Is Your Home Guest Ready?

 Now that the COVID-19 vaccination schedule is picking up speed, and cases, on the whole, are dropping, restrictions across many countries are beginning to lift, and people are making plans to spend time with one another once again. We are still far from normality in many places, but many of us are now ready to think about having guests to stay. 

Many people spent the lockdown periods working on home improvements, but many people had no choice but to work, especially if they were in the healthcare industry. It is perfectly understandable that your home may have been left to fall by the wayside at times - there were certainly bigger fish to fry. However, if you want to give it a good spruce up and make it ready for guests to come once again, here are some helpful tips. 

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Give it a deep clean

Some people would rather throw money at the professionals and get them in to do this, and who can blame them - it can be a big task! However, if you are attempting to do it yourself, make a list of what needs doing, and work through them methodically. Arm yourself with a good playlist, and a caddy containing all of the cleaning supplies and tools that you will need. Shampoo the rugs and carpets, get down the drapes and curtains for a wash, check out Labor Panes' guide for cleaning the windows and pull all of the furniture out.  It might take a while, but it will be worth it when it is done. 

Tidy up the yard

If you have a yard or garden, why not spend some time outside in the fresh air preparing it for the summer? Before spending quality time in the garden with your guests, clean your decks with a pressure washer to remove the layer of dirt, rake up leaves, remove weeds, and tidy up. Clean out your barbeque and give the furniture a good wipe down - repaint or varnish them if necessary. Finish off with some fairy lights and a few candles and you have the perfect outdoor entertaining area.

Get rid of clutter

We are all guilty of keeping possessions for longer than necessary in case you want them later. Lots of us have more stuff than normal, as the pandemic stopped us from donating as we may normally have.  Asking yourself if you have used it in the last six months or plan to use it in the next six months is a great way to decide whether or not to throw something away. If the answer is no, consider donating your belongings or storing them out of the house in storage units. Getting rid of the clutter will enable you to really give the area in which they were a good clean and make your home feel brighter, bigger, and cleaner. 

A fresh lick of paint

Finally, if your home is looking a little tired and outdated, a fresh coat of paint on your walls, door frames, and baseboards will make a huge difference. If you're nifty with a paintbrush, consider giving furniture like coffee tables and chairs a fresh coat of paint to give them new life and add more personality and flair to your home.