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.
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 bag 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
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…
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
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
Add perfume drops for your loo No.2’s post-flush perfume is a great option keep unwanted smells at bay.
Scrub the toilet
Clean the mirror
Restock the toilet paper, and if you’re notorious for always forgetting to, maybe a handy toilet paper subscription is your saving grace
A nice soap and scented candle won’t go astray
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
Our favourite home buys that make a will make a difference…
Plume candle, $49.95, Ode Studio
Smoky and woody. Fill your living space with the invitingly warm scent of Plume by Ode Studio. It has top notes of Bergamot and lemon zest, mid notes of tobacco leaves and plum, and base notes of black sandalwood and smoke. Plus, with a 40-hour burn time it’s a must in any living room, bedroom, bathroom, guest room, home office, and more.
Coastal diffuser, $110, Eco. Modern Essentials
Looking for an essential oils’ diffuser that doubles as decor? Consider your search over. This gorgeous diffuser from Eco Modern Essentials will look right at home atop the coffee table, side table, home office desk, and more.
Aēsop Olous Aromatique room spray, $73, THE ICONIC
The fastest way to enchant your guest’s nose is to treat their senses to a whiff of beautiful home scent. This Aesop creation boasts a woody and citrusy scent that will bring a sense of sophistication into your home – without smelling like a bathroom spray.
Coir Hello check doormat, $49.99, Adairs
Welcome your guests with style with a chic doormat. The checkered beauty of this door mat design will catch their eye so they won’t forget to wipe their shoes.
No.2 classic post-flush perfume drops, $29, No.2
Australian made to perfection, the No.2 classic post-flush perfume drops are your bathroom’s (specifically your loo’s) best friend. Keep unwanted smells at bay by dispensing a few drops into the toilet bowl after you flush and be greeted with notes of mandarin, geranium, and lemon myrtle.
V15 Detect Absolute stick vacuum, $1499, Myer
For quick clean-ups and hurried removal of pet hair, there’s nothing as convenient as a handheld vacuum. This Dyson boasts powerful suction and versatile movement to get into all the tricky places.
Hunter Candles No. 1 Baked Bread candle, $59, Hardtofind
Two birds, one stone. Hunter Candles’ recent ‘Culinary Range’ release combines the warmth of a lit candle with a love for food; and this delicious scent will give your home that ‘fresh out of the oven’ smell, matched perhaps only by the real thing (but who has time for that?).
Laundry starter kit, $52.40 (usually $74.85), Koh
There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh linen. And, if you’re like us and hate the sickly chemcial smells of harsh laundry detergents, looking for a fragrance-free (and eco-friendly) alternative is vital. This starter kit from Koh ticks all the boxes and will be your express pass to pleasant smells of fresh laundry.
The Universal Laundry Liquid is a high performance pre-treat and wash solution in one. Formulated with powerful naturally occurring biodegradable enzymes that also care for your favourite garments.
Kendrick natural shelf storage basket, $24.49 (usually $34.99), Adairs
Hiding those piles of clothes and ugly cleaning products in a rattan basket instead of shoving them into the closest cupboard will make all the difference to the look of your home. Not only will they look so much more stylish, you’ll be able to get a storage system going that will last the distance.
Moon And Back triple scented soy candle, $54.95, Glasshouse Fragrances
Another great addition to the home scent collection is this scented soy candle from none other than Glasshouse Fragrances. With notes of spun sugar orbiting a floral bouquet, it’s the perfect scent for the warmer months. Suitable for medium-large sized rooms.
WriterOlivia Clarke
Olivia started her writing career at Home Beautiful magazine, moving on to become the Digital Managing Editor of Homes To Love and Home Beautiful. She lives and breathes homes and interiors and loves nothing more than dreaming up new design ideas (big and small) for her own home. Being married to a builder means there is always a project on the go and most weekends are spent with a paintbrush in hand or perusing Pinterest for inspiration.
