Get your home ready for guests
If you are having guests coming to stay for the holidays and your home is looking a bit drab, try these quick tricks to spruce up your space.
15/12/2020
Are guests coming to stay for the
holidays, but your home is looking a bit drab?
Try these quick tricks to spruce up your space.
Add an accent wall
A quick coat of paint is one of the fastest ways to freshen up your house. You can even go one step further and create an accent wall using a vibrant colour to give it instant drama and depth. Play it safe and paint the focal wall a few shades darker than the surrounding walls, or, if you dare, use a bold colour to add excitement and importance to the room. Be intentional about your choice for an accent wall. A smart move is to choose one which already highlights another focal point, such as a bed’s headrest or a couch. Plascon has a useful online colour chart, or try the free Dulux Visualizer app to help you choose the perfect colour.
Peel ‘n stick splashbacks
Give your kitchen and bathroom an instant makeover with a gorgeous peel and stick tile decal for basin and oven splashbacks. Tilevera is a local company who makes easy-to-use tile backsplash decals which you can simply peel and stick onto any smooth, porous surface. Their stunning designs are steam and water resistant, and last up to four years.
Decorate untapped corners
You don’t have to spend money to add style to your home - use what you already have. Cast your eye around and find empty nooks or shelves, then decorate them with groupings of three of a similar kind of ornament, like decorative bowls or vases. Transform an empty corner with a small narrow table that has a plant on top, or create a vertical gallery space by hanging a row of similar sized and styled pictures one above the other. It takes minutes to transform basic, unused spots in this way, plus it adds character to your home by using what you already own and love.
Bring on the green
Indoor plants are a cost-effective way to instantly breathe life into a home. Get the green aesthetic by placing an elegant orchid in your kitchen, or a palm floor plant in the corner of your sitting room. Plants are also known for their therapeutic effects, with studies showing they lower stress levels. Some plants have fantastic air-cleansing benefits, too.
SA’s wonder plant, the Spekboom, is known for its air-purifying benefits, as is Mother-in-law’s Tongue, which removes pollutants like benzene (commonly found in paints and other chemical cleaners) and formaldehyde (found in many house cleaning products and furniture treatments). A Spider Plant removes mould and allergens from the air, while Gerbera Daisies clean air and breathe out lots of oxygen at night, ideal for bedrooms. If you don’t have time to get to a nursery before guests arrive, try an online houseplant service like Atrium Plants, who deliver from the greenhouse to your door, nationwide.
Tidy up the outside
Don’t forget the outside! If guests are coming to stay they’ll be spending time outdoors, so make sure your garden is entertaining worthy. Start with a basic, but thorough cleaning of windows, gutters and passageways, then tidy up the lawn areas. If possible, do minor repairs and painting touch-ups. SweepSouth, who are known for their efficient, trustworthy cleaners for hire, now also have pre-vetted painters, gardeners, pool cleaners and handymen in their books. Out of all their outdoor services, gardening is the most frequently booked, with general outdoor cleaning, window cleaning, car washing and pool cleaning as runners up.
Rent in entertainment
Your house may be beautifully decorated, but if you have youngsters coming to stay and your home doesn’t cater to them, they’ll find it a boring and uninspiring space. Don’t go out and buy expensive gadgets, rather rent a giant TV screen and PlayStation to keep them (and dads, too!) occupied and happy. Teljoy has a variety to choose from - they even have soundbar add-ons to earn you serious teenager street-cred!
5 Fast fixes
Lastly, try these ideas for instant effect:
- Replace the pillows on your sofa, but mix up patterns, fabrics and shapes for maximum impact. Unsure how to start? Choose one in a striking pattern, then select others to complement it.
- Lay a runner across a bare table to add oomph to a room. If you don’t have a runner, use any piece of pretty fabric that can be laid flat. Place an attractive shallow bowl or big tray on top to complete the look.
- Give your kitchen a brand new look simply by hanging up colourful kitchen towels and swapping out drawer and cupboard handles with more elegant ones.
- A large statement floor lamp adds chic to any room.
- Declutter! Ask any decor stylist and they’ll tell you most rooms just have too much stuff in them. By taking out just one or two items you allow the room to breathe and give items which remain the chance to really stand out. Rotate the items out to another room, then switch them back in again when you’re in the mood for change.
