(ARA) – Creating the most festive home for the holidays is every hostess’s goal – with red bows and twinkling lights, the aroma of cinnamon or evergreen and the classic sounds of Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby playing in the background.

“A warm, welcoming environment can stimulate our senses and evoke memories as we gather with our family and friends,” says Heidi Thompson, co-owner of Scentsy, a home fragrance company. “Some simple, advanced planning can help ease the stress of this hectic time. Every hostess should enjoy the season rather than fret over mismatched centerpieces or placement of home decor.”

A festive and safe holiday atmosphere is just moments away with these helpful hints:

* Picking the perfect evergreen: When selecting a live Christmas tree or evergreens, inspection is key to ensure it is truly fresh cut. Touch the branches to test for moistness of the needles and inspect the tree trunk. Many trees are painted to look fresher, and this can be discovered by inspecting the tree trunk. Once at home, position the evergreens away from heat sources and keep the tree stand filled with water to prevent it from drying out.

* A sweet-smelling atmosphere: Aromas of cinnamon, spiced grapefruit and peppermint bring a warm, inviting environment to any holiday party or family night together at home. Creating a fragrant home environment safely is simple with Scentsy wickless candles, which also add holiday decor accents to your home.

* Brightening the home: Whether white, multi-colored or twinkling, it’s important to examine Christmas lights when decorating indoors or outdoors. Check each strand for fraying wires and replace any burnt-out bulbs. Also, be careful when using ladders to hang lights and remember not to overload extension cords with too many strands.

* Storing for next year: To simplify next year’s transformation, organize decorations and clearly label each box. Give each box a number so you know where to start the decorating process. To avoid the inevitable ball of tangled lights, wrap each strand around a rolled up magazine. This will prevent any damage to the strands.

Advance preparation when transforming a home for the holidays can help make the season less stressful and more enjoyable. After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.