Our Guide to The Perfect Holiday Kitchen
Seasons Greetings! Celebrations are upon us - time to enjoy the holidays surrounded by family, friends, gifts, food, libations, and more. The key to staying stress-free is by maximizing and prepping space ahead of time! And it starts in the kitchen.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially at Christmas time. It provides much more than sustenance, it's a space to gather for family fun and make emotional connections. Holiday guests usually equate to extra mouths to feed and larger meals (which means larger messes.)
To help you get ready, here’s a list of our best tips to get your kitchen ho-ho-holiday-ready. Check it once, check it twice…
Step 1: Deep Clean
The first step to achieving the perfect holiday kitchen is to deep clean your space. This means scrubbing down counters and getting ready for food prep! Remember to:
Toss expired and unwanted food from the fridge and pantry.
Clean the stove and oven (don’t forget the vent hood!)
Clean dishwasher if necessary
Tidy up stray items and countertop clutter
Relocate anything that doesn't belong in the kitchen to its proper home.
Sanitize countertops
Spot-clean cabinets to remove fingerprints and smudges (don’t forget interiors!)
Wipe down sink
Mop the floor
Clean exteriors of appliances
Clean and sanitize trash and recycling bins
Wash dish towels
For easy upkeep, stay on top of clutter, and keep a broom handy for sweeping after cooking sessions.
Starting off with a clean slate will help you enjoy every cooking and baking adventure of the season.
Step 2: Take Advantage of Hanging Storage
Overhead storage is your friend! If you’re tight on space, hanging up pots and pans will significantly increase your counters, leaving space for more important things like decorating cookies and laying out other essentials. See an example here in our gallery.
Step 3: Menu Prep
When it comes to large gatherings, planning is key. Simple ways to stay ahead:
Establish quantity - how much food do you actually need to feed your guests?
Read your recipes in advance
Create a detailed shopping list
Buy supplies
Organize ingredients, kitchenware, and work areas ahead of time to ensure you have what you need.
Pro-Move: Do all of your food prep in the days leading up to your party. Do as much pre-cooking as possible, so all you have to do the day-of is heat and serve. This way, you can focus on spending quality time with loved ones instead of dashing back to the kitchen all night.
Here are some quick, delicious, and easy-to-execute appetizers:
Chilled veggies and hummus dip
Crackers and cheese
Meatballs
Chicken tenders
Homemade guacamole
Caprese salad
Quesadillas
Spinach or artichoke dip
Step 4: Organize For Holiday Baking
If you haven’t already, consider this the year you make a dedicated holiday baking area: a shelf in your pantry that’s exclusively for special baking ingredients like brown sugar, vanilla extract, chocolate chips, and more.
This will make your baking endeavors easier, especially if you are prepping with a group, and will act as an easy reminder when you’re running low on ingredients.
Also, check out this popular feature we install in kitchen remodels that makes baking a dream… a heavy duty mixer lift that creates a mixing station when in use and hides your mixer in your cabinet when you’re done! Get yours here!
Step 5: Organize For Holiday Drinking
Just as, if not more important than a designated area for your baking supplies is a designated bar or drink preparation area. Make things easier on yourself by setting up a self-serve bar. If you don’t have one already, improvise using a cooler, a mini fridge or just a small table. Keeping the beverage station separate from the food-prep area will keep things easier for you!
Step 6: Decorate With Function In Mind
One of the perks of hosting is showing off all the decorating you’ve been doing!
‘Tis the season to break out your trimmings! The best decor is the kind that serves a purpose – and what better purpose than a holiday dinner? Switch out your towels, washcloths, oven mitts, tablecloths, etc., for seasonal varieties. Start with the most efficient and obvious items first, like festive trays to serve your food on or holiday-themed dinner plates.
Step 7: Bring Out The Novelty Decor!
Don’t forget that extra special “what were we thinking when we bought this” items! It’s time for your cookie jar collection to SHINE! Novelty items (like cookie jars) may take up counter space, but they save space in other areas, like your fridge, pantry, or dining table, and add a dash of festivity to the kitchen.
Step 8: Carve Out Extra Seating
When hosting larger groups, keep comfort top of mind. Consider creating a new seating spot for guests to gather in the kitchen and around your home. Add new bar stools to your island, extra folding chairs, or even a small table and chair set to a previously unused kitchen corner. Add throw pillows for extra comfort and style.
For more ideas on getting your perfect holiday kitchen, browse our before & after photos in our Project Gallery!
Are you ready to take your kitchen to the next level with new storage or a full remodel? Our team is ready to renew your space. Contact us below to start your project.
Maverick Home Remodeling, Inc has been a member of NARI since 2006. Several benefits associated with membership include Community, Education, Certification, Access, and more. Kelly Berlin, Vice President of Maverick Home Remodeling, Inc., served as a board member of NARI’s Rocky Mountain Chapter for three years to help promote the remodeling industry and encourage others to commit to integrity, transparency, and education.
