It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Image Source: Contemporary Home and Design

The holidays are here, and the new year is just around the corner. There's cooking, cleaning, shopping, and decorating too! So we want to help guide you through one of the busiest times of the year. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, we're going to make sure you have a list, but it's up to you to check it twice. Let's make the kitchen home for the holidays. 

CLEAN THE SPACE

Image Source: Steve Edelman, Kitchens of Insta

One of our favorite things about the holidays is all the food! Traditionally a lot of food is prepared around the holidays, so your kitchen should be clean and ready for cooking. We’re talking about a deep clean. Wipe drawers, wipe the cabinets, and even clean behind the oven. A clean kitchen makes cooking holiday favorites easier. This gives you the clear space to curate the perfect holiday kitchen menu. 

ORGANIZE & DE-CLUTTER

Image Source: K A I T L Y N E L Y, Star Renovations

Give everything in your kitchen a place to go. Organization is key to keeping the peace in a busy kitchen, and if you're having guests around the holidays, it will be easier to direct them to anything they're looking for when everything has a home. Invest in bins for specific item groups and create a designated area for specific items. Now is an excellent time to organize your spice cabinet and your condiments. 

INVEST IN NEW FIXTURES

When your kitchen is getting a lot of use and multiple meals are being prepared it's important that your appliances and kitchen fixtures are performing their best. It may be the perfect time to invest in a new oven, microwave, or crockpot. Installing a new kitchen faucet can enhance the functionality of your kitchen, making meal prep, cooking, and cleaning more seamless. VIGO’s collection of kitchen faucets offers multifunctionality that makes creating your signature dish easier. Opt for a dual-action pull-down kitchen faucet with a maneuverable hose for optimal performance. 

STOCK UP & RE-STOCK

Image Source: Home Decoration Magazine, Dom Imbordino

Prepare for visitors and prepare for feasts! When your kitchen gets more traffic than usual, you’ll want to stock up on the essentials. Restock your pantry with snacks and condiments. Look for storage solutions to help you maximize the space. Bins and shelves are great for stacking spices and dry foods. You’ll also want to ensure that you’re fully stocked with essentials like napkins and paper towel. 

CREATE A TRASH SYSTEM

Image Source: Houzz, Thomas Ville Cabinetry

More foot traffic means more trash. To effectively keep your kitchen clean, you'll want to consider creating a cohesive recycling and trash system. Create a separate bin for recycling near your trash bin and label them appropriately. You may also consider swapping out your current waste storage to one that includes a recycling option for more convenience. If possible, store the bins under the kitchen sink with faucet. 

DECORATE 

Image Source: The Everest Place, Arbor and Co

Now for the fun part, and after all of the hardwork you’ve done to clean you kitchen space you’ll deserve some cheer. Put the finishing touches on your kitchen with some holiday-themed decor like holiday kitchen towels, holiday kitchen rugs, ornaments and more. If you’re not really into traditional holiday decor you can easily add some color and cheer to your kitchen with a floral arrangement. Make decorating a family activity by getting the kids involved. 

Let us know in the comments how you’re getting your kitchen ready for the holidays and please share some of your holiday home kitchen ideas!