It happens to all of us, especially during the busy holiday season – last minute moving company.  Maybe it’s the group you forgot about or the one that wasn’t supposed to be at your house but now is, or you just became the spontaneous after-party.  Even if you only have a few minutes, you can still be a rockstar hostess!

Tip 1: Just the Highlights

If you only have a few minutes to prepare, just hit the important areas.  Guests likely won’t notice the unvacuumed carpet or the science experiment in the back corner of the fridge, but they WILL notice the dirty dishes in the sink.  When time is tight, focus on surfaces, sinks, and the toilet in the main bathroom.  Everything else will be OK!  PRO TIP: You can always close doors to bedrooms and offices, so if you have a few extra minutes put them into the front doorway area.  It’s so easy to miss dust and cobwebs there!

Tip 2: The One-Hour Routine

An hour is ideal – you can cover a lot of ground!  Spend your time on the main areas – kitchen, living room, dining room, entry, and bathroom.  Think like a guest – what will they notice?  Make sure you declutter the areas that tend to show “wear”, like the area where junk mail gets dropped, and the crumbs where the toaster is used and drips on the coffee bar.  PRO TIP: I love challenging myself, and one of my favorite ways is the basketball game.  Just grab a large basket and work your way through the house, throwing items in that don’t belong and putting items away as you go.  It’s fun!

Tip 3: Quick Decor

If you don’t have a lot of time, focus on the three areas that really matter and decorate those.  The dining room table, the coffee table, and the mantle or buffet.  It doesn’t need to be elaborate; even a few candles and some Christmas balls are quick to put together and will look great.  PRO TIP: Flowers to the rescue!  A great option is a few hydrangeas massed together in a short vase or bowl.  It’s a fast yet stunning centerpiece!  If you have any spare leaves, they hold beautifully in bud vases for bathrooms, too.

Bonus Tip:  Whatever you do, don’t apologize.  It’s your home, you live there and your family makes memories there.  Guilty and apologetic is the standard response when we don’t have the time to prepare for guests, and it shouldn’t be.  It’s a busy time of year – give yourself some grace!  And truthfully, if your company is bothered by a dust bunny or unwashed dish, they should have either given you more notice or stayed home.  ;D