Interior designers always stress the importance of cleaning, organizing, and decluttering every day, and how they’ll make a huge difference to your home’s appeal. But let’s be honest with ourselves – nobody has got the time for that. Unsurprisingly, the accumulated dirt, grime, and clutter over the weeks, months, and even years make your home less beautiful.
That’s probably the reason why you panic when you have visitors coming over. You look around your untidy space and wonder how you’ll get all this mess fixed in a couple of minutes or hours.
C.O.D.E your way to a lovely, fresh-looking home
Feeling overwhelmed with all that chaos? Relax and stick only to these four important points: Clutter control, Odor control, Dust and grime control, and Enlivening Décor.
Here are the things you’ll need for a speedy house designs improvement:
- Clutter control: Large empty basket, or sack, storage boxes
- Odor control: Air fresheners, essential oils
- Dust and grime control: Vacuum cleaner or broom, cleaning wipes or all-purpose spray, and cleaning cloth.
- Enlivening decor: live plants, fresh throw covers, mats, and your best home accessories for display.
Worry no more – we suggest 10 mini moves for making your home look cleaner and fresher than it is in a matter of minutes.
1. Focus only on the visible areas
Don’t waste your time and energy cleaning areas your guests won’t access anyway. Tidy up public spaces, following the natural flow of your home. If you’re like most homes, start with the entryway, which leads to the living room, dining area, and kitchen.
2. Get your baskets ready for clutter control
Nothing makes a home look messier than clutter – so get rid of them before anything else.
Pick up the trash. Get a laundry basket and start picking up visible eyesores, including books, papers, dirty clothes, toys, and ugly décor. Clear up the tables and shelves. Don’t worry about where you’ll store them – stash it in a room with a closed door and take care of it later.
3. Dust off wisely
Tidy up with a broom, or a handheld vacuum. Look for cobwebs in the ceilings and corners. Run over the floors and sweep it and vacuum it. Mop it, if necessary. Wipe down the obvious dust and grime from your windows.
Next, see if your televisions, tabletops, and shelves require some dusting and wiping job. Vacuum the couch and rugs too to get rid of dust, pet hairs, and food crumbs.
4. Have your bathroom visitor-ready
Letting your guests use a filthy, stinky bathroom is the last thing you’d want to happen. Throw away the trash, flush the toilet, and close the cabinets and drawers. Get rid of the wet hanging towels and dirty clothes. If your shower curtain is dirty and stinky, replace it.
Get some disinfecting wipes or a cloth sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner, and wipe down the surfaces. Don’t forget to quick-swipe the mirrors, faucet, sink, and toilet seat. Freshen up with your favorite scent and a live plant.
5. Organize the open shelving units
Again, focus on the visible areas.
Do you have a bookshelf that looks like cramped library shelf? Straighten up books and magazines. You can also display only a few books and layer a few pieces – like framed photos, sculptures, crafts, and vases to make your shelves look pleasant.
6. Make your home smell clean
You might not be able to make your home look 100% clean but you can easily make it smell and feel clean with air freshener. Spray your favorite air freshener to get rid of any unpleasant odors. You may turn up the AC unit, a fan, or open the windows to get the stale air out.
If you have an essential oil diffuser, turn it on to make your home smell fresh. Not sure which scents smell the freshest? You can never go wrong with citrusy scents, eucalyptus, and tea tree.
7. Style your couch
Next, to vacuuming your upholstery, make sure you get your sofa Pinterest-worthy.
It takes five minutes or less to fluff the pillows, replace pillow covers (if necessary), and arrange a throw blanket over the arm of the couch. Don’t forget to tidy up the coffee table too.
8. Switch out your mats
Chances are, your bathmats and doormats are now soggy and dirty. If you can’t recall the last time you changed them, now is the perfect time to do so.
9. Freshen up the vibe with live plants
Displaying fresh plants or a vivid bouquet of flowers is one easy way to make any home feel more well-cared-for instantly. In fact, it’s a common staging trick used by real estate agents for potential home buyers. Opt for plants that don’t only add visual impact but also purify the air.
10. Add some pizzazz with lighting
Unless it’s hot and uncomfortable outside, it’s suggested to open the windows and let the natural light and fresh air in instead. Use sheer white curtains or blinds to control light.
If your guests are coming over in the afternoon or evening, turn off harsh overhead lights and opt for table lamps. Low, warm lighting helps make your home feel cozier and conceal the little imperfections.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a resident writer for Wincrest Bespoke, one of NSW’s most experienced and well-renowned home builders aiming at building and designing modern family homes in Sydney. She loves looking out for new home décor trends and writing articles focused in real estate and interior design.