20 Things Every House Guest Will Notice in Your Home
And how to make yours perfect.

Now that vaccinations are well underway, it’s nice to think about opening our homes up to our friends and family once again. Seems like such a treat to have guests over! In a perfect world, we would have endless hours to clean our homes to perfection before anyone arrives. In the real world, we do not. You might be able to turn a blind eye to the clutter in your kitchen and the empty toilet paper rolls taking over your bathroom, but your guests will not. If you have visitors coming over in the near future or you’d like to be prepared for unexpected guests, here are five things that won’t go unnoticed to them.
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Getty Images The Entryway
The entrance to your home is the first impression visitors get, so it pays off to make it a good one.
Create a spot for visitors to take their shoes off and put their bag down.
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Getty Images The Welcome Mat
Shake out your door mat.
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Getty Images A Clean Floor
Sweep the entryway.
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Getty Images Simple Touches
Use fresh flowers or an indoor plant to freshen up the space.
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Getty Images The Smell
You might not think your house has a smell, but it's the first thing visitors will notice — good or bad.
Open up doors and windows for some fresh air.
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Getty Images A Signature Scent
It's always a nice idea to burn a scented candle or some essential oils to create a welcoming and relaxing scent that will appeal to all noses.
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Getty Images Freshness
Boil a pot of water on the stove with some citrus peel.
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Getty Images The Clutter
With life comes clutter. Now, we're not saying you need to go full Marie Kondo and get rid of every single item, but at least tidy up. If you don't have time to put everything back in its right place, the linen closet or laundry room are both fabulous hiding spots.
Put away kids toys in simple, stylish baskets.
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Getty Images Stay Organized
Create a drawer or tray for bills, letters, and papers.
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Getty Images Laundry
Put away the pile of laundry that is waiting to be folded.
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Getty Images Keep Mingling Areas Clear
Clean up social spots such as the dining room table and kitchen.
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Getty Images The Bathroom
If you only have time to clean one room in your home, make it the bathroom. A dirty bathroom is just downright gross, especially when it's not your own.
Wipe down the sink and vanity.
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Getty Images The Toilet
Scrub the toilet.
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Getty Images Shine Any Glass
Clean the mirror.
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Getty Images Toilet Paper
Restock the supple and ensure there's extra.
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Getty Images The Smell
Put out nice soap and a scented candle.
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Getty Images Your Pets
Pet hair can be very unappealing to people, especially if they don't have pets of their own. If you have pets in the house, make a little extra effort to vacuum the carpet and remove hair from your couch and other soft furnishings.
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Getty Images Toys
Put away your pet's toys.
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Getty Images The Food Area
Clean up the area around their food and water bowl.
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Getty Images The Litter Box
Change the cat litter.
This post originally appeared on our sister site Homes to Love.