It’s that time of year again! December is here, and it’s time for the hustle and bustle of the holidays. As houses start lighting up one by one and stores start pulling out their holiday supplies, it’s important to remember that despite all of the excitement, prepping for the holidays is a very precise business. So, to avoid any seasonal slip-ups, here’s a guide to ensure the perfect preparations:

Decorating

Many precautions must be taken when decorating, since holiday decorations can go wrong very quickly. First, be careful not to over-decorate. Don’t fill your house to the brim with garlands, lights, and wreaths or turn your lawn into a battlefield of tacky inflatable figures. You do not want your house to look like the Holidays threw up all over it.

One way this may be avoided is by simple organization. For example, try organizing where decorations are placed instead of randomly positioning them. Also, spread out decorations instead of crowding them all in one place. This will help provide the illusion that you have a decent quantity of decorations without making it seem like you are a decoration hoarder.

Another way decorating disasters may be avoided is sticking to a theme. For example, keep Santa’s separate from snowmen and snowmen separate from shepherds and sheep. One other common example of a theme is using only white lights outside. This can make your house look classy, yet fun and playful.

Gifts

When thinking about the Holidays, one also faces the problem of finding gifts for friends and family. To some, finding the perfect gift can be next to impossible. Instead of scouring every store trying to find the ideal present for everyone, try going for something personal or homemade.

Be careful, however, with homemade gifts. Don’t use the concept of a homemade gift as an excuse to throw something together at the very last minute. Homemade gifts, if made properly, as opposed to meaningless store bought gifts, can score you some major Holiday points.

Baking

An essential part of the holiday season is the food. What would the holidays be without the smells of gingerbread and peppermint? In your holiday preparations, baking is a must. Store bought goods will not do since it is not only the food that makes the holidays, but also the excitement of getting together with family and friends.

When considering what to bake, stick to the classics. You can’t go wrong with something simple such as gingerbread cookies. Try to avoid being too experimental with your holiday baking, since the classic recipes are well liked by many and hard to mess up.

Music

One should begin listening to seasonal music about two weeks before the holidays themselves. There are only so many holiday songs, which results in them growing old very quickly. By listening slightly later can help you avoid growing tired of holiday music before the holidays. If you, however, are the type of person who could listen to holiday music all year, then by all means rock out to it!