A season full of visits from close friends and family means a lot of big meals, surprise drop-ins and plenty of time in the kitchen. Embrace your company by creating an inviting and stress-free kitchen that will welcome them throughout the month. Follow these three easy steps to help you simplify your life once the holiday rush begins:

• Store with care. With company and family abounding, extra food in the house is a must. Organize your pantry according to cooking needs, such as storing all of the cookie baking supplies in one spot and the go-to appetizers in another. If necessary, set up an extra shelving unit within your kitchen to accommodate the bulk foods required for bigger holiday get-togethers.

• Let friends and family help. Most guests are willing to lend a hand in the kitchen when you’re preparing for a big meal. While it’s important to take the lead on your dinner party, don’t be afraid to assign smaller tasks to guests who ask to lend a hand, or get your kids involved by asking them to take coats to the back room, pour beverages or bring dishes to the table.

• Know your options. New appliance features are designed to simplify your life, say the experts at Whirlpool Home Appliances. Today, for example, you can get a freestanding range with innovative AquaLift self-clean technology. It will clean the oven in less than hour, with less heat and no odour, making life far easier at this time of year.

More information is available online at www.facebook.com/WhirlpoolCanada.

www.newscanada.com

The following two tabs change content below.
Canadian Home Trends magazine gives you a personal tour of the most stunning homes and condos across Canada. You'll be inspired by a selection of accessible home décor products, trend reports, simple yet stylish DIY projects, and much more. In each issue, you are given the tools to recreate designer spaces you've always dreamt of having at home, in-depth renovation and design advice, colour palette and furniture pairings, and Canada's best places to shop.