20 crucial projects to get done before hosting Christmas

Test out all the dining chairs you plan to use to get your dining room ready for Christmas and fix any chairs that are wobbly.

And if you think you’ll need extra chairs, check with neighbours or friends to see if they have any you can borrow.

Old timber furniture that is structurally sound can be easily reinvented using paint, with good preparation the key to achieving a professional finish.

Do you have a piece of upholstered furniture that has worn or torn fabric?

Don’t worry! You can replace the fabric with a design of your own choice.

In fact, you may be able to make it better than ever!

To give an old chair a new look, all you need is a couple of metres of fabric, a staple gun, scissors and a packet of tacks.

It would be hard to prove, but it is commonly held that approximately half of the dirt and dust in your home gets inside on your shoes and boots.

Keep mats at each exterior door, one outside and one inside to be extra careful.

Shake them out away from open windows and wash or hose them down regularly.

Speaking of dust, have you ever tried to dust an awkward item like a lampshade? Normal dusting methods like cloths can be difficult and ineffective.

Take advantage of one of those beautiful afternoons to give your rugs a deep clean.

Take area rugs outside and give them a good shake (or a good whack), then give them a thorough vacuum with your shop vac.

Don’t forget our interior carpets—you can rent a carpet cleaner and give your carpet a deep clean before you start hosting holiday gatherings.

Follow these great tips for cleaning just about everything with ordinary household products.

Make sure to stock the bathroom your guests will be using with plenty of toilet paper and clean towels.

And put a package of cleaning wipes under the sink so you can quickly clean up the sink, counter and toilet when needed.

Save space by using pullout rails to store towels in the bathroom.

Keep condiments and spices in an easy-to-carry rack to free up countertop space.

You always want salt, cooking oils and your favorite spices next to the stove because you use them every day.

But they don’t have to take up valuable counter space full time.

Place them all in a caddy that you can instantly stow in a cabinet after cooking.

You’ll find caddies in various shapes, sizes and prices at any store that sells kitchenware.

Check out this bamboo caddy you can make at home.

You can easily organise your dry goods by storing them inside jars and canisters.

Not only can you create uniformity in your pantry storage this way, but you can also see at a glance where your lentils, rice, or oats are stashed.

Arranging these jars on display on open shelves can also give your kitchen a rustic, homestead-chic look.

We’ve seen some clever kitchen storage ideas over the years and while clever innovations are useful (think secret drawers and hooks on ceilings), nothing beats the convenience of a large, well structured pantry.

Use those leftover closet racks as cabinet organisers.

Trim the racks to length with a hacksaw and then mount screws to the backside of the face frame to hold the racks in place.

The backside of the rack simply rests against the back of the cabinet.

Now you can easily store and find your cranberry sauce and the rest of your inventory at a glance with this pantry storage solution.

Another trick is to create a drawer divider to better organise your herbs and spices.

Make sure you’ll have enough plates, glasses, silverware and serving dishes for all your guests and holiday meals.

And if you think you’ll need more of anything, ask a friend or neighbour if you can borrow what you need.

Once you have the plates sorted, try these unique Christmas place card ideas.

Fill your cupboard with clean and sterile take-away containers so guests can take home any leftovers.

This article first appeared on Family Handyman.