The viral article about “27 Ways To Get Your House In Order Now, Because We All Know Christmas Is About To Undo It All” hit a nerve for a reason: we’re days away from peak holiday chaos. Guests, gifts, food, luggage, kids, pets, and a lot of judgmental relatives are about to stress-test every corner of your home.
Instead of doomscrolling and panicking, use that pre-holiday anxiety as fuel. Right now is the perfect window to knock out a few fast, high-impact DIY fixes that will actually make your space work better when people start pouring in.
Below are five practical, step‑by‑step solutions you can do in an afternoon. No contractor, no remodel—just targeted repairs and small upgrades that pay off immediately.
1. Clear The Entrance Bottleneck: Fast Doorway & Coat Chaos Fix
Holiday guests all arrive at once, dump coats and bags in a pile, and suddenly your entry is useless. Inspired by that “pre‑Christmas panic” trend, fix the traffic jam before it starts.
What you’ll need:
Wall hooks or a simple coat rack, a sturdy boot tray or old baking sheet, a small mat, screws, drill or screwdriver, and a basket/bin.
Steps:
- **Pick a “landing zone” near the door.**
Ideally within 3–6 feet of the main entrance. This keeps dirt, snow, and clutter from migrating through the whole house.
- **Install a simple hook rail or over-the-door hooks.**
Mount at about 66–70 inches from the floor so most adults can reach it. Don’t overthink it—straight, secure, and done is better than perfect.
- **Create a shoe and boot corral.**
Place a boot tray (or repurpose an old metal baking sheet lined with a towel) just inside the door. Limit the space on purpose—what doesn’t fit goes to bedrooms.
- **Add a small mat as a “pause point.”**
Put a washable mat right where people first step in. This gives guests a visual cue to stop, wipe feet, and remove shoes.
- **Drop a basket for hats, gloves, and small stuff.**
Use any medium basket or bin. Label it “Grab & Go” if you like. This prevents the “where’s my other glove?” scavenger hunt when people are leaving.
- **Set a rule and say it out loud.**
“Coats on hooks, shoes in tray, everything else in the basket.” That one sentence keeps the system working the whole season.
2. Rescue Your Overworked Outlets: Safe Power Strip & Cable Tidy
That holiday travel article about “chaos of airport lines” isn’t far off from what many living rooms look like: phone chargers, space heaters, tree lights, game consoles, and laptops all battling for the same two outlets. That’s not just messy—it can be unsafe.
What you’ll need:
A surge-protecting power strip (UL-listed), cable ties or Velcro straps, painter’s tape or command clips, and a simple label maker or masking tape/marker.
Steps:
- **Map your “power hotspots.”**
Stand in your main gathering room and list every device that needs power: tree, lamps, chargers, TV, game consoles, sound system, etc.
- **Install one surge-protecting power strip per hotspot.**
Plug big clusters (TV/media, tree + décor, charging station) into separate strips. Avoid daisy-chaining strips or overloading a single outlet.
- **Mount or anchor strips off the floor if possible.**
Use built-in mounting holes, command strips, or brackets to get them off carpets and away from where people walk or where water/spills might reach.
- **Group and shorten cables.**
Coil excess cable length and secure with Velcro straps or cable ties. The goal: no loose loops snaking across walkways or under rocking chairs.
- **Secure cables along edges.**
Run cables along baseboards or the back edge of furniture and hold them with painter’s tape or removable cable clips. Avoid running cords under rugs (fire risk and trip hazard).
- **Label the plugs.**
A small piece of masking tape on each plug with “Tree,” “TV,” “Charger,” etc., saves you from unplugging the wrong thing when you’re in a rush.
- **Test everything before guests arrive.**
Turn on all lights and devices at once. If anything flickers or breakers trip, redistribute the load (e.g., move the space heater to a different circuit).
3. Turn A Junk Drawer Into A “Holiday Tools” Station
That trending “junk drawer panic” is real—especially when everyone’s asking, “Where’s the scissors? Tape? Batteries?” while you’re trying to cook. A tiny bit of DIY organizing now will save you dozens of interruptions later.
What you’ll need:
A shoebox or shallow container, a few smaller cups/boxes, labels, and your most-used small tools.
Steps:
- **Choose a central, easy-to-reach spot.**
This could be a kitchen drawer, a shelf near the living room, or the top of a sideboard—someplace guests can access without rummaging through your private stuff.
- **Empty one drawer or clear one box.**
Don’t over-organize your entire house. Just claim one location as your official “Holiday Tools” station.
- **Add small containers for categories.**
Use empty food containers, yogurt cups, or small boxes to divide the space into sections.
**Stock the non-negotiables:**
- Scissors - Clear tape + packing tape - Pens + permanent marker - Assorted batteries (AA, AAA at minimum) - A cheap screwdriver (Phillips + flat) - A few picture-hanging nails or command hooks - A roll of string or twine - A lighter or matches (for candles)
- **Label each section clearly.**
Masking tape labels right on the drawer or on the box edges: “Tape,” “Batteries,” “Tools,” “Pens.” This helps guests (and you) put things back in the right place.
- **Make it publicly “open.”**
Tell family and guests: “If you need tape, scissors, or batteries, it’s all in here.” That one sentence will cut your “Where’s the…?” questions in half.
- **Restock once before the big day.**
After your first use, peek in and top up batteries and tape while stores are still open and not full of last-minute shoppers.
4. Quiet The Noise: DIY Sound Softening For Guest-Ready Rooms
With people talking, kids running, dishes clanking, and music playing, your home can go from cozy to headache-fast. While you’re not installing studio foam like a pro, you can use simple DIY tricks to absorb noise and make spaces feel calmer.
What you’ll need:
Soft textiles (throws, pillows, rugs), removable hooks, and a heavy blanket or curtain panel.
Steps:
- **Identify the loudest area.**
Usually an open kitchen–living space or a hallway that echoes. Walk through at normal talking volume; if you hear a lot of echo, that’s your target.
- **Add or layer one extra rug.**
Even a cheap runner or washable rug makes a difference. Put it where footsteps are loudest—entry, hall, near the table, or in front of the sink.
- **Increase “soft surfaces.”**
Bring in extra throw pillows or a folded blanket onto chairs, benches, or window seats. More fabric = more sound absorption.
- **Hang a temporary sound “curtain.”**
If you have a particularly echoey wall or open doorway, use removable hooks and hang a spare curtain panel or heavy blanket across part of it. It doesn’t need to look perfect; even partially covering a hard surface helps.
- **Soften the dining area.**
Add placemats or a tablecloth (fabric, not plastic). Hard plates on a hard table in a hard room is an echo machine.
- **Create a quiet escape zone.**
Designate one bedroom or small room as “phone call/quiet room.” Make sure the bed or chair in there has a blanket and pillow so sound is naturally dampened. Tell guests it’s available if they need a break from the crowd.
- **Do a quick noise test.**
Play music at your normal holiday volume and talk in the room. If you notice even a small reduction in echo, you’ve done enough for a more comfortable day.
5. Prep A Bathroom To Survive Heavy Guest Traffic
The “holiday chaos” trend isn’t just about living rooms—bathrooms get slammed. A few DIY tweaks now prevent clogged drains, awkward “there’s no toilet paper” moments, and those silent searches through cabinets.
What you’ll need:
Plunger, drain snake or hair remover tool, a small bin with lid, extra toilet paper, hand towels or paper towels, and basic cleaning supplies.
Steps:
- **Do a quick drain health check.**
Run water in the sink and shower. If it drains slowly or gurgles, clear it now with a hair removal tool or small drain snake before guests arrive.
- **Place a visible plunger.**
Not hidden behind the toilet, but also not center stage. Tucked beside the toilet where it’s easy to grab. This spares guests the embarrassment of asking for help if something clogs.
- **Create a “guest shelf” or basket.**
In plain sight, place: extra toilet paper, a room spray, a few spare sanitary products, and a small pack of wipes (flush only if they’re labeled septic-safe—otherwise label “Trash Only”).
- **Add a small lidded trash bin.**
Make it obvious and easy to reach. This stops things like wipes, cotton pads, or wrappers from going down the toilet and causing late-night plumbing emergencies.
- **Swap in high-visibility hand towels.**
Choose a darker color or clear contrast so guests can tell which towel is for drying hands, not your decorative set.
- **Set up a simple “wipe & go” kit.**
Keep disinfecting wipes or a spray and paper towels under the sink. Do a 30-second wipe of sink, faucet, and toilet handle before guests arrive and once during the day.
- **Light it properly.**
Replace any dim or dead bulbs. Good lighting makes the room feel cleaner and helps guests find what they need without rummaging.
Conclusion
The trending “get your house in order before Christmas wrecks it” stories are right about one thing: chaos is coming. But you don’t need a full home makeover to be ready.
Focus on a few strategic DIY fixes:
- Control the entry clutter
- Make power and cables safe and sane
- Centralize your “Holiday Tools”
- Soften noise where people gather
- Toughen up one bathroom for heavy use
Pick one area and start now. An hour of practical prep today will save you a dozen mini-disasters when the doorbell doesn’t stop ringing.
Key Takeaway
The most important thing to remember from this article is that this information can change how you think about DIY Solutions.
