December Homecoming Furniture Checklist: Getting the Home Ready

Short answer: To get the upcountry home ready for December, decide in October what the house needs (usually seating, a bigger dining set and beds for visitors), order by mid-November, and arrange delivery before the busy last weeks of the year. Measure rooms and doors first and send your exact location for a delivery quote.

Why plan early for December

For many families, December means going home. Homes in Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Kakamega and across Western Kenya fill with relatives from Nairobi, Mombasa and abroad. The sitting room hosts more people than at any time of year, meals are long, and every bedroom is in use. It is also when many families finally furnish the house they have been building or improving.

The last weeks of the year are the busiest on Kenyan roads. Planning in October and ordering by mid-November gives time to choose, to confirm sizes, and to have the furniture in place and arranged before visitors arrive.

The sitting room: seating for everyone

The sitting room is where the family gathers, so it needs the most seats. A 6- or 7-seater recliner set is the centrepiece in many homecoming houses in Western Kenya, because it seats the elders in comfort and lasts for years.

Read our 6-seater recliner price guide to compare leather and fabric before you choose. If the sitting room is long, add a coffee table that everyone can reach; see our coffee tables.

Dining for a full house

December meals are where a small table shows its limits. Count the people who will sit down together on the main days, not the household on an ordinary week. A 6-seater suits most families, with extra chairs or a second table for the young people.

• Mahogany 6-seaters such as the 6-Seater Oval Mahogany Dining Set (KSh 65,000) or the 6-Seater Dark Mahogany Dining Set with Oval Table (KSh 145,000) are the most requested for family homes.
• For a larger table, the Royal Walnut Brown 8-Seater Dining Set (KSh 115,000) seats eight.
• Stackable chairs, such as the Geometric Stackable Chair (KSh 5,800), are useful extras that store away after the holidays.

Our guide to mahogany dining set sizes and prices shows which table fits which room.

Bedrooms for visitors

Visitors need somewhere proper to sleep. A main bedroom with a 6x6 mahogany bed and guest rooms with 5x6 or Chester beds cover most families. A bed with net stands makes it easy to hang a mosquito net, which many homes near the lake need.

• Main bedroom: the 6x6 Mahogany Bed with Net Stands (KSh 115,000).
• Guest rooms: the Solid Mahogany 5x6 Bed (KSh 85,000) or the Creamy Button Chester Bed (KSh 45,000).
• Bedside tables in every room, so visitors have somewhere to put a phone and a torch.

See all beds in our mahogany hardwood beds collection and the mahogany bed price guide.

Outside: seating in the compound

Much of a December gathering happens outside. A swing chair under a tree, a parasol over a garden table, or a few outdoor chairs on the veranda give the older guests shade and the younger ones somewhere to sit. See our hammock and swing chairs and the 3-Seater Striped Swing Chair (KSh 24,500).

Preparing the house before the furniture arrives

New furniture looks its best in a room that is ready for it. If the house has been closed for part of the year, plan a cleaning day before delivery: sweep out dust, check the floors are dry, and clear the route from the gate to each room. Decide in advance where every large piece will stand, so the delivery team can place it straight away instead of moving it twice.

• Floors: new tiles or cement floors should be fully dry before heavy pieces such as recliners or beds stand on them.
• Route: clear the compound path, the veranda and the doorways, and note any step or narrow gate.
• Power: if you choose an electric recliner, check there is a socket near where it will stand.
• Someone on site: make sure a family member is at home on the delivery day to receive and check the furniture.

Looking after the furniture after the holidays

When the visitors leave in January, a little care keeps the furniture ready for next year. Wipe leather recliners with a damp cloth and condition them every few months, especially in the dry season. Dust mahogany with a soft cloth and keep it out of direct afternoon sun near windows. If the house will be closed for long periods, cover sofas with light cotton sheets rather than plastic, which traps moisture. Our guides on caring for recliner sofas and caring for mahogany furniture explain more.

A simple timeline

1. October: walk through the house, list what each room needs, and measure the rooms and doorways.
2. Late October to early November: choose the pieces online or at the showroom, and confirm sizes and colours.
3. By mid-November: place the order and confirm the delivery quote for your location.
4. Late November to early December: receive the furniture, arrange the rooms and check everything before the visitors come.

Ordering from Nairobi for an upcountry home

Many families order while they are in Nairobi or abroad and have the furniture delivered to the home upcountry. Choose online or at our showroom in Utawala, then send us the product names, the exact location of the home (a pin helps), and the name and phone number of the person who will receive the delivery. We deliver to Kisumu and across Siaya, Migori and Western Kenya; read how delivery across Kenya works for the full process.

Frequently asked questions

Getting the home ready for December? Send us your list and the home's location for a quote. Ask us on WhatsApp, or visit our showroom at Rubis Utawala, Along Eastern Bypass, Nairobi, open every day from 8am to 8pm.

Prices checked on 9 October 2026. Last updated: 9 October 2026.