It’s that time of year again. Holiday time. What does this mean?  Lots of entertaining. You may find yourself looking around the house and seeing things in a new light - the pile of magazines that have been sitting by the front door for ages, the marks on the wall from where the cat likes to scratch, the tired looking throw pillows on the sofa. To get your house company ready, I recommend a program of de-cluttering, cleaning and redecorating – all without spending a dime!

UNCLUTTER

Assess the clutter. Oftentimes rooms can look awful because there is a hodgepodge of accessories, candles, magazines, pillows etc. on every surface and in every nook and cranny of the room. Take everything out, even if you know you’re going to end up putting it back in. Do this in every room of the house, all at the same time. Dig out any candlesticks, vases, etc. you have stored. Put everything in a spare room while you proceed to the next step.

CLEAN

Clean everything and clean it well. Vacuum, mop and dust. Fluff up the cushions on all your upholstery. Next, move to the room with all your stored accessories and clean those. As you are forced to do this, you may realize there are items in there you just do not need or want anymore. Start a box for these items and you can donate, giveaway or sell them. 

REDECORATE

Redecorate with your new, clean accessories. Place your accessories throughout the house.  Experiment with new locations or groupings.  Try different pillows in different rooms. If you don’t have a good place for an item, put it away or give it away. Don’t feel like you need to put everyone out all at once.

ASSESS

Assess what you’ve done. It always amazes me how much better the house looks when it is clean, clutter free and organized! Most importantly, start sending out the invitations to enjoy entertaining friends and family in your home!