If you are lucky to have a housekeeper or a cleaning lady, you have no worries when it comes to guests visiting unexpectedly. Well, one might say you very lucky, as the one big chore of keeping the house clean is taken care of. Your house is cleaned on schedule, and no matter who comes and when they come, the worry about a messy living room or an overflowing recycling bin is off the list.

For those of us that are still contemplating hiring cleaning help, the 15 min clean-up of a living room might just save face when unexpected guests are about to knock at your door. Follow this easy clean-up with clear priorities and a clear system, and you might even have fun and be in an excellent mood when your guests arrive!

Just ask them to give you enough notice next time. Read more

Photo: Rob Melnychuk / Getty Images

We all know the "location, location, location" criteria when looking to buy a new home. However, it is not only the location that determines a good home, a home that will work well for you and your family.

If you are considering buying a home, do you have your "must-have" list ready? You need a clear and detailed list that will best define the features of a new home that will satisfy the needs of your family, as well as fit your lifestyle. You also need to be clear with your priorities. If you were to compromise, what would you rather let go of - a bigger bedroom or a bigger kitchen?

Decorating a home is much easier when you start with a good foundation, so it makes it very important to be absolutely clear of the needs (and the wants, of course!) for your new home.
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Photo: Digital Vision / Getty Images

Most decorating magazines are filled with luxurious interiors that might seem totally out of reach for you. You like it but you are sure you can never afford it.

One of my favourite features in a design magazine is the high/low comparison, when the same look is achieved in two ways: an expensive way and a relatively cheap way. It goes to prove that you do not need a lot of money to create a comfortable, beautiful space.

What you do need, though, is to know yourself and to know your home. What is your definition of luxury? What makes you feel pampered and gives you that special luxurious feel? Is it beautiful art and rich fabrics? A home spa? Or maybe the look of gold in many decor elements?
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Photo: (c) Neiman Marcus

Decorating your kids room can be a lot of fun. You will experience joyful moments and truly feel like a kid again. No matter how exciting this project might feel for you - hopefully it feels exciting! - it is always a good idea to involve your children in the decorating process. They are the ones to live there, after all!

Finding the balance between your decorating vision and your child's vision for the room can get challenging, so the more clear you are with the steps involved in decorating a child's room, the easier it will get for all involved.

The first step in creating a vision for a room is color. Why color? Because it is the main decor element that will create the feel for the room. Read more

Image: (c) Levi Gruber