What you probably want to do is slap those marigolds on and get waist deep in cleaning and tidying the room right now. But it needn’t be such a panicked affair.

Follow this list of tips to help you calmly and easily get your guest room guest ready:

Clear it out

Taking all the clutter from the guest room and chucking it into the garage or self storage without thought will only be a nightmare for you to sort out at a later date. Use this opportunity to actually sort through everything in the guest room once and for all. Perhaps there’s enough in there to warrant a car boot? Or perhaps it’s time to take those packed collectables to a cheap storage unit while you decide whether or not you’re going to keep them or sell them. Now is the time to make some difficult clutter-sorting decisions – you will feel better for it.

Clean it out

After you’ve sorted out all the clutter, popped your precious items in self-storage and spent a few hours trying on all the clothes you forgot you had; it’s time to get the room clean. Don’t treat it like a casual weekly clean, but rather a one room ‘spring clean’. Get into every nook and cranny ensuring all areas of the room are adequately sparkling. Pay particular attention to the ensuite bathroom if there is one, or the shared bathroom your whole family uses.

The bed will be the centrepiece of the room, so put the most ‘decorative’ effort into it. Make sure the mattress has a mattress topper on, and fit fresh, nice smelling sheets onto the mattress, pillows and quilt.

Leave a few fancy bits and bobs

Make the most of your hosting opportunity and leave a few fancy extras in the room such as; some flowers to make the room smell nice, a mint on the pillow for an element of fun, and some new slippers for your guest to keep. These are sweet little extras that your guest will appreciate.

Remember, your guest is coming to see you, not your room so try not to be too critical of what you have to offer. Your guest is going to leave smiling about the happy times you’ve shared together, not moaning about the fact your room wasn’t ‘hotel standard’.

Leave a few useful bits and bobs

Although you’ll have done your major clear out and taken control of your clutter, you don’t want your guests to feel like they are staying in a cell so you need to strike the right balance between putting everything in self storage and making the room clutter-free. So maintain the balance by leaving a few useful things in there like a bedside lamp, clock and hangers in the wardrobe.

Not only do we want to hang on to old belongings but we are accumulating new things all the time and eventually the storage in our homes just will not cope any more. An important element for people buying new houses these days is how much storage there is. Built-in storage almost always features in new homes of all sizes and a buyer would expect there to be sufficient storage for their possessions, but just how much storage is sufficient? And even though moving home would seem to be an ideal opportunity to clear out all the old junk, this doesn’t always happen.

But can living amongst clutter really add stress to already busy lives and, more importantly, can clearing out that clutter reduce our stress?

Stress in our lives can manifest itself in many ways – we have a train to catch for work or the school-run through busy traffic all before the main part of the day starts. Then we might put ourselves under pressure to meet deadlines throughout the day but this type of stress is often there because we have chosen to live our lives in a certain way. We choose to have an extra 15 minutes in bed in the morning and are, therefore, rushing for the train, for example. But there are also the ever-present causes of stress around us in our homes that are less easy to recognise as a cause of stress and one of those is the clutter.

Stress can affect the body in numerous ways such as:

• Insomnia

• Depression

• Digestive disorders

• Skin complaints e.g. eczema

There is often no single cause of stress (it could be more serious issues like financial worries, work issues or relationship problems) but if you want to easily reduce the stress on your mind and body maybe now is the time to be ruthless with your possessions.

So when your storage cupboards are bulging, and when your loft, garage and garden shed are all full is there any alternative to throwing away your possessions or donating them to charity?

Fortunately, there is an alternative because there are numerous self storage facilities across the country so if you really can’t bear to part with treasured belongings you can still organising your possessions and store them away to get some of the stress-reducing benefits of a more minimalist lifestyle. If you only keep to hand all the items that you know you need and use regularly then you will be more easily able to find what you want. No longer will you have to hunt through stuffed drawers or storage cupboards looking for that

• The living room

For a lot of us the living room is one place connected to family and guests and most of our spare time, so it will be up to you to make sure its decorations suit its nature. For many families it will also serve as a combination of a dining room and living room in general, which makes the choices of decorations a bit different from other rooms. You may want to work on some house clearance first so you can free up some useful space for your purposes. Pinpointing the exact needs you may have will take some understanding, so hire a proper clearance company to handle any junk removal that needs to be done. Make that happen and you will have a much easier time whenever you decide to work on living room decorations.

• The study

If you have a study in your home, then you can do a few things to improve its looks while at the same time keeping things practical and affordable to a great degree. Make sure you take great care when you place your consoles, cables and electronics as these will largely dictate what you can do with the room itself. You won’t have to do a lot to make all of this work out well, so choose decorations that would fit the academic mood of the room.

• Decorating the walls

If you are wondering whether it will be a good idea or not to work on a decorating solution, then you will need to see whether paint and wallpaper could suit the decor. Spots, stripes and more will be a good way to break the monotonous look of plain walls, especially if you have the space for it. You can also go with the classics – photographs, paintings and general art for a complete approach.

• The bathroom

The fact that it is a bathroom doesn’t detract from the fact this room also needs decorations to look like something better than just a plain boring bathroom. You can work on decorations for the bathroom, but you will also need to ensure they are made with cleaning and maintenance in mind. The last thing you want to do is haul them out for junk removal because they got broken or too dirty to look good. There will be no need to have to go through such clearance work if you pick moisture-resistant bathroom decorations.

Lead by example

If you want to enjoy all the benefits of a sanctuary in your family home, it is essential that you start by teaching your kids (and every family member for that matter) how valuable quiet time is and the importance of balancing periods of activity with down time. As with most things, the best way in which you can teach them is by leading by example. Make a point of showing your appreciation for a peaceful atmosphere and always encourage family members to respect each other’s need for personal space and “me time”. If you make it sound appealing and show how enjoyable peace and quiet can be, you may be surprised at how quickly your family embraces this idea!

Build a sanctuary together

Turning areas of your home into a relaxing and inviting sanctuary is one of the most valuable presents you can give to your family. Draw everyone in and work together brainstorming ideas about how to make this special room a perfect fit for your family. In fact, you don’t even need to have a dedicated room for this. Finding the quietest corner of your house and making a few changes to the décor or how the area is used could be just as effective.

It is also important that you set certain rules about what types of behaviour are and aren’t allowed in your home sanctuary. Even more important that setting rules is defining the purpose of your sanctuary room or space, so try to come up with a statement that sums up the reasons for having it and cherishing it. The statement doesn´t need to be long, it could be something along the lines of “here you enter a warm and cosy space where you can retreat from the world and feel comfortable being yourself”.

Does it have “flow”?

While you are trying to come up with different ideas for your home sanctuary, ask yourself whether your ideal space has “flow”. The concept of flow was coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who defined it as the state of mind that is most conducive to happiness. Flow entails things like optimal concentration, motivation, engagement, and well-being – in other words, all the elements and experiences that you are looking for in a home sanctuary.

The key takeaway from this concept is that we can try to incorporate flow into certain areas of our homes, creating “flow rooms” where every family member can feel purposeful, engaged, and in touch with their inner selves. The concept of flow rooms is more than just an abstract idea. These rooms actually exist in many Danish family homes, where they are characterised by the absence of electronic devices, soft and warm lighting and colour schemes, and comfortable areas where family members can sit, play, cultivate their hobbies, or simply enjoy down time. You could also play with the concept of Zen-inspired design and décor to achieve a similar effect.

What if your kids are too young?

We said right at the beginning of this article that it’s important to teach your kids to appreciate peace and quiet. The idea of educating them is all very well, but as many parents know, that just doesn’t work with babies or toddlers. So how can parents enjoy a haven of peace and quiet at home in cases like this? Something that could work is getting up before anyone else does -or staying up after the kids have gone to bed if that suits your lifestyle better. Early mornings and late nights are something of a magical world where silence dominates and you can focus on your creative or spiritual pursuits free of interruptions and of noise. Take advantage of those times of the day that are naturally quiet and encourage other family members to do the same.

As you can see, creating a sanctuary in your family home may take some effort, but the rewards make it worthwhile. By doing this, you will be creating a space where every family member can leave stress and tension behind and contribute to the physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of your family.

Water-based Paint

The majority of wall paint types you will find on the market today are water-based. However, the oil-based products remain the most popular option for demanding surfaces such as floors, furniture and glossy woodwork. Water-based or acrylic paint has several advantages such as low levels of toxic emissions (VOCs), elastic finish resistant to cracking and easy maintenance. Cleaning this type of paint requires only soapy, warm water. Water-based finish provides more stable colour over time without getting yellowish.

If you are switching to acrylic paint, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. If the surface was previously treated with an oil-based product, the new coat of paint may not stick. Cleaning efficiently and thoroughly the surface and roughening it with a smooth grit sandpaper beforehand is necessary to prevent the peeling of the new coat.

Oil-based Paint

Although oil –based paints have the edge over the water-based types for certain projects, it is considered less safe. The reason is that it contains organic solvents that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pollute the indoor air. Oil-based paint is traditionally more preferred because it offers attractive gloss, good levelling and a durable finish. The downside is that it takes longer to dry. To wash the paint, you need specific cleaners such as turpentine or paint thinner. Luckily, you don’t need to choose between quality results, there are now water-based products that behave just like the oil-based options.

Paint Finishes

The products vary not only in terms of their content, but also in the type of paint finish. Some paints absorb light, while others reflect it, creating different looks. The sheen levels are important for adding texture to your place or to cover up flaws in your interior.

Matte Paint

Matte paint is perceived as the standard sheen for walls and is great for hiding imperfections in ceilings and walls. It provides great depth of colour and minimum reflectivity. The paint has a beautiful velvety finish and creates a smooth, subtle look. The drawback is that matte paint holds dirt, making the cleaning of this product quite challenging.

Satin and Eggshell Paint

Satin paint offers a silky finish and pearl-like sheen. It is great for high-traffic areas such as the living room and the kitchen because it stands up well to washing. Egg-shell finish is usually used for decorative purposes.

Semi-gloss and Gloss Paints

As the name suggests, these paint finishes reflect the most light, offering gorgeous bright sheen. These wall paints are exceptionally durable and can withstand multiple cleanings. They are suitable for mouldings, baseboards and doors, because of their durability. Semi-gloss and gloss paints can add a statement to the decor, but they can also highlight certain imperfections.

For more versatile and interesting looks, you can mix different finishes. Use sheen gloss on the accent wall and leave the rest of the room matte. It depends on the type of atmosphere you want to create in your home.

1. Use Spacers

When laying the tiles, it is important to make sure all the joints between them are evenly spaced. In order to do so spacers can be used. Spacers are little white items that look like a small plus sign that should be laid on all sides of the tile. This will make sure the joints are all of the same size.

2. Layout First

Before installing tiles, lay them all out on the floor. This will give a person an idea of how many tiles they are going to need and the areas where the tiles will have to be cut. Remember that cutting tiles is a messy job and could require proper house and builders clearance when it’s done.

3. Get some tiles in reserve

Instead of worrying that you will run out of tiles before the layout is complete, you should buy a few in reserve. That way you will have peace of mind should something go wrong. It’s not uncommon for mistakes to occur and to cut a tile at the wrong place for example. That is when having a spare one can save you some trouble. While it’s true that more materials mean more rubbish disposal at a later stage, it’s still a better alternative to not having enough tiles to complete the job.

4. Use a Sealant

When installing slate or natural stone tiles, be sure to seal them before grouting the floor. This will keep the colour of the tile looking great, especially during the waste disposal phase of your renovations. Apart from that, it is also a way to prevent water damage.

5. Allow Time for Drying

Allow the tile to sit at least 24 hours before you apply the grout. The reason behind this is to ensure that the tiles do not move as you apply grout, which would mean disaster. You don’t want uneven looking tiles, do you? Yes, it may delay your project a little bit, but it’s necessary to ensure that the job is done properly.

6. Clear out the leftover materials.

When you are done with grouting and renovating your bathroom, it is time to turn your attention to some rubbish disposal. Be sure you approach the task with care, as you don’t want to accidentally damage your tiles in the waste removal process.

These tips are aimed at giving you the basics of tile installation. Doing the work on your own can save you a lot of money and allow for experimentation and learning some handy DIY skills.

Installing double-glazed windows is a great investment to make. Whether you have just finished with home relocation and are setting up your new home, or you want to make an impression on your prospective buyers before initiating home removal, this is a top-tier improvement project to implement.

Typically, they’re way more expensive than regular windows, but they’re excellent for home improvement and renovation. Don’t miss out on a good deal with this value-raising project before you initiate your removal! Instances when installing them might be necessary include:

1) If your window desperately needs to be replaced. That is usually the case if the timber has rotted out or there is some other evident damage. You don’t want to leave your home in such condition, as that would mean you don’t hit a good deal and thus not fund the moving home process.

2) If a large window is in a good place, but allows in too much noise, then it’s probably better to replace it with double-glazed windows.

When installing, remember that the longer the space between the windows, the better the insulation and acoustics. Usually, they have an empty space of six millimetres. Retrofitted uPVCs have their own certain frames and each has fastening systems that are removable. They’re placed at a length of around one hundred millimetres from a normal window. Knowing this can make all the difference when you install and you want to achieve maximum effect in terms of sound reduction. That will also make an impression on anyone checking out your home from the outside, which is a good strategy for attracting buyers. With a little luck, you will be able to make profit off of such investments and be well on your house removal.

If you live close to busy areas that are really loud and noisy, combining a dual glazing window with uPVC retrofit window is a good option. Also, if sunlight is any sort of problem for you, then usually each will have tinting or a type of UV blockage. Keep in mind, that if you’re going to do this, buying them with low-e glass on the outer frame is another excellent idea.

If you don’t install these windows properly, they could lose a lot of their thermal efficiency. So be extremely careful when you’re installing them. The last thing you want to do is a sloppy job at this for example right after your moving service has been completed, as that would mean more work from there on.

You might just want some cheap and cheerful ideas for quick updates to your home but they are also a great source of inspiration even if you are planning a complete refurbishment – so check them out. They have ideas for complete makeovers and extensions through new flooring and furniture to simple ideas for bringing your home to life such as cushions, lamps to wasy to get more organised by using clever storage ideas with modern storage units.

• Kelly Hoppen
• House & Home
• Home Worskshop
• BetterHomes&Gardens
• Traditional Home
• Green Your Decor
• House Beautiful
• Apartment Therapy
• ELLE DECOR
• Design Sponge
• House & Garden
• Period Living
• DIY Network

Here are five indispensable floor installation tips you’ll need in order to get started on the project of floor installation. Keep in mind that it’s a messy job and you will likely require a cleaning service after such renovations.

1) In case simple carpet cleaning doesn’t cut it any longer, you may want to make some replacements.  If you’re taking away the old carpet, it’s way easier to pull it from a corner than to fold it over itself. You’ll want to use a utility knife to cut sections from the back that you’ll discard later. After that you can pull it up and dispose of the pad that lies underneath. Further cleaning service will be needed.

2) Once the pad is gone, you’ll have several sections of wood left behind around the edges of your room. They each have several sharp barbed points that held your carpet down, so you’ll want to remove the sections of wood without letting them splinter. To do this in the proper manner, lightly hit a small thin bar between the sub-floor and strip, underneath each nail. When you do this, all you have to do is pop them up and you are done.

3) The simplest way to remove staples in the sub-floor is to slip a shovel with a square edge across your floor against the flat side of a staple. Sometimes, you’ll have a stubborn staple or two that you’ll have to pull from your floor directly. To do this, simply use pliers or a screwdriver and wedge it underneath them.

4) Don’t forget that when you’re installing wood flooring, you have to leave a gap of about half an inch. What specific size the gap is depends on your manufacturer. The gap has to be around all the edges of the room. To cover it, a small suggestion is to remove your wood baseboard and then reinstall it later. Remember not to spill any liquids on your floor, as that could easily ruin it. Be considerate about hardwood floor and general house cleaning as well, since this task should be carefully performed.

5) To make all of this easier on yourself, take the end of your baseboard and work a stiff blade knife behind the moulding and work it loose.

Installing new floors may seem difficult, but with some spare time on your hands and a few handy ideas, you will get the hang of it soon enough.