Get Your Home Guest-Ready
Whether you’re hosting overnight guests or throwing a dinner party, you want your home to
be sparkly clean. However, the rush of the holiday season may not allow for much time to
prepare. Here are some tips for getting your home ready for entertaining from Jenny Joy of Ruby
Red Cleaning.
When There’s No Time
Make the time that you have count. De-clutter common areas, change the sheets in the guest
bedroom, fluff pillows and light a scented candle.
When You Have a Hard Time Finding the Time
Focus on what matters most. Hand-dust with a cloth and spray in the guest bedroom and
bathroom, vacuum and mop the floors, put fresh sheets on the bed and place towels at the
end of the bed. In the common living areas, do a quick dusting of surfaces, focusing on areas
used most often and areas at eye level. Also, fluff and straighten the couch pillows and put
out holiday greenery.
When You Have Plenty of Time
In addition to the above tasks, clean high and low. Dust fans and light fixtures, wipe down blinds
and windowsills, clean the baseboards and doors, and vacuum underneath the beds.
Joy also offers ideas for staying guest-ready all the time. First, always stay stocked with a
quality feather duster, extra sponges and extra cleaning cloths to make quick cleaning a breeze.
Also, keeping extra towels and linens on hand makes it easy to prepare a guest room in no time,
and having store-bought cookie dough in your refrigerator will ensure you’re ready to offer a
sweet treat at a moment’s notice. Finally, incorporate small tasks into your daily routine, such as
spending 10 minutes tidying up each morning and doing a quick sweep or running a dust mop
along the floors every night.
Most importantly, don’t stress if your home isn’t as perfect as you would like it to be. After all,
a stressed host makes for a stressed guest.
“Your guests won’t notice the dust behind your TV. They’ll love your thoughtful extras, and
they’ll remember the time they spent with you far more than any stray dust bunny under your
couch,” she says. “Replace your temptation to talk about what you didn’t have time to do and
remind yourself the nicest thing to hear is, ‘Come in, I’m so glad you’re here.’”
How to Decorate for Your Next Party
Andrea St. Onge and Cristina Lima of Lou and Pepper
Party Shop are pros at presenting a pretty party space.
Here, they provide tips for pulling out all the stops at your
next get-together.
For St. Onge and Lima, the party is in the details. That
means communicating a theme with accents that tell the
story of the occasion.
“Our planning process always begins with small details
as inspiration,” Lima says. “We take elements that highlight
the theme, or just ones that we love, and create a bigger
picture from there.”
They believe that working with core details first
helps to keep all the décor cohesive throughout the
party. And it all starts with adding something fun at
the entrance.
“It’s the first thing guests see, and that’s where the
experience begins,” Lima says.
Consider a balloon garland that can double as a photo
spot. Be sure to include a variety of colors, sizes and shapes
to keep it interesting and add dimension to the space.
Once inside, designate a main focal point in a larger
area of your home. This can be a bar setup or the buffet area
where guests will gather to fill their plates or glasses over
conversation.
You will want to combine function with flair in this space.
Start by laying out all the items that guests will need, such as
glassware, silverware, plates and napkins, then fill it in with
accents that tie in to your party’s theme. Add prepared food
and beverage items right before the party begins.
“Setting it all up in advance ensures you’re able to
join the party without having to run around gathering
ingredients,” Lima says.
These ideas will help you have a memorable party while
saving you time to spend with your guests.
www.CentralFloridaLifestyle.com 13
/www.CentralFloridaLifestyle.com