There is nothing quite like the holidays. Family, friends and festivities. Food, fun and decorations. With the season to be jolly just around the corner though, there is plenty to be done to get your home holiday ready, so here’s a rundown of what you should be doing and where.

1. Swap out soft furnishings for holiday versions. Throws, pillows, runners and even drapes can be traded for seasonal versions. They do not all have to be Christmas themed though. Simple, heavy velvets and chenille in seasonal colors work well with holiday themed touches.

2. Have dimmer switches installed on living room, family room and dining room lighting. Many of your dinners and events will feature other lights, so being able to turn down the main lights in a room is a great idea.

3. Update your fireplace and mantel. Add a new shelf or surround if yours is looking tired, and then create a chic display with potted evergreens, piled up pinecones in the hearth, and stockings hanging from the mantel.

4. Invest in battery operated flameless candles, and dress up your dining room table with a seasonal runner, dried or faux Christmas foliage, berries and baubles, and faux candles that won’t smoke or drip. Add new chair pads or covers in holiday covers, and you are ready for any holiday dinner.

5. Clean and polish serving dishes, serving utensils, seldom used glasses, serving boards and other items that you will be using often over the season, but that usually live in a drawer. They are likely to be dusty and spotted, and you do not want to be polishing silver wear when your guests are due to arrive!

6. Clear out your refrigerator and freezer. You are going to be stocking up on holiday treats, so you do not need the fridge cluttered with old condiments, and the freezer full of frozen meals. If you need the room and can’t face eating leftovers for the next month, consider donating ready cooked, frozen meals to a local charity, and do good while you clear out!

7. Stock up on extra coffee, tea, soft drinks, mineral water and other refreshments. Store them in your pantry or basement, with a few of each cold drink in the fridge all the time, so you are never caught short when surprise guests arrive.

8. If you are having family stay for the holiday, and your guest room has been vacant most of the year, do a thorough clean and change the sheets.

9. If you have a wood burning fireplace that has not been checked lately, have a professional make sure your chimney is clear and ready for roaring holiday fires.

10. Stock your first aid kit, including over the counter anti histamines, in case one of your guests is allergic to your pets or something else.

It is also a good idea to take a walk around your home a week or two before party season starts in earnest, and make minor repairs that you have been neglecting. Your home will look better, and you will be more relaxed if you do not need to hide minor issues.