Sprucing Up Your House for the Holidays
BWS Design • December 5, 2016
Now that the holiday season is upon us, many families will be welcoming guests into their homes. If you’re like most people, you probably worry about your home being clean and welcoming enough for holiday guests. But if you put in the needed time to clean and prepare your home for guests before they arrive, you can enjoy them more, knowing they’re comfortable and relaxed. Here are a few tips for sprucing up your home for holiday guests.
The Kitchen
Because the kitchen is where your guests will probably be gathering to socialize and munch on holiday goodies, it’s crucial that this room looks and smells as fresh and clean as possible.
- To clean sinks, use a soft rag or nylon sponge, along with mild soap or an all-purpose glass cleaner. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, bleach or ammonia on stainless steel because this can compromise the finish.
- Get rid of any unpleasant kitchen odors, such as those coming from your garbage disposal. One way to freshen a garbage disposal is by chopping up a lemon, including the rind, and then throwing it down your disposal.
- To sharpen disposal blades, throw in a few small ice cubes. Be sure your kitchen garbage container smells good, so hose it down. Then, once it’s dry, spray it with an air freshener.
- To clean oven and stove-tops, use water and baking soda to scrub off caked-in goo.
Guest Rooms
- Adorn beds with decorative quilts or comforters, along with fluffy pillows.
- Consider installing lightweight sheers or woven blinds that can usher in morning sunlight.
- Launder bedspreads and shake dirt out of throw rugs.
- Include interesting magazines and reading material on bed-stands.
- If possible, set up a TV on the dresser for guests who stay up late.
- Remove any clutter.
Windows and Window Coverings
- To clean windows, use a commercial product or a water and vinegar solution. After spraying the windows, wipe them with a clean rubber-bladed squeegee. Work from the top to the bottom, making sure the squeegee is angled toward the base of the window.
- Clean window screens so that all grime is removed. Rather than taking down your screens and hosing them down, you can simply use a dust-brush attachment from your vacuum cleaner to remove dust. The quickest and most effective method is going side to side and top to bottom.
- Although cleaning curtains manually entails more work than just tossing them into a washer, hand-washing them reduces the likelihood of shrinkage, and it’s the best option for delicate fabrics.
- On the other hand, don’t wash heavy fabrics by hand as it’s harder to remove the water.
- Steam clean curtains made of exceptionally heavy materials.
- If you don’t have time to dry clean your curtains or drapes, you could still freshen them up by spraying them with fabric refresh spray. After gently shaking the fabric, stand back a few feet and spray the drapes. Then, shake the fabric once more.
Bathrooms
- Prepare guest bathrooms by making sure there are plenty of clean hand and bath towels, so your guests don’t have to ask for them. You don’t want them to use your old, ratty-looking, everyday towels.
- Remove all film and soil, using an all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Stubborn deposits can be removed with a soft-scrub cleaning product
- Launder shower and window curtains.
- To get rid of deposits on shower floors and eliminate bathtub rings, use abrasive scrubbing pads. It helps to use an old toothbrush to remove stubborn deposits that have built up around faucets and tub fixtures.
- Using a disinfecting spray to sanitize toilets, spray the seat, toilet rims and bowel exterior. Then, use a fresh cleaning cloth to wipe your toilet clean and dry.
Considerations and Warnings
- For best results, clean your windows on a cloudy day because direct sunlight can cause the cleaner to dry too rapidly, which can leave streaks on windows.
- To clean baseboards, use a sponge that’s been dipped into a solution of dish soap and warm water. Vinegar also works well in scrubbing away blemishes.
- Homemade bathroom cleaners do a better job of keeping your bathrooms shiny and clean without subjecting them to harsh chemicals.
- Dust all light fixtures and remove cobwebs from ceilings.
One of the main household items that guests notice is window coverings. Regardless of how well you try to clean old drapes and blinds, sometimes you just need to replace your window coverings. Don’t hesitate to call Just Blinds. We have a wide range of high quality window treatments for every room in your home. Please contact us and learn more about our various products.
Expert Advice by Just Blinds
Sunshine can fill any room with a warm glow. It provides natural light and can even lift your mood. But there may be some rooms where you want both privacy and sunshine at the same time. You shouldn't have to block out the light to enjoy private rooms in your home. For these moments, having the right blinds or drapes can make all the difference. The answer is in sheer privacy, sheer and semi-sheer materials that let in the light without allowing others to see through your windows. This is your guide to private sunshine: how to enjoy your privacy and warm natural light in any room. Why Sheer Privacy Matters There are many situations where sheer privacy is ideal. Bedrooms are warm and welcoming when filled with natural light, but privacy is paramount. Sheer window treatments can also bring sunshine into your living room without broadcasting family activities to the neighborhood. And if natural light helps you stay focused in your office, you can maintain professional security without worries by hanging sheer blinds and drapes so your computer screen is never visible through the window. How can you achieve this perfect balance of sunshine and privacy? There are several types of blinds and drapes that can meet your needs. Woven and Fabric Blinds The right fabric or woven blinds can provide the perfect balance between light and privacy. Woven and fabric blinds are rarely completely opaque. Depending on your choice of material and weave, you can determine both how much light shines through and the level of visibility in your sheer material. Fabric blinds use woven fabric to block visual access through your window while also acting as a diffuser for the sunlight. Woven blinds are made of grass or reeds and provide a similar effect. This can be used to cast gentle glowing light into your room at slightly dimmer-than-normal levels while showing silhouettes or less. Slatted Blinds and Plantation Shutters The most traditional answer is slatted blinds and plantation shutters. These methods use opaque angled slats that open to allow in some light without creating an easy line-of-sight from anywhere that a person outside might reasonably be standing. Slats pointed up or down welcome sunshine from various angles during the day but cannot be seen through until the slats are nearly horizontal. Slatted blinds hang from the top, and the angle of the slats is controlled with a cord system. Today, pull cords and hanging loops are no longer used. Instead, a control wand or motorization is used to enhance home safety and convenience. Plantation shutters are wood structures that are permanently installed or fold out over your windows. The slats are structured and controlled by pushing a ridge bar on the back of the shutter slats themselves. Honeycomb Blinds Honeycomb blinds are a type of fabric blinds that use honeycomb cells to provide greater insulation. Honeycomb blinds are not just energy-efficient, they also provide greater privacy by implementing layered fabric to create the honeycomb air pockets. At the same time, the fabric used can bring in sunshine and act as a diffuser to spread gentle sunshine through your room. The honeycombs themselves also diffuse any silhouettes or shadows that might be seen through the fabric of the blind for greater privacy inside your rooms. Semi-Sheer Drapery If you prefer drapes, you can also select a sheer fabric as the innermost layer for your draperies. The fabric and the folds of the drapes combine to provide both a diffuser for sunshine and privacy. Drapery is the most likely to reveal shadows and silhouettes, but a style with more folds when the sheer layer is closed can obscure shapes and activities within to provide the privacy you need. Private Sundrenched Rooms with Just Blinds If you are looking to enjoy diffused sunshine and keep your rooms private at the same time, Just Blinds can help. Contact us today to explore your options for sheer privacy design with custom window treatments.
Every year, the leading paint and decorator brands release their Color of the Year. Each organization theorizes which colors will be at the peak of interior design trends for the next 12 months, and the 2025 Colors of the Year have been released. If you want your interior decor to match the mood of the year with the latest magazine-spread designs and eye-catching arrangements, now is your chance. 2025: A Year of Bold and Somber Tones 2025 rings in a year of regally subdued tones. They are at once both bold and somber, creating relaxed yet elevated living spaces through strong colors and muted hues. This is a marked contrast from the light and airy palette created by the colors of the year from 2024 featuring soft pinks, warm honeys, and renewing blues. This year, the leading tones are dark red, deep purple, and dusty neutrals that make a space feel at once both cozy and formal. Stately Reds If you love dark reds from brick to mohogany, then this is your year. Both Behr and C2 have named dark yet natural-tone reds as their colors of the year. They are perfect to make a room feel luxe and stately without the overwhelming quality, making these reds the perfect base color for walls and a great accent in an elegant room. Rumors by Behr - A dusty red that is both light and dark at the same time. This muted town is a smooth, creamy rendition of faded brick that looks perfect with warm colors and red-hued wood furniture. Raku by C2 - A bold, dark mahogany red that looks great for interiors and exteriors inspired by the ancient Japanese tea ceremony. Regal Purples Purple is back in bold refrain for 2025 interior design. Between Violet by Minwax and Purple Basil by Glidden, you have an incredible palette to create the most regal of interiors, from primary colors to accents that pop. We love these rich tones that make any room stand out from the typical warm tones and neutrals that have ruled the roost for a decade. Violet by Minwax - Violet by Minwax is not your typical violet. It is a deep, rich aubergine, the color of royal robes and the most luxurious paint. This majestic color will stand out no matter how you use it. Purple Basil by Glidden - Purple Basil is a dusty reddish lavender that shares tones with charcoal and plum. It is somehow both somber and cheerful, warm yet subdued. Purple basil is a wonderful color for both primary walls and bold trim without overwhelming the space. Relaxed Blues Last year, blues were bright and full of energy with an aqua-green undercurrent. This year's blues are more relaxed, blending well with neutrals whether you're looking for a chill space or a summer tone. Quietude by HGTV / Sherwin Williams - Quietude is the eggshell of blues. It is soft and faintly blue in hue while still giving the light neutral feel of a nearly-white painted room. It has the faint hues of a lightly cloudy sky. Encore 8002 by Valspar - Encore 8002 is a bold, rich blue on the cheerful side of royal blue. It's deep but not dark, embracing what makes blue such a great color for decor. Mapped Blue by Dutch Paint Boys - Mapped Blue reflects green-blue theme of last year but with this year's dusty trend. It's soft and comforting but with a touch of surprise that's not your everyday medium blue. Subdued Neutrals While red, purple, and blue may be our boldest tones, it's neutrals that rule the 2025 Color of the Year list. From deep yet soft Truffle to warm almost-pink cinnamon, you will find a surprisingly gorgeous palette of neutrals to work with as primary, accent, and rich detail tones in any room design. These colors can fall into the background or make your room pop. Truffle by Stainmaster - Truffle is the darkest of the 2025 neutrals, blending honey with charcoal for a warm bold tone that looks amazing in boho or minimalist styles. Mochi by Little Greene - Mochi is a warm medium neutral that naturally supports wooden furniture of all hues. It has undertones of milkey coffee but reflects light in a way that still brightens a room. Caramelized by Dunn-Edwards - Caramelized is a tone that approaches boldly from the cheerful side, reminding us of dessert landscapes and faintly orange sunset skies. Cinnamon Slate by Benjamin - Cinnamon Slate is a soft neutral that is just this side of dusty pink. It's described as a dreamy, velvety purple and brown that can add subtle richness to any space. Mocha Mousse by Pantone - Mocha Mousee is a sophisticated neutral that reminds us of soft earth and smooth wood. Using the Colors of the Year to Inspire Your 2025 Interior Design These colors aren't just for paint, they can be used to enhance every element of your space. One of the best ways to introduce diversity and annual color trends into your home is through blinds and drapes. Choosing the perfect blinds can update your style to magazine-worthy arrangements for every year and season. Find the latest colors and styles at Just Blinds today.