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For the last time: Close. The. Toilet. Lid. Male, female, dog, cat — if you use the toilet, the seat goes down. This is a big one for Daniel DeSantis Interiors: “The kids leave the toilet seat up, which invites our giant dog to drink out of the bowl. First, the irritating sound of lapping toilet water, then having to clean up the dripping throughout the house. Can’t take it.”
13. Get your guest room ready in minutes. First of all, keep the bed made so you don't have to worry about that. Next, devote a shelf in your linen closet to storing guest room essentials, so you can just grab the whole stack and go. Consider including: a fresh set of towels, slippers, a robe and a small basket of spare toiletries.
10. Always be prepared with gifts and wrapping supplies. Instead of choosing themed gift wrap, try picking up an assortment of solid colors, along with a fun variety of ribbons and trims. That way you can create a number of different looks for any occasion, all with the same supplies. Extra credit: Store a few go-to gifts along with your wrapping supplies, for those times when you're caught by surprise. Try to have something appropriate for baby, child, housewarming and wedding.
9. Make your kitchen so appealing, guests will want to hang out while you cook. We may not all be able to have a dream kitchen like the one shown here, but there is always a way to make the most of what you have. Try rolling out a real rug on the floor, pull up a couple of cute stools to the work island and be sure speakers are handy for turning on some music while you cook.
5. Create long-lasting (or even faux) arrangements. Fresh flowers and greenery can go a long way toward making a space feel festive. Master a few simple arrangements that only look like they took ages to put together. Try lining up a series of small square containers down the center of your dining table, filled with short-cut blooms stuck into floral foam for longevity. Or, for everlasting green, pick up some high-quality faux topiaries and set them on your buffet.
1. Make an easy-clean entry with ample storage. A chest of drawers or storage bench in the entry makes last-second tidying up simple. In a smaller space, try stashing stuff in lidded boxes beneath a slim console table or in French market baskets hung on hooks. Make a habit of keeping the surface of your storage piece clear, aside from fresh flowers or a blooming orchid, stowing everything else in the drawers beneath — that way it will always look fresh when guests pop by.
Shut the doors and windows. Did you know a fly crawled into my nose last night? Did you? Please shut the doors and windows before I get eaten alive by creatures.
Q