3 Quick Tips for Summer Entertaining

For some reason, I woke up today and realized that the summer is almost over and there are still get-togethers I want to host! It’s been a pretty busy summer for me, and I expect you’re no different. If you’ve been putting off summer entertaining because it’s such a hassle getting the house in order on top of party planning, let me share with you three quick strategies to ensure your house is presentable and you are relaxed enough to enjoy it with your friends and family. For stress-free tidying, apply these three basic Kon Mari Method® techniques to quickly tidy your home before guests arrive:
 
1.Do a “Joy Check.”
2.Decide where things belong.
3.Keep a neat kitchen.
 
 
Do a Joy Check.
Because we see our house every day, it’s easy to become “blind” to clutter and misplaced items. Walk through your home the way that guests will with fresh eyes. When you spot a pile of things or miscellaneous clutter, stop. Ask yourself if these items bring you joy. That’s always your first step. If they do, great! But if not, this is good time to let them go and remove them from your space.
 
Decide where things belong.
When you decide an item brings you joy, you may realize that it is not where it belongs or, perhaps it doesn’t even have a permanent “home” in your house. Don’t pass over misplaced items. Decide right now specifically where they should live and put them in their home. As organizing maven Marie Kondo says, “If you want to maintain a tidy home, you – and everyone else who lives there – must know precisely where each item belongs.”
 
Keep a neat kitchen.
Finally, we all seem to end up with guests in the kitchen – an irresistible gathering place. Kitchens often look messy because they’re home to so many miscellaneous items and they’re the hardest working room in the house. It goes without saying that you should do as much party prep in advance so you can have all your dishes and pans clean and in their proper place. Next, focus on clearing your counters of any non-essential items.  “Anything that can go in a drawer or cupboard should be put away,” says Kondo. By keeping the area around your sink clear, your kitchen can look neat and tidy.
 
So, don’t hesitate any longer – schedule that get-together! Following these quick tips should give you the confidence to entertain and focus on time with your guests!
 
Enjoy the rest of your summer with gusto!
 
Mrg
 
This article is based on Marie Kondo’s blog post “How to Tidy Before Hosting Guests.”