Here at The Home, we’re SO excited for New Year’s Eve! While we’re certainly fans of big get togethers, you just can’t beat an intimate house party with family and friends! We’ve put together a short list of preparations that you can take if your home happens to be playing “party central” this New Year’s Eve.

1. Make sure you’ve stored all your holiday decorations that you don’t want guests to see!
Sure, we all know that person that keeps their tree up into January, but New Year’s parties are all about ringing in a *new year*! Trade your Santas and menorahs for festive flower arrangements, tinsel, and balloons. While you’re putting things away, give a quick once over to tables and lamps that might have accumulated some dust over the holiday season.

2. Have a firm head count!
Having a good grip on the number of people that will be attending your party will allow you to get the right amount of food, drinks, party favors (think fun hats, blowers, and goofy glasses!) and chairs. Instead of chasing down potential guests via phone calls, texts or Facebook, think about sending out e-vites that require an RSVP; they’re free and easy to use!

3. If you’re serving food, eat in a different room than you celebrate!
Eating in a separate room allows guests to dance, sing, play games, or watch the ball drop while other guests may be having conversations over an appetizer or drink. This also keeps the majority of the mess in one room and can prevent spills on carpeted areas or furniture. Remove any fragile items that you think might be in danger in case of an impromptu dance party!

4. Have alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available!
While we all know that New Year’s Eve is a time for people to sip champagne and toast to a bright future, not everyone wants to or is able to drink alcohol! Make sure you have a variety of drinks available for all of your guests.

5. Have a cleanup strategy!
Since you’ll most likely be reveling late into the night, make sure you have a strategy in place to clean up afterwards! Decide what you will clean up that night (sticky plates, serving dishes, etc) and what can be saved for the next day (maybe vacuuming up that confetti can wait until morning). Cleaning up as you go can save a lot of time and effort on New Year’s Day!

Making sure your home is prepared for your New Year’s party is a great way to ensure your guests have fun, your decorations look great, and nothing unfortunate happens to your furniture/carpets/etc!

Be safe this New Year’s Eve, have fun, and best wishes for a great 2012 from all of us here at TheHome.com!