Do a home makeover and take your home from everyday to party-ready in less than 15 minutes. You can take your living space to the next level with eye-catching accessories and a splash of color — even if your visitors are unannounced.
Decorator and DIY expert Sherry Petersik, one-half of the blogging couple behind Young House Love, learned how quickly her home could be photo-ready after recently putting it up for sale. The same quick fixes that apply when buyers are touring your home can be repurposed for unexpected guests, she said.
Reduce home clutter
Long-standing fashion advice recommends that you always remove one accessory before going out. The same is true of your house. When it comes to surfaces, less is more. Petersik says stowing away kitchen accessories like small appliances and dishtowels help your space instantly look brighter. (Don’t go too far — you still need to have items out to entertain.) Storage ottomans and baskets, and even an empty dryer, can all make due in a pinch to hide household clutter (click here for more last-minute cleaning tips).
Once you have a clean slate, there is room for details to shine. Make sure to pay attention to small things; even subconsciously, your guests will be.
Petersik says one of the quickest and cheapest DIY fixes you can make is to update old outlet covers. Often, plates are painted over or yellowed. For less than 50 cents a pop, you can make your house look like new, Petersik said
For those with a little more DIY spirit, Petersik has another unexpected suggestion: Update your thermostat. She compares it to switching out a bulky old TV for a new flat screen. A sleek panel looks modern and gives the appearance that your whole heating and cooling system is updated, she says.
Got a little bit more time? Newly painted trim always makes rooms look new, Petersik says. A clean white is the most classic option, instantly freshening your home. A caulk gun accomplishes the same thing for your counters in bathrooms and kitchens.
Quick Decorating, Big Impact
No time to paint the walls before your holiday party? Think about updating the drapes instead. Window treatments make the biggest visual impact, aside from paint, Petersik says. She recommends “hanging them high and wide.” Hardware should start about 3 inches below the ceiling and extend about 18 inches past the frame of the window, giving the optical illusion of larger windows and taller ceilings, without blocking any light.
Accents like pillows, throws, and artwork can quickly make over a room with little effort. Petersik recommends buying more than you need, then having a “fashion show” at home to decide which ones best fit your look. But just as with a questionable holiday gift, don’t remove those tags. Accessories that don’t make the cut are easily returned.
Home makeover in 15 minutes
By Anne Marie Apollo-Noel
Do a home makeover and take your home from everyday to party-ready in less than 15 minutes. You can take your living space to the next level with eye-catching accessories and a splash of color — even if your visitors are unannounced.
Decorator and DIY expert Sherry Petersik, one-half of the blogging couple behind Young House Love, learned how quickly her home could be photo-ready after recently putting it up for sale. The same quick fixes that apply when buyers are touring your home can be repurposed for unexpected guests, she said.
Reduce home clutter
Long-standing fashion advice recommends that you always remove one accessory before going out. The same is true of your house. When it comes to surfaces, less is more. Petersik says stowing away kitchen accessories like small appliances and dishtowels help your space instantly look brighter. (Don’t go too far — you still need to have items out to entertain.) Storage ottomans and baskets, and even an empty dryer, can all make due in a pinch to hide household clutter (click here for more last-minute cleaning tips).
Once you have a clean slate, there is room for details to shine. Make sure to pay attention to small things; even subconsciously, your guests will be.
Petersik says one of the quickest and cheapest DIY fixes you can make is to update old outlet covers. Often, plates are painted over or yellowed. For less than 50 cents a pop, you can make your house look like new, Petersik said
For those with a little more DIY spirit, Petersik has another unexpected suggestion: Update your thermostat. She compares it to switching out a bulky old TV for a new flat screen. A sleek panel looks modern and gives the appearance that your whole heating and cooling system is updated, she says.
Got a little bit more time? Newly painted trim always makes rooms look new, Petersik says. A clean white is the most classic option, instantly freshening your home. A caulk gun accomplishes the same thing for your counters in bathrooms and kitchens.
Quick Decorating, Big Impact
No time to paint the walls before your holiday party? Think about updating the drapes instead. Window treatments make the biggest visual impact, aside from paint, Petersik says. She recommends “hanging them high and wide.” Hardware should start about 3 inches below the ceiling and extend about 18 inches past the frame of the window, giving the optical illusion of larger windows and taller ceilings, without blocking any light.
Accents like pillows, throws, and artwork can quickly make over a room with little effort. Petersik recommends buying more than you need, then having a “fashion show” at home to decide which ones best fit your look. But just as with a questionable holiday gift, don’t remove those tags. Accessories that don’t make the cut are easily returned.