99 ways to get ready for the holidays

BATHROOMS AND POWDER ROOMS
70 Clean the light shades and covers.

71 Deep-clean tile so overnight guests aren’t freaked out by grimy grout!

72 Clutter bust inside cabinets and drawers.

73 Introduce a wintery scented candle or reed diffuser set. Spice, berry blends and evergreen scents are always winteriffic.

74 Ditto for hand soap. ‘Tis the season!

75 Swap your regular hand towels for seasonal ones.

76 Keep hand cream out for you and for guests. Winter is drying on skin!

77 Keep extra fingertip towels out during parties. If you only have a one-towel ring in your powder room, leave a small pile of extra towels or change the one towel frequently so it’s not damp.

78 Force a small vase of narcissus or paper white bulbs, or a single hyacinth.

79 If your bath or powder room light isn’t on a dimmer switch, make the trade now – it’s a fast one-hour fix that saves energy and adds ambience.

80 Don’t forget to remove bath mats and hide ’em out of site when dinner guests visit. And stick to use-once-and-wash hotel-style towel mats when guests stay over.

81 If you have pets, keep over-the-counter anti-histamines on hand in case a guest turns out to be allergic.

82 Light a votive or refresh a reed diffuser air freshener pre-party.