Getting Your Kitchen Ready for The Holidays

October 8, 2021

Are you planning to host holiday gatherings this season? The holidays often sneak up too quickly.

There’s no time like the present to start preparing. Here are our tips to make sure your home has all the necessary appliances and is set up to make this holiday season one to tell the grandchildren about for years to come.

Appliances You Need for the Holidays

Keep your guests happy with a warm, homemade meal and plenty of snacks and refreshments. Every family has its own mealtime traditions, and we want to make sure your kitchen is set up to help you pull off the holiday meal you are envisioning.

Oven & Cooktop Combination or Range

Whether you’re planning to cook a full holiday meal with turkey and all the fixin’s, or you want to make Grandma’s special pumpkin pie for your family, an oven or range that works properly is essential.

Wondering if it’s time to upgrade? Here are some things to consider:

• Does your current oven or range cook at accurate temperatures? There’s nothing worse than over or undercooked food.
• How quickly does your oven preheat? You will want to make sure your guests aren’t left waiting longer than expected for food.
• Do you have enough cooktop space for large meals? Have all your sides ready at once with enough burners.
• Would meal prepping be easier with a different kitchen layout? You might want to consider rearranging to move your oven and cooktop closer together or make more room for multiple people in the kitchen.
• Would you benefit from a double oven and being able to cook at two temperatures at one time?
• Does your family love air-fried food? Models are available with Air Fry features included.

If your current oven or range isn’t ideal for your lifestyle, take this opportunity to treat yourself, and your family, to an upgraded model before the holidays arrive. Shop our selection of cooking appliances.

Large Refrigerator or Extra Freezer

Whether you are storing leftovers or cookie dough from a holiday exchange, you will need plenty of refrigerator and freezer space. Don’t find yourself scrambling this year to find refrigerator space once all your sides are prepped. With a sufficiently-sized refrigerator, you will have enough space to prep all your food ahead of time and easily find everything when you need to. Consider a refrigerator with an ice maker and water dispenser as well to make it easy for your guests to stay hydrated throughout your party.

If you’re looking for extra freezer space, we highly recommend investing in a chest or upright freezer for your basement or garage. The additional space will save you the stress of digging through a crowded freezer or scrambling to find space to store your frozen items when you bring home too much from the grocery store. An extra freezer can also allow you to stock up on meat or frozen pies when they are on sale before the holiday rush.

Dishwasher

We all know dishes pile up quickly during family gatherings. No one wants to spend hours washing dishes after their guests go home. Make cleanup a breeze with a new dishwasher. Selecting a dishwasher that includes a third rack will make it easy for you to fit all the dirty dishes into one load and save you time handwashing extra items.

Howard’s Bonus Tip: If you feel comfortable doing so, ask your guests to put their plates and utensils directly into the dishwasher after they are done eating. It will make your life easier, and most guests will understand. Once the dishwasher is full, simply start the load and enjoy your party.

Kitchen Appliance Packages

If you need multiple appliances, it can be a great time of the year to treat yourself to a full kitchen upgrade. There are several benefits to purchasing a kitchen appliance package, including:

• Discounted pricing
• Matching appliance finishes
• Smart appliance syncing
• Extra rebates

Through the end of October, Howard’s is offering free installation, next-day delivery, and haul away on appliance package purchases of $5,499.99 or more. Save yourself the time and money of installation so you have more time to prepare for the holiday season with this special. Get more details online.

Getting Your Home Ready for Holiday Parties

Once your appliances are installed and ready for the holidays, you’ll be ready to prepare the rest of your house.

Cleaning

Make cleanup before gatherings easier by keeping your house picked up on a regular basis. Take 15 to 20 minutes each day to do a quick pickup before you go to bed each night. This will help you stay on top of things and prevent hours of cleaning down the road.

Before your holiday gatherings, do a quick pass with a vacuum and pick up any toys, jackets, or stray items that have been left around the house. Make sure your house looks presentable, but don’t worry too much about having it be spotless. Keep in mind that guests will be tracking dirt in, and things will accumulate on the counters during the party.

Entertainment for Children

If you will have children over for the holidays, make sure you have something in mind to keep them busy. If you can, set aside a separate play area with games and toys that are age-appropriate. A room with a second TV can be a lifesaver during parties and can keep the children entertained.

Designate a Gift Area

If your guests will be bringing gifts, plan a space for gifts to be placed. Things can pile up quickly, especially if you are having a large gathering. Set aside a designated area and prevent gifts from being piled up in the entryway or other less-ideal locations.

Looking to Finance?

Extend your budget and apply today for special promotional financing. Howard’s can work with you to find flexible financing and you can receive 18 months of no interest. Learn more about our financing options online today or contact us for more details.

Shop for Appliances and TVs at Howard’s

Howard’s has been in business for over 75 years and is Southern California’s largest and most trusted appliance retailer. We offer free next-day delivery on purchases over $399 within qualified zip codes scheduled before 5 p.m. in the Southern California area. To make things easier for our customers, we also offer online chat, phone consultations, and online ordering. Shop one of our 13 locations or browse our selection online at Howards.com.