5 Ways to Gear Up For The Holidays
bwsit • November 7, 2017

As we drift into holidays most of us know that our workload is about to increase significantly — thanks to the upcoming holiday seasons. There are just so many details to take care of from deciding on menus, preparing the house for overnight guests — not to mention for the big feasts and casual get-togethers to come. Then there’s brainstorming a gift list, shopping, wrapping decorating —- aaagh! It can all feel overwhelming if you let it. The secret is to make a concise list and then take care of each item on it over the coming weeks. Here are 5 things to be sure to put on that list …

1. Clean the House

Whether you’re just having local family and friends over for a holiday feast, or you’re expecting overnight guests, or casual drop-in visits over the next several weeks, you’ll want to make sure that your house is clean, bright and welcoming. If you can manage it, now’s the perfect time to spring for a professional deep cleaning. It’ll cost you, but it’s worth it considering what a super job they do!

Once the house has been deep cleaned, you’ll only have to do some light cleaning to keep it looking company-ready for the duration of the holiday season.

2. “Winterize” Your Decor

Replace warm-weather decor with things that are more in keeping with the season. You might switch out pastel or floral throw pillows for some with richer, spicier colors in heavier fabrics like corduroy or velvet, for example. Ditto for your window treatments. Billowy sheers are wonderful with summer breezes, but winter’s chill may call for an insulated window treatment like a cellular shade in the guest room, for example, to keep drafty windows from making your overnight guests uncomfortable. You might also think of layering a rich drapery over woven window blinds for a warmer look as well as some added insulation. (If you’re in Central Alabama, be sure to check with the experts at  Just Blinds  for the very best in window treatments and installation. Feel free to  contact us  to learn more about our products and services.)

Don’t forget to add a little ambience with candles for instant atmosphere, and bowls of potpourri to get your home smelling as good as it looks!

3. Plan Your Menus

If you’re cooking for a crowd, start planning your menu now. Include things that you can make ahead of time so you’re not overwhelmed by trying to do it all at once. (For example, you can freeze cookie dough and slice it for fresh-baked cookies for unexpected guests who drop by unannounced. You can also freeze pies before you bake them, so they’ll only need baking the night before or the morning of the big dinner party.)

4. Rethink Your Gift List

Instead of wracking your brain trying to come up with the “perfect” gift for each person on your list, consider themed gifts like cozy knit hats for nieces and nephews or gift cards for the bookstore for your siblings. We all get so caught up in the retail frenzy of gift-giving that we tend to forget that the gifts we give one another are really meant to be symbolic of the good will and sharing spirit of the holiday season.

5. Have a Plan for De-Stressing

Between work, household chores and duties, and the super-rushed pace of the holiday season, it’s no wonder that many of us feel frazzled at this time of the year. That’s why it’s so important to squeeze in small but meaningful treats for yourself like a massage at a local day spa, a soothing soak in the tub, or a drive through a neighborhood that’s beautifully decorating with shimmering lights. After all, taking time to “smell the balsam” is essential to actually enjoying this special time of year rather than just feeling like it’s one big blur of things you’ve “got” to do!

And in the end, there’s only so much you can do, so instead of striving for a “perfect” holiday season, concentrate instead on opening your home to friends and loved ones, and accepting that your best effort and a welcoming home is all the perfection you need!

Expert Advice by Just Blinds

May 29, 2025
Windows give a home warmth, light, and a view of the outside world. But with the right treatments, you can also use your windows to make your home feel cozy. Coziness is a semse of comfort and familiarity. It defines a charm that feels like home, whether it's the coziness of a warm room in winter, your movie den in the summer. When we think of coziness, we often think of couches, candles, and throw blankets. But your windows play an equally important part. After all, it's your window treatments that frame the light, add softness to your walls, and set the mood for every room. The right window decorations can make your home feel warm and inviting. Using Windows, Drapes, and Shades to Create Coziness  Window treatements create a vibe for your entire room. Drapes, shades, and shutters can be used to create a backdrop of texture, color, and style. They also allow you to control the light levels in your home and even the color of the light. This means that your windows are the best place to start when making a room feel cozy. Layering soft drapes in rich colors is a great way to add that sense of comfort and warmth to a room, while cheerful blinds in soft neutrals can help a room to feel relaxed and welcoming. You can also use drapes or blinds to add a splash of color as a bold accent in any room. These touches combined with glowing sunshine during the day create a cozy and comfortable space. Plants as Cozy Window Decor You can use other types of decor to evoke a sense of coziness, too. We particularly love plants. Leafy green plants love the sunshine as much as you do and thrive when placed in a sunny window. Place an elegant snake plant in the windowsill or hang creeping ivy from a hook near the top of a window frame to make your room feel cheerful and alive with green energy. Plants make a home feel natural and vibrantly lived-in which is perfect for your cozy vibe. For a cozy kitchen, you can even grow fresh herbs in a box on the windowsill that add a delicious aroma and tasty fresh seasoning along with their natural visual appeal. Enhance Your Space with Aromatherapy Speaking of aromatics, you might be surprised how much your windows can take part in cozy aromatherapy. Window treatments like drapes and blinds are fabric that can help purfumes and essential oils linger in the room for days. Cozy scents are often warm aromas like cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, almonds, and coffee. But fresh fruit or floral scents that smell like "home" to you can also add a sense of coziness to each room. Simply spritz your curtains with your favorite scents and each room will subtly carry that comforting smell of home that makes you want to snuggle into the couch and relax at the end of each day. Moody Shade and Maximizing Light When we visualize coziness, light levels often play a role. Your minds eye may see a sun-drenched cottage or a gently lit library as your mental idea of a room that is perfectly cozy. Window treatments allow you to set the mood by reducing or maximizing light to the perfect levels. Well-designed shades and drapes can pull back attractively to maximize light, bathing your room in the warm welcoming glow of sunshine. Or if you prefer a more relaxed coziness, you can use translucent drapes or cellular shades to filter the light exactly the right amount. Diffuse and reduced light filtered through fabric of a warm color can make you feel safe and at peace. Increase Your Happiness with Window Design Your home should feel welcoming, relaxing, and cozy. The right window treatments can help set the stage for a delightful welcome home each night, rejuvinating weekends, and an overall feeling of at-home coziness when you are relaxing in your favorite place. To achieve this goal, you can experiment with home decor changes, including your windows, to achieve your ideal at-home bliss. Contact us today for custom drapes and blinds to complete your cozy room design.
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