• Prepare the Dining Space. The meal is always a big highlight, so take some extra steps to make it special and memorable. Use festive tablecloths, runners and place settings. Add a centerpiece using natural elements such as pine cones, berries, or greenery. Warm the space with candles or luminaries.

• Add some Holiday Scents. To really set the right tone, incorporate holiday scents with candles or diffusers. There are many choices today including specific holiday scents, but you can’t go wrong with cinnamon, pine, or vanilla for a cozy, warm feel. As an extra touch, add holiday-scented soaps and lotions in your powder room.

Step Three: Make Sure Your Home is Ready

You’ve got your home decorated and the meals prepared. Now it’s time for just a few finishing touches to make sure your holidays are perfect:

• Set up your Holiday Bar: Make sure you have the basics that your crowd enjoys, whether that’s beer, wine, or mixed drinks. Have plenty of non-alcoholic options available. Consider adding a festive flavor by choosing a holiday wine or craft beer, or by making fun holiday mocktails.

• Be Snack Ready: While the meal is the main event, holiday festivities can last hours (or even days), so make sure you have plenty of snacks available. Nuts, candy, and holiday cookies are always popular options.

• Serve Leftovers To Go: Have a plan for the inevitable leftovers that always follow a holiday get-together. Stock up on to-go containers so you can send food home with your guests, or plan for a leftover meal (one of our favorites is making turkey croquettes from leftover Thanksgiving turkey!).

A final word about safety: use caution with candles - keep them away from flammable objects, small children, and pets. One option is to keep a scented candle safely out of the way on your stovetop and then use luminaries or string lights to add warmth in other places. Make sure your Christmas tree is watered regularly, and discard it if it is no longer drinking and is dropping needles. Don’t use lights that are frayed or not working properly - it’s the perfect reason to upgrade to LED lights that are cooler and much more energy efficient!

Ready to celebrate the holidays in your CUSTOM-i-ZABLE dream home? Call Kay Builders at (484) 353-6100 or fill out our online form today. You can also browse through our floor plans and new home communities to plan the home of your dreams!