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Creatively
Frugal
Preparations for Guests
How do you get your house 'guest-ready'? What quick and
inexpensive things do you do to give your home that special look
and feel for company?
"I go through the house,
room-to-room, with a box or something like a clothes basket to
just pick up clutter, (i.e. toys, books, magazines, etc.) This
gets stashed in a closet. Then I will do a quick wipe-down of
counters, tables, toilets. A quick plump of the pillows on the
couch and maybe a squirt of air freshener and we're good to go."
~ Beth
"When guests are on their way, I turn off the bright
lights in the house and turn on my decorative lamps for a warm
glow. I also light candles (scented or unscented). Of
course I do not mix fragrances. Also, I go to my garden
and either bring in a few potted plants that are flowering or
else clip small bouquets of fragrant herbs and tie them with
raffia or ribbon and place them around the house.
Finally, I put the music of choice
on the CD player on random, and my home seems warm, cozy and
fragrant." ~ Jessica
"When it comes to
entertaining guests in our home, our first priority is to
make them feel comfortable . I don't know about you,
but I am rarely comfortable in a home where not even the
fringe on a blanket or the edge of a carpet is out of place
. It makes me feel stiff and paranoid to move or
breathe. I am a firm believer that everything needs to
have its place, but I also think a house should look 'lived
in .' By 'lived in' I am referring to clean yet
comfortable -- an afghan thrown over the edge of the couch,
coats hung on a hook, books or magazines on the coffee
table, etc. We do not have the luxury of affording the
expense of beautiful furniture and accessories, but having a
truly clean house will make anyone feel welcome and
comfortable . Most people do not know the true concept
of 'clean.' True cleaning is maintaining: maintaining
a clean house ALL the time. This way you are ready for
company in a flash. Start from top to bottom working
around the perimeter of the room, then downward Yes,
this includes baseboards, underneath, inside, and behind
furniture and accessories. NO cheating! My home is certainly
not the most luxurious but it is prided on its cleanliness.
The bathroom must be cleaner than clean. It should be
sparkling. Don't leave soiled towels out for guest
hands to dry, Ladies, ALWAYS lay out fresh towels,
especially if you have children . Pump soap is also
more attractive and sanitary than bar soap. Once kids and a
hard working husband get through with it, it looks very
unbecoming . I also look over my dishes, silverware,
and glasses to avoid potential embarrassment. Let's
face it: A clean house is hard work, but it is inexpensive.
When it comes to the guest
room, I try to make it as inviting and welcoming as possible.
Lighting is what makes a room look cozy. Have a table lamp
next to the bed with a low watt bulb. I save a set of bath
towels just for guests so that they are new and soft.
I also save or have friends save the hotel room soaps,
shampoos and lotions for me. So when I have guests over they
have all the necessities if they forgot something or may
feel funny about asking or using my things. Find out
ahead of time what they will need before arrival. And
by all means, put clean sheets on the bed! Even if no one
slept in the bed, the sheets should be freshly laundered.
Having a cleanly reputation is far more valuable than having
elegant expensive furniture christened with cat hair and
food crumbs." ~ JH
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"If I
only have an hour before guests come, I clean the
bathroom with window cleaner, empty the
bathroom trash and put out fresh hand towels. Next,
I light a scented candle (unless guests are scent
sensitive) and try to de-clutter. I put any
dishes on the sink into the dishwasher (I usually
try to keep the kitchen counter fairly clean).
I throw away newspapers and fluff couch cushions.
If I still have time, I dust with a microfiber cloth
and spot vacuum. I make coffee or tea.
I usually have cookies in the freezer and may put
some to bake in the oven." ~ Kris
"I like to keep a fairly neat house most of the time, so I don't
have to do much extra work when guests come. But I have a wicker toy box
with a lid in the living room, so we do a quick pick up of scattered
toys. Then I run the vacuum with a little of that carpet fresh powder so
the house smells fresh when guests arrive. A table cloth and
some candles helps spruce up the dining room, even if the table is not
set for a meal. If there aren't little kids coming, we can also
light candles in the living room and bathroom for a special feeling."
~ Grace
"I concentrate on the entry area as
that seems to be what I notice when I go to someone else's house. Once
inside, everyone is visiting or eating and I don't think they are
noticing all the details.
So, a new container for flowers at the
front door, a nice mat, maybe something seasonal hung by the door. Then
I make sure the front walk way is clear, swept and everything is tidy."
~ Sue
"The easiest way I have
found to get ready for company is to not let things get out of control
to begin with. A little tidying each day and I am ready for company
without notice (and without embarrassment!)." ~ Anne Margaret
Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to share
his or her ideas!
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