Preparing your home for Thanksgiving and winter holidays (such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve) might seem overwhelming. There’s plenty of cleaning and decorating to do! If you’re hosting an event or overnight guests, there is even more to accomplish. Don’t fret about the tasks at hand! We’ve put together a quick guide filled with tips to make the process an easy one. Read on for design inspiration, pointers you may not have considered, and a big dose of festivity for your holiday home:*Photos by Kate Simmons for DecoistStart with a Clean HomeBefore you put the icing on the cake…or shall we say, the decorations around the house, give your interior a good cleaning. Sure, you will need to vacuum after you’ve lugged in a large holiday tree, but start with a clean slate before you get caught up in decorative details. Clean the countertops. Put away clutter. You may even need to pack away some small surface-top items to make room for new arrivals.RELATED: Warming your Outdoor Home with Festive Holiday DecorAlso think about “cleaning” your outdoor space. If you’re still enjoying time on the patio, does your furniture need a good scrubbing" More on tidying your outdoor area later in the post…Gather Holiday InspirationOne of the best parts of decorating for the holidays is planning your decor strategy. Since most retailers and many companies put up decorations before Thanksgiving, you can start looking around ...