By‌ ‌Ashley‌ ‌Zimmermann,‌ ‌Creative‌ ‌Content‌ ‌Director‌ ‌for‌ ‌@designREMODEL‌ ‌

We are now in holiday prime time! I hope everyone has had a great season so far. As discussed in our last blog post, the year is winding down, and now is not the time to start anything anew. 2022 is almost here, and you will have a whole year during which to plan out and execute your new remodeling projects. In the meantime, enjoy December! One small ‘project’ you can work on is organizing and refreshing your kitchen. We wrote back in 2018 that the kitchen is command central during the holiday season. You (and others) will likely be spending much more time in your kitchen than during the rest of the year, so it will be paramount to organize your space. This update will ensure smooth and enjoyable meal prep, cookie baking, and more.

1. Get organized

Lists are your friend. Use them! I promise it will make your life easier. While visiting my parents during Thanksgiving, my mom proudly showed me her “Organized Christmas” binder, a program by Cynthia Ewer of OrganizedHome.com. Granted, Mom told me she started planning in late October, and we’re a bit late for that, but you can still pull a few items from their convenient checklist from the “Get Cooking Week.” Adjust accordingly for your celebrated holiday of choice.

• Plan holiday meals for the rest of the month

• Inventory your pantry and freezer

• Check spices and other items for freshness and expiration dates

• Prepare your holiday baking shopping list

• Shop for non-perishable baking supplies

• Stock up on hospitality supplies- like beverages, cheese, and crackers- for drop-in visitors

2. Declutter

Most people already have their kitchenware arranged in a manner that makes sense to them, so you likely won’t need to make those kinds of changes to get the kitchen holiday ready. You can, however, declutter by removing all unnecessary items and knick-knacks from countertops and decorated spaces. If stray items have a ‘home,’ put them back in the right place. Gather everything else, including your usual year-round decorations, and put them in a box. Pack the box away until after the holidays. You will likely be putting up holiday decorations, so start with a clean palette. If you don’t plan to decorate? Decluttering is still a good idea. Pare down the extra things in the kitchen, so you have more space for rolling pie crusts and cookie dough. Think convenience.

3. Clean your appliances 

A word to the wise: clean the appliances ahead of time. On Thanksgiving Eve 2020, Mom forgot to run a cleaning cycle on the oven before preparing side dishes, and the oven started smoking. It was a good thing it didn’t happen on Thanksgiving Day. To avoid this, clean your oven! Allow a few hours for the self-cleaning cycle. If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, it’s time to get scrubbing.

Make time to clean your fridge. Get rid of anything old or expired. Toss out items like ketchup bottles with only a half-inch of product left. It will also be worth it to test out handheld appliances you know you’ll be using soon, like the KitchenAid mixer you haven’t used all year. Better to plan ahead and not risk scrambling.

4. Sprinkle in some joy 

Good job! You’ve accomplished all the hard stuff. To finish off, beautify your space. Try using live boughs and lights to style the tops of your high cabinets. You can cut your own, or you can purchase some when you pick out your tree. Appeal to the senses by layering in different textures. As long as no one in your household is allergic, I recommend incorporating scents, like candles and evergreen from the hanging boughs. Fragrances will make the rest of the decor feel more magical.

Part of the goal is to make the kitchen into your happy place. If you are like my dad and felted gnomes tickle your funny bone for some unknown reason, go ahead and set them out. The holiday season is my favorite time of year, and I want you to have a relaxing and enjoyable season, too. Let us know which tips you tried out!

May your holidays sparkle with joy and laughter.

References:

https://atdesignremodel.com/blog/pressed-for-time-this-holiday-season-these-quick-and-easy-projects-will-help-you-spruce-up-your-home - Pressed for Time this Holiday Season? These Quick and Easy Projects Will Help You Spruce Up Your Home

https://atdesignremodel.com/blog/quick-and-easy-holiday-home-updates-2021-edition - 9 Quick and Easy Holiday Home Updates- 2021 Edition

https://atdesignremodel.com/blog/get-your-kitchen-holiday-ready-with-these-5-helpful-tips - Get Your Kitchen Holiday Ready with These 5 Helpful Tips

https://organizedhome.com/christmas - Organized Christmas

https://organizedhome.com/christmas/countdown/get-cooking-week - Christmas Countdown: Get Cooking Week

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/create/a37903781/merry-christmas-wishes/ 82 merry Christmas wishes to write in holiday greeting cards