Don’t get caught out by a surprise visitor with these simple tricks to make your home always guest-ready
Photographer: Nic Gossage
In a perfect world, we would have endless spare hours to primp our homes to perfection when expecting guests. In the real world, we do not.
You may be able to turn a blind eye to the clutter covering your kitchen bench and the empty toilet rolls taking over your bathroom, but your guests won’t.
If you’ve got visitors coming over in the near future or you like to be prepared for unexpected guests, here are five things that they will always notice in your home.
Photographer: Hannah Puechmarin
1. The Entryway
The entrance to your home is the first impression visitors get so it pays to make it a good one.
What to do:
- Put away shoes
- Shake out your door mat
- Sweep the front entry
- Create a spot for visitors to take off their shoes and put their bags down
- Use fresh flowers or an indoor plant to freshen up the space
- Add a hallway mirror to bring light and the illusion of a bigger space
Photographer: Martina Gemmola
2. The Smell
You may not think your house has a smell but it’s the first thing visitors will notice – good or bad. It’s always a nice idea to burn a scented candle or some essential oils to create a welcoming and relaxing scent that will appeal to all noses. Reed diffusers are also a great low-touch option.
What to do:
- Open up doors and windows for some fresh air
- Light a candle
- Bring in fresh flowers
- Use a home spray or reed diffuser
- Boil a pot of water on the stove with some citrus peel. Mmmm…
Photographer: Martina Gemmola
3. Clutter
With life, comes clutter. Now, we’re not saying you need to go full Marie Kondo and completely rid your home of every single bit of clutter, but at least do a general tidy-up.
Tip: If you don’t have time to put everything back in its right place, the linen closet or laundry are both fabulous hiding spots.
What to do:
- Store away kids toys in simple, stylish baskets
- Create a drawer or tray for bills, letters and other life admin
- Put away that pile of washing that is waiting to be folded or better yet, hide it in the laundry
- Clean up social spots like the dining table and kitchen bench
- Create a functioning and tidy pantry with uniform storage containers
Photographer: Alana Landsberry
4. A Dirty Bathroom
If you only have time to clean one room in your home, make it the bathroom. A dirty bathroom is not only unhygienic but just downright gross, especially when it’s not your own.
What to do:
- Wipe down the sink and vanity, if you hate the smells of chemicals from cleaning products, eco-friendly alternatives are a great option
- Scrub the toilet
- Clean the mirror
- Restock the toilet paper
- A nice soap and scented candle won’t go astray
Photographer: Angelita Bonetti
5. Pet Hair
Pet hair can be very unappealing to people, especially if they don’t have pets of their own. If you have pets in the house, make a little extra effort to give the place a vacuum, and remove pesky pet hair from your sofa and other soft furnishings.
What to do:
- Vacuum your sofa and wipe over it with a damp cloth
- Put away your pet’s toys
- Clean up the area around their food and water bowl
- Change the kitty litter
Read this next: How to make your kitchen work for your lifestyle
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