Lifestyle: 12 Quick Tricks and Simple Cheats for a Tidy-looking Home
When life is busy, a tidy home isn’t always a priority, but how can you lick your home into shape fast when friends are visiting?
Some people have the knack for maintaining a permanently perfect home – enviably tidy at all times. But for many of us, the daily reality of home life looks more cluttered and dusty than clean and serene. Even if you are relaxed about this, there may come a time when you want to give the impression of tidiness and order, even if you are only faking it! Perhaps friends or family are visiting? In half an hour? Quick! Follow our fast and, OK, we admit it, occasionally devious, methods for a home that looks neat (but might not be…).
Clear surfaces
Recreate the calm, airy order of this kitchen/diner designed by
Studio 73 Design. Cluttered surfaces suggest a cluttered mind – or at least a level of disorganisation you perhaps don’t want to advertise to family and friends! So quickly clear all surfaces. There’s no time to sift through it all now, so just sweep the clutter into a bin bag or box to be sorted through later, and hide it out of sight.
Next, give surfaces a quick dust off for an immediately cleaner, neater vibe. The smell from a squirt or two of furniture polish while you’re there will also suggest perhaps more cleanliness than there really is…
Find a local interior designer on Houzz.
Recreate the calm, airy order of this kitchen/diner designed by
Studio 73 Design. Cluttered surfaces suggest a cluttered mind – or at least a level of disorganisation you perhaps don’t want to advertise to family and friends! So quickly clear all surfaces. There’s no time to sift through it all now, so just sweep the clutter into a bin bag or box to be sorted through later, and hide it out of sight.
Next, give surfaces a quick dust off for an immediately cleaner, neater vibe. The smell from a squirt or two of furniture polish while you’re there will also suggest perhaps more cleanliness than there really is…
Find a local interior designer on Houzz.
Dust your TV screen
However small your TV screen, it will attract dust and look noticeably mucky. So even if you don’t tackle the other surfaces around it, make sure the TV looks as pristine as the one in this inviting room designed by Warren French Interiors.
However small your TV screen, it will attract dust and look noticeably mucky. So even if you don’t tackle the other surfaces around it, make sure the TV looks as pristine as the one in this inviting room designed by Warren French Interiors.
Clean your cloakroom
When it comes to the loo visitors will use, there’s just no corner-cutting acceptable. If you want a guest WC as inviting as this Imperfect Interiors one – clean it!
When it comes to the loo visitors will use, there’s just no corner-cutting acceptable. If you want a guest WC as inviting as this Imperfect Interiors one – clean it!
Lose the pet hair
For a feline-inhabited home as pristing as this
Fiona Duke space, read on.
If your cat or dog liberally sheds excess hair, and your soft furnishings are the proof, take action. Perhaps your sofa cushions are the same pattern on the underside? If so, then simply flip them over. Failing that, a throw will conceal a thicket of pet hair in an instant. If you have a bit more time, but not enough to get the vacuum cleaner out, grab some sticky tape and quickly blot it over the hairiest areas to remove some of the excess fluff.
For a feline-inhabited home as pristing as this
Fiona Duke space, read on.
If your cat or dog liberally sheds excess hair, and your soft furnishings are the proof, take action. Perhaps your sofa cushions are the same pattern on the underside? If so, then simply flip them over. Failing that, a throw will conceal a thicket of pet hair in an instant. If you have a bit more time, but not enough to get the vacuum cleaner out, grab some sticky tape and quickly blot it over the hairiest areas to remove some of the excess fluff.
Create the impression of order
In a living room, plump cushions quickly and line them up. Stack remote controls on top of one another or in a neat line, and straighten any items on coffee or side tables. These super-speedy moves trick the visitor into thinking you are fanatically house proud with a keen eye for detail.
In a living room, plump cushions quickly and line them up. Stack remote controls on top of one another or in a neat line, and straighten any items on coffee or side tables. These super-speedy moves trick the visitor into thinking you are fanatically house proud with a keen eye for detail.
Quickly blitz the bathroom
Will guests be going into the bathroom? If there’s a risk they will, take fast action to make yours as lovely to look at as this space designed by Fraher and Findlay. Put the loo seat down, chuck any damp towels in the laundry basket, shut the shower screen and wipe down the taps, basin and toilet. In that order. Always in that order…
Will guests be going into the bathroom? If there’s a risk they will, take fast action to make yours as lovely to look at as this space designed by Fraher and Findlay. Put the loo seat down, chuck any damp towels in the laundry basket, shut the shower screen and wipe down the taps, basin and toilet. In that order. Always in that order…
Ditch the dishes
Ideally, you’ll have your crockery beautifully organised in a bespoke drawer, like this one by Artichoke. Not possible? If there’s a pile of washing-up by the sink and the dishwasher is already full, grab a big bucket or Tubtrug, load the mucky plates and cutlery into it and stash this in the garden/under the stairs/anywhere guests won’t be visiting. Adding hot, soapy water so they can soak is a good idea, too, so they’ll be easy to tackle once guests have left.
Another possibility is to hide the offending crockery in the oven. Remember to remove it before cooking dinner, though!
Ideally, you’ll have your crockery beautifully organised in a bespoke drawer, like this one by Artichoke. Not possible? If there’s a pile of washing-up by the sink and the dishwasher is already full, grab a big bucket or Tubtrug, load the mucky plates and cutlery into it and stash this in the garden/under the stairs/anywhere guests won’t be visiting. Adding hot, soapy water so they can soak is a good idea, too, so they’ll be easy to tackle once guests have left.
Another possibility is to hide the offending crockery in the oven. Remember to remove it before cooking dinner, though!
Tweak the lighting
Take inspiration on light – natural and artificial – from this gorgeous living room created by Novo Design. If it’s daytime when guests are visiting, pull up the blinds and draw back the curtains to let in plenty of natural light. This will help give the impression of an airy, bright home, which sort of implies a clean home, too. It’s especially advisable if you have Venetian blinds or shutters that have become dusty. If you have time, clean windows using old newspaper and some vinegar for a quick polish up.
If it’s an evening visit, dim the lights to create a cosy, soothing atmosphere, while also concealing any dusty corners at the same time.
Take inspiration on light – natural and artificial – from this gorgeous living room created by Novo Design. If it’s daytime when guests are visiting, pull up the blinds and draw back the curtains to let in plenty of natural light. This will help give the impression of an airy, bright home, which sort of implies a clean home, too. It’s especially advisable if you have Venetian blinds or shutters that have become dusty. If you have time, clean windows using old newspaper and some vinegar for a quick polish up.
If it’s an evening visit, dim the lights to create a cosy, soothing atmosphere, while also concealing any dusty corners at the same time.
Add scent to your space
Creating a sense of order goes beyond simply making your home look neat and tidy: you want it to smell great, too. Mask stale niffs and fill the air with a scent that says, ‘I clean my house a lot!’ by using fresh-scented products to wipe surfaces. Then spray some upholstery freshener on curtains and seating and light a scented candle, too.
Even if it’s chilly outside, air the spaces guests will visit by opening a window to eliminate stale air. You can shut it if necessary once they arrive.
Creating a sense of order goes beyond simply making your home look neat and tidy: you want it to smell great, too. Mask stale niffs and fill the air with a scent that says, ‘I clean my house a lot!’ by using fresh-scented products to wipe surfaces. Then spray some upholstery freshener on curtains and seating and light a scented candle, too.
Even if it’s chilly outside, air the spaces guests will visit by opening a window to eliminate stale air. You can shut it if necessary once they arrive.
Introduce some sparkle
Have any sparkly accessories knocking about? Great! Take a tip from this Zulufish-designed kitchen and move them into the room in which you will be entertaining. They create a bright focal point that will draw the eye to them and away from any scruffy corners. Boost their sparkle by positioning a lamp nearby, too.
Have any sparkly accessories knocking about? Great! Take a tip from this Zulufish-designed kitchen and move them into the room in which you will be entertaining. They create a bright focal point that will draw the eye to them and away from any scruffy corners. Boost their sparkle by positioning a lamp nearby, too.
Ham it up
Answer the door to friends with your rubber gloves on, or leave the vacuum cleaner out in the middle of the hallway. Act slightly embarrassed and use this killer line: ‘Oh, you just caught me cleaning up!’ Then simply wait for your Equity card to arrive in the post…
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for giving your home a quick freshen-up? Share them in the Comments.
Answer the door to friends with your rubber gloves on, or leave the vacuum cleaner out in the middle of the hallway. Act slightly embarrassed and use this killer line: ‘Oh, you just caught me cleaning up!’ Then simply wait for your Equity card to arrive in the post…
Tell us…
Do you have any tips for giving your home a quick freshen-up? Share them in the Comments.
When your home is suffering from mild neglect and you have visitors about to ring the doorbell, there’s no time for a thorough, room-by-room clean. So blitz in the direction your guests will move through your house.
Start in the entrance hall and head for the living room or kitchen, depending on where you’re all likely to settle. Scoop up shoes, clear surfaces and sweep the floor in these areas first, to make a clean, beautiful entrance, like this one designed by Roger Oates and then focus your attention where it will be seen most.