The holidays bring out a togetherness of spirit that is not always found at other times of the year. People are willing to travel long distances and go to great inconvenience to be with the ones that they love during this special time of year. With this in mind, if you are set to host this season, it is understandable if there is some pressure to get things right.
One of the best ways to help alleviate this stress is to establish a safe, comfortable environment ahead of your holiday arrivals. Keep reading as we explore some of the best ways to ensure guest safety this holiday season.
Clear Walkways and Driveways
Keeping paths clear of snow and ice is one of the most important factors in ensuring guest safety this holiday season. Not only do icy or snow-packed surfaces create a slipping hazard, but guests simply are not as familiar with your exterior as you are. If they do not have clear sight lines, they may inadvertently drive their vehicle into your landscaping or miss a step leading up to your entry door. As such, be sure to keep snow shovels, snow blowers, ice melt, and any other snow removal equipment in stock and readily accessible.
If you live in a particularly cold region, staying ahead of snow and ice formation can feel like a never-ending battle. To help mitigate these challenges, many homeowners are exploring heated sidewalk and driveway systems. Using a substrate heating grid that releases heat up through the surface in a stovelike manner, these innovative systems keep surfaces clear of buildup in even the most frigid winter conditions. While the heated driveway cost will be a bit of an upfront investment, it can eventually pay for itself over time via time savings and fewer ongoing snow management supplies.
Ensure Safe Food Handling and Preparation
The kitchen in most homes is alive and bustling from dawn until dusk during the holiday season. One person is up early to start kneading their pie dough while another has the turkey sprawled on the counter getting it dressed for the smoker.
While working with food has a unique way of bringing the household together, it also increases the risk of cross-contamination of food if not properly planned for. Installing durable, nonporous quartz countertops is one of the best ways to streamline cleaning and maintenance during the holiday season. They are completely impervious to food stains and bacteria formation and can be easily cleaned with a disinfecting wipe.
If a counter replacement is outside the scope of your ambitions ahead of this holiday season, take some day-to-day actions to streamline safe food handling. Give your refrigerator and freezer a deep clean to increase storage space for holiday dishes. Stock plenty of sponges, disinfecting wipes, dishwasher tabs, and any other cleaning supplies to facilitate a sanitary kitchen environment.
Create a Cozy, Energy Efficient Interior
Obviously, keeping your home’s interior warm and cozy is a top priority in winter weather. However, it is important to find a way to do this without keeping the heat cranked up 24/7. Some of the best ways to keep the cold weather outside and ensure a comfortable interior include:
-
Installing radiant floor heating in kitchens, bathrooms, mudrooms, and any other high-traffic areas
-
Using the best insulation for exterior walls and ceilings to improve the home’s R-value and limit cold air transfer
-
Adding space heaters to living areas to quickly warm up the room on an as-needed basis
By checking these items off your to-do list ahead of holiday gatherings, you can ensure a more comfortable, inviting interior without causing energy bills to go through the roof.
Install Sufficient Lighting
Even if you are able to navigate your house with your eyes closed, the same cannot be said for your guests. They will need sufficient lighting to get around your property after the sun goes down. In addition to standard holiday lighting, place night lights in bathrooms and corridors to supply some soft illumination. Hang LED lights on porches, decks, and staircase railings to further optimize safety.
Plan for Guests of All Ages
The holidays are a time when we welcome friends and family of all ages into our home. From the infant experiencing their first Christmas to the great aunt who has celebrated with the family through the generations, the holidays are truly a multigenerational time of year. Be sure that your home is set to accommodate this gamut of ages.
To create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone, it's important to consider a few adjustments that make your home comfortable for guests of all ages. Add rubber pads to the corners of all tables and counters to reduce the risk of bumping heads on sharp edges. Install shower grab bars into guest bathrooms to ensure safety of people getting in and out of the tub. Add rugs and/or non-slip coatings to the floors in mudrooms and entryways to mitigate the risks associated with melting snow.
Optimizing Comfort and Safety in Your Home this Holiday Season
Creating a safe, comfortable environment is a top priority if you are set to host this holiday season. In addition, it is a good idea to check your homeowners’ policy to see if you have enough coverage should an accident occur at your home. For more in this regard, contact Barber Insurance Agency to guarantee that you are set to go this holiday season!
Author Bio:
Roger Marx is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise on the latest trending building and design products. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he enjoys spending time with his wife and working on backyard projects in his spare time. Roger’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a construction industry resource site.