The holidays seem to either come too quickly or not quickly enough. And once they arrive, it always feels like there isn't enough time to prepare for your guests! 

Thankfully, you can get inspired and start early this year with these home improvement ideas to prepare your home for the holidays. From simple upgrades like modernizing small fixtures like your curtain rods to transformative projects like upgrading your bathroom tiles, these projects will help you prepare your home for guests before you know it.

10 Easy Home Improvement Ideas to Get Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Home improvement projects can be enjoyable and manageable when you are feeling inspired. These 10 ideas are an excellent starting point:

1. Refresh Guest Room

Preparing your home for holiday guests naturally starts with transforming your guest rooms. Transforming your guest bedroom doesn't have to be a huge makeover project, as simple changes can have a huge impact. A minimal approach with simple but meaningful additions is often best. Some ways to refresh your guest bedrooms include:

• Layering the bed with an assortment of luxurious linen and plush pillows. 
• Adding a few intentional decor items like a framed painting, feature lamp or large potted plant. 
• Placing an elegant rug in the room is an excellent way to make the room more luxurious, comfortable and unified. A beautiful DaVinci Kashan rug is a perfect addition to your guest bedroom.  

2. Modernize Your Kitchen's Backsplash

Because the oven is a main focal point, modernizing your backsplash is an affordable, simple and effective way to make your entire kitchen look like it had a makeover. Marlow Watercolor Cloud Ceramic Glossy Tiles work perfectly for a fresh and clean backsplash, while Grunge Iron Ceramic Wall Tiles work well for a modern look. 

3. Revamp Your Floors

Your floors are one of your home's greatest features. Outdated or damaged floors can really impact your house's whole look. By installing new hardwood flooring, luxury vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, carpets or tiles, you give your home a meaningful makeover that instantly upgrades the entire house. 

The best part is that there are truly affordable options available that make your floor upgrades completely viable! And if a big floor revamp isn't in the cards right now, you can still prepare floors for holidays by placing beautiful rugs over the parts of your old floors or carpets that need some extra attention. 

4. Choose Modern Bathroom Tile Upgrades

The standout feature in your guest bathrooms is definitely your floor, wall and shower tiles — they “dress up” the bathroom and give it most of its aesthetic appeal. Thanks to this, you can give your guest bathroom a completely new look simply by upgrading the tiles. 

If you can upgrade all your tiles, even better! But if you need to think more strategically, choose the area that would have the most impact or the area that needs the most immediate attention. For example, you can focus on modernizing your shower tiles if they look outdated. Or, if there are chipped floor tiles, make your bathroom floor tiles the priority.

5. Transform Your Fireplace

The fireplace is one of those features that truly impresses guests. You can make yours the spot where everyone wants to cozy up by transforming it using ledger stone. Ledger stone, also called veneer or stacked stone, is traditionally made from natural stone but can also be made from concrete that mimics a natural look. This makes it a popular choice for fireplaces, walls and borders. 

For a rustic or farmhouse style, Rockmount Rustic Gold Ledger Panels and Rockmount California Gold Ledger Panels work well. Sleek Rockmount Alaska Gary Ledger Panels are ideal for a more contemporary or modern look.

6. Get Countertop Upgrades

New countertops are a true holiday home improvement that instantly transforms kitchens. Since the kitchen is one of the busiest spaces in the house, the key is to invest in quality countertops that will last for years to come. 

When shopping for countertops, consider how extensive your kitchen upgrades will be. If you plan on redoing your kitchen floors, walls and cabinets, too, then you can choose your dream countertops and center your remodel on that. If the countertops are the only upgrade you are doing, go for a design that compliments your existing fixtures. 

7. Get a Fresh Coat of Paint 

Painting your walls may not sound like the most exciting upgrade, but it is a simple and effective change that can give your space a new atmosphere. If you decide to paint before the holidays, give yourself enough time to pick out the perfect color, prepare your house and complete the job long before guests arrive so your house can air. Keep in mind that for stronger paint formulas, it can take up to a week for the smell of fresh paint to fully dissipate. 

8. Focus on Your Entryway

For a meaningful but simple change, focus on how you can give your entryway a makeover. This is where you invite people into your house, so focusing on making it a homely, welcoming and functional space will be most impactful. 

Start by decluttering the space. You can then add a beautiful table or stand and a washable rug (this area probably gets the most foot traffic!). Look for furniture that is also functional and can discreetly hide or display entryway items like keys, hats and shoes. Complete the space with one or two pieces of intentional decor, such as a photo frame and flower vase. 

9. Upgrade Fixtures

Upgrading your fixtures may not seem like a big renovation project, but the little touches can make everything else pop and feel more cohesive. Try updating these fixtures and see the difference it can make:

• Lights
• Door handles
• Ceiling fans
• Curtain rods
• Towel racks

10. Build the Perfect Patio

A beautiful patio makes a good first impression and helps your home stand out. With a few small renovations, you can make your patio a place where guests will love having a coffee and chat while enjoying some fresh air and a good view. A few great ways you can update your patio include:  

• Adding a modern fire pit. 
• Placing a few large pot plants with eye-catching greenery. 
• Investing in quality outdoor furniture.

Bonus Tip: Tie Up Loose Ends

We all have those DIY projects around a house that we mean to get to and never do — the leaking tap, the unorganized spot in the garage or that missing cluster of mosaic tiles in the bathroom. Exciting home renovation projects like adding a new backsplash or upgrading your fireplace truly transform your home, but it's the little cosmetic tasks that tie everything together and showcase the effort you put into preparing for the holidays.  

Shop at Carpet & Tile Mart for Your Holiday Home Projects

Preparing your home for the holidays should be an enjoyable and fulfilling project. When you choose Carpet & Tile Mart for your holiday home projects, you shop at a floor supercenter where we prioritize value, convenience and personalized service by making it easy to find what you are looking for at competitive prices. 

Head to one of our Carpet & Tile Mart stores near you to shop a versatile and competitive range of the best rugs, tiles, flooring and countertops today! Feel free to also contact us online with any queries you have.