Six Months Out: A Large-Scale Renovation
There’s nothing like hosting guests to get a project moving. If you have big plans for the year ahead or a special occasion you’re hosting, like a wedding or baby shower, you want your home guest ready. Start earlier than necessary to ensure your projects get completed on time. Here are some things to think about six months from hosting guests:
- Do you want to DIY your repairs? Or hire a contractor?
- Renovations like a deck, kitchen or bathroom that could face unexpected delays should start as far out from a special occasion as possible.
- If you’re hiring a contractor, start asking around for personal recommendations/ or look for a licensed and insured pro for the job.
- Check to see if your project requires permits and inspections.
- Start decluttering and create a plan for living while undergoing a renovation—or decide if you need to find a place to stay during the reno.
Three Months Out: Redecorating a Room
If your guest room feels like a dumping ground for everything in your home without a place, now is the time to start tidying up. Creating a room that feels clean and organized makes guests feel comfortable throughout their stay. Here’s how to design a room with your guests in mind.
- Pull inspiration of rooms you love—save furniture, rugs and accessories to a pin board so you get an idea of how it all works together.
- Paint is one of the quickest ways to change a space, whether it’s a guest room or another room like the bathroom. Narrow down color swatches to a few paint samples you want to test on your wall. Observe how the color looks at different times of day. Pick your color and get rolling.
- Projects like peel-and-stick wallpaper, peel-and-stick molding, creating a gallery wall or installing a ceiling fan can be done in a weekend and add to a guest’s experience.
- Choose and order furniture now. This safeguards you in case of any shipping delays and offers ample time to assemble furniture or install new hardware.
- Invest in a mattress. It’s a good idea to give a mattress time to air once it’s unpacked from its shipping container. This also gives you time to sleep on the mattress to decide if you need to buy a topper.
One Month Out: A Small Room Refresh
Maybe there’s a small project you’ve been dragging your feet on? One month out is the ideal time to spruce up rooms house guests frequent. Bedroom, bathroom or kitchen, there are little things you can add to each of these areas that bring new energy to the space.
In the Guest Bedroom
- Swap in new bedding or throw pillows.
- Hang curtains or blinds.
- Lay a new area rug if you have hardwood floors.
- Update your nightstand.
- Add more task lighting. A sconce by the bed or a table lamp on top of a desk.
In the Guest Bathroom
- Change hardware like cabinet knobs, faucets, or towel rods.
- Hang a new shower curtain and liner.
- Deep clean grout, tile and other sneaky places that get missed in a weekly cleaning.
- Swap in a new bathroom light fixture.
- Use organizers in the bathroom vanity or medicine cabinet to make essentials easy to find.
- Stock up on little extras guests might need. Travel size items are perfect for this. A small bar of soap, contact lens solution, toothpaste, a pain reliever — anything guests might forget at home makes their stay feel more comfortable.
In the Kitchen
- Clean and organize the fridge.
- Clear any countertop clutter.
- Do a seasonal deep clean of your dishwasher.
- Create zones that make it easier for guests to help themselves. A coffee, snack, or drink station means they can help themselves if they want to get an early start or a late-night snack.
One Week Out: Get Guest Ready
It’s almost time for guests to arrive and with proper planning there should only be a few finishing touches left to do. To channel a visitor’s perspective, leave your home and come back. Pay attention to the ease of movement into and through your home, sights and even smells.
- Clear the walkway leading up to the house. Make sure your house numbers are prominent, your porch lights are working and that the entryway way is clean and uncluttered. Potted greenery or flowers always looks inviting.
- Make sure your home smells good when you enter.
- Ask guests about any food allergies or aversions and what they typically like to eat or drink so you can stock up.
- Put fresh sheets and blankets in the guest bedroom.
- Clean the kitchen, guest bedroom and bathroom.
- Put fresh towels out.