When it comes to the holidays your to-do list seems endless. Just when you think you have it under control the doorbell rings. You look through the peep hole and standing on the front step are your relatives. With suitcases in hand, they are ready for an extended stay at your home. The real question is…are you?

You may be asking yourself, do I really need to prepare for guests? By offering up my home aren't I already doing enough?

In the real world you would be absolutely correct, but this is family we're talking about. It's also the holidays and unless you thrive on tension, you may want to think about choosing the path of least resistance. In other words, you need to prepare yourself and your home.

Preparing Yourself
There's an old saying that says, "Company is like fish. After three days it begins to stink." Sure it's funny, but sadly it's somewhat true. How many times do we have to host or be hosted before we realize it?

The first couple of days are great. Reliving old times, exchanging photos, eating delicious meals, watching DVDs with the fireplace going – it's a lot of fun. Sometimes, shorter stays are just enough time for everyone to catch up and celebrate, allowing the party to end on a high note.

For visits longer than a few days, it's important to understand that your patience, along with everyone else's, may be tested at some point. Here are three suggestions that will help prepare you for these moments.

1. Don't take responsibility for every single logistic. This is a time when your delegating skills can come in handy. The theme is "family" so the idea of pulling together makes a lot of sense. It also reduces the chance of anyone feeling under-appreciated.

2. Communication is more important than organization. The holidays can be frantic and filled with many surprises. Your organization in dealing with these matters can only go so far. Communicating clearly with your family will be the key to salvaging everyone's sanity.

3. Don't sweat the small stuff. If something doesn't go as planned, acknowledge it and move on. Very few details have the ability to completely destroy a holiday celebration. Giving them the power to do so is something you can absolutely avoid.

Preparing Your Home
Now that you've prepared yourself for the arrival of guests, it's time to prepare your home. The following is a collection of tips we've received for keeping the holidays running smoothly and your guests content.

1. Place an emphasis on the entrance of your home. Start by delegating the job of walkway and porch maintenance to one of your more "youthful" family members. This is especially important if you live in areas that receive snowfall or are known to freeze over.

Keeping the path to your front door well lit and clear of the elements not only makes your home more inviting, but safer as well. Safety becomes even more important if your guests are grandparents or young children. This job is ongoing and needs to be performed daily.

If you have a closet in the entryway of your home, you may want to move the contents to another location. Reserve this space for everyone's outdoor gear like jackets and umbrellas. Another good idea is to add storage solutions such as hooks or shelving to the entryway wall.

These two practices will cut down on clutter, as well as give your guests a designated place to keep their more grimy belongings. Speaking of which, a few holiday doormats on the floor of your entryway is a worthy space for guests to place their wet shoes or boots.

2. The main living area is where you'll spend most of your time, so plan accordingly. Start by de-cluttering the entire room. You're definitely going to need the space. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity to organize an important area of your home, one that over the course of the year tends to collect "stuff".

Is your carpet dingy or have your hardwoods lost their luster? A very inexpensive way to boost the appearance of your front room is to rent a carpet cleaner or a hardwood polisher a week or so before your guests arrive. If your budget permits, hire someone to do this for you. Having a clean carpet or a floor that sparkles makes an excellent backdrop for all of your holiday decorations.

Make sure your seating is in order. Depending on room space, you may want to move a comfortable chair (or two) from another room into the main living area. A collection of oversized throw pillows is great for kids or for anyone who doesn't have a problem sitting on the floor. The addition of several throw blankets will provide comfort while bunkering down.

Promote your main living area as the center of entertainment by stocking it with DVDs, board games, magazines and other activities. Keep everything appropriate to the ages of your guests and you will end up with a true "family" room.

If you have a houseful of people, and bedroom space is at a minimum, the family room is a great place for the older kids to sleep. All you need are an appropriate number of air mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows. They can be set up at night before bedtime and then broken down and put away come morning. Using the family room as a big kids bedroom will not only create more bedroom space for the relatives who need it, but it will also provide a fun environment for older children and teenagers.

3. Correctly setting up your guestrooms is paramount to a happy holiday. It's important to remember that for a few days these rooms become the private bedrooms of your guests. Once again, start by de-cluttering them. Remember, less needless stuff means more room for your guests and a greater chance they will feel comfortable.

Assign the bedrooms to each guest in order of bedtimes. Those with earlier bedtimes should be placed as far away as possible from the main living area. This will allow them a restful sleep, while also providing others the ability to stay up late.

As with hallway closets, you want to make sure bedroom dressers and closets have plenty of space and empty hangars for guests to place their clothes. Also, make sure that each room is equipped with a bedside clock and a reading lamp. Sleeping in a bedroom other than your own can be somewhat disorienting. These two additions will restore a sense of familiarity.

Freshly laundered sheets and bed linens are vital to your guests' comfort. We would suggest using either a lightly scented fabric softener or a natural linen water to bring a fresh smell to the bed. It also promotes relaxation.

4. Don't forget about the bathrooms. For starters, a thorough cleaning is absolutely in order. If any lights, fixtures or fans are in need of repair it is a good idea to do so.

Make sure to stock the guest bathrooms with plenty of toilet paper, facial tissue, air freshener, hand soap, shower soap and a few basic toiletries. A combination shampoo/conditioner and a tube of toothpaste are a perfect start. Anything else is completely up to you. Don't forget to provide plenty of clean linens like bath towels, hand towels and washrags.

Depending on your guests, it is sometimes a good idea to assign bathrooms. Anyone with a baby will require a tub and anyone who makes frequent visits during the night will benefit from a bathroom close to their room.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of assigning bathrooms you can do so in a somewhat nonchalant way. Subsequent to showing your guests to their rooms, bring them to their assigned bathrooms, showing them the bath linens you've set out for their use. Chances are they'll naturally gravitate back to that bathroom.

5. Keeping the kitchen properly stocked will come in handy. You can begin by phoning your guests prior to their arrival. Ask them if there's anything they enjoy eating or drinking on a daily basis. This accomplishes two goals. First, it tells your guests you're doing your best to be hospitable. Second, it keeps you from buying useless items that take up fridge space, as well as making impromptu trips to the store.

Plan out as many meals as you can and shop for the appropriate items as early as possible. Perishable items must be bought in accordance with their use, but be as judicious as possible with excursions to the grocery store. This practice will cut down on number of visits as well as the time spent inside the market. Remember, most people are off work and many have procrastinated their food shopping. Grocery stores tend to be overly crowded during the days and nights leading up to the holidays.

One last thing, if you have any rarely used kitchen appliances sitting on your counters, see if you can find a temporary, alternate location. Chances are you'll need every square inch of counter space you have.

From everyone at YOU Magazine, we wish you the happiest and sanest of holidays!