Get Your Home Ready for Guests

Create a Welcoming Hallway

Kick clutter to the curb before it starts to spread through the house!

Having a console table in the hallway with drawers means each member of your household gets a drawer each for all their odds and ends that would usually end up scattered.

If you are using a coat rack in the hallway, why not have some extra pegs lower down the wall at child height. Not only does this give them their own hanging space, it will also thin out the bulk of items hung there.

Move all your out-of-season coats and jackets to the loft, or a storage area to give a less cluttered feel and create space for anything your guests need to hang there.

Have a key rack by the front door with a spare key for guests to use. This way they can come and go with ease during their stay. Why not leave a little notepad there too for any important messages they may want to leave you.

Simplify the Kitchen

Easter is a great time to give your kitchen a spring clean to make space for all the amazing food. Furthermore you can work out ahead of time if you have enough china and cutlery. Plus glasses and serving ware for all your guests!

Throw away anything that is out of date, or just too old to use anymore. Remember if you can't smell your herbs and spices you wont be able to taste them either.

Invest in some small step shelves to give you added space to store items inside cupboards.

Re-pack your pantry by decanting dry goods out of their bulky boxes and into stackable containers (preferably glass instead of plastic). Then you can also easily take the non-essential items to the garage for some short-term storage to give yourself more room for all the Easter eggs–yum!

Remember to label anything that looks slightly ambiguous–you don’t want your guests putting salt in their morning coffee!

Clear the decks in the kitchen to give yourself as much preparation space as possible (is there ever enough?) or why not add some extra work space with a butcher’s trolley.

We all know guests always gather in the kitchen when they arrive, so having a station for making drinks on a table away from the kitchen will encourage your guests out of the kitchen!

If your guests are staying for a few nights have the tea, coffee, and sugar nearby the kettle or coffee machine in glass jars. That way they can help themselves to a cuppa if they wake up early, and don’t want to disturb you. My Mum and Dad always need cups of tea at random times of the day (and night!) when they come to stay, so I always make sure they know where to go to get their fix!

Bring Order to the Living Room

The living room will always get lots of use at Easter time! Especially when it’s time to watch your favourite movie with one of your many Easter chocolates. So this is the perfect time to be a little ruthless–if there are things in this room that you no longer love it might be time to donate to your local charity store.

Anytime you are entertaining can be a crazy time, so keeping your palette quite neutral in this room. This will help bring a sense of calm. Also, blending any decoration colours with the colours all ready in the room will keep the room from feeling too cluttered. For instance if your metallic of choice in your living room is rose gold, follow that tone onto your decorations. Rather than going for decorations that are wildly contrasting.

Create a Homely Guest Room

Many homes have a guest room that really doubles as an office or general storage area. Make this room as homely as possible! Although your guests will feel so welcome that you may have trouble getting them to leave!

One of the best ways to work out what the room needs is to sleep a night in there yourself. This way you will soon discover if it is habitable or not!

Make sure the wardrobe has some hanging space available for your guests to hang up their outfits. If there is no wardrobe in the room invest in a foldable hanging rack. This can be used whenever guests are visiting.

Ensure that there are enough clean towels laid out on the bed when guests arrive. Include a hand towel and face washer too to make them really comfortable. Not only will this make them feel so welcome, it will also ensure they don’t have to go searching through cupboards for towels.

Launder the bedding with a lightly fragranced detergent to have it smelling heavenly, but not overpowering.

Why not add a gorgeous scented candle to the bedside table (and remember matches!). This way they can have a beautifully smelling room at all times. If you would rather not have naked flames, a long lasting reed diffuser is a fantastic alternative. This will keep the whole room smelling fresh at all times.

Also don’t forget a carafe of water by the bed for those late night thirsts after all the Easter indulgences!

Organise the Linen Cupboard

This is the perfect time to make sure you have enough linen for your guests’ rooms. Have a clear out, and donate any you no longer use.

Work out who is going to sleep where. Then get together all the matching sets to make sure no one goes short. Make these matching sets easy to find by folding them all up and putting them inside one of the pillowcases. This way you can easily get your hands on what you need.

If you are feeling really organised, why not label the shelves in the cupboard. This way you know what size bedding you are picking rather than having to unravel it all each time.

Tidy and Spring Clean the Bathroom

There is nothing worse than a cold cluttered bathroom. Definitely not a spa-like experience! Making this room inviting is easier than you think and it is all about the small touches.

Invest in matching bath towels sets. Good quality ones will last for years and they will instantly lift your bathroom closer to home spa level! Roll and stack them in a basket for easy access for all.

Making sure the cupboards and surfaces are cleared of clutter is key. Only have the bare essentials you need in there and ensure you clear out all those old bottles with just a few drops left.

If you have lots of guests invest in a stylish over the door hanger to help with the towel drying after everyone has showered.

One essential for me is to hide away all the cleaning products–no one needs to see the toilet cleaner over the Easter celebrations!

I hope you have enjoyed reading and see you soon for more interior musing!

Love Tiffany x