Pamper your Date - make your Home

Your home says a lot about you. It’s a reflection of your style, personality and lifestyle. And so you want to make sure it's giving the right impression to your date. From cleaning, fixing, furnishing, and accessorizing, here are few simple home-decor tips to make sure your apartment is woman-friendly. Start taking home-court advantage.

Prioritize

If your date is coming over in a few hours, it doesn’t leave you much time to properly clean and reorganize your entire place. Instead, pick the areas that will be most seen and used. Spend your time on the entryway, kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and bedroom.

De-Clutter

Nothing makes a house look messier than clutter. Grab an empty box, go around to your main areas and start putting away any unnecessary items. Get a few basic cleaning supplies and wipe down your countertops, tabletops and bathroom fixtures. Make sure your laundry is put away and your linens are fresh. Finish off by doing a lap with the vacuum or mop.

Fix It

You know that light bulb that burnt out last year? It’s time to replace it. Just like your car, your place needs to be regularly maintained. Take a walk around your house and do all the simple repairs that you’ve been putting off. If you don’t know how to change that leaking faucet or fix that hole in your wall, check out YouTube for easy DIY instructions.   

Stock Up

Make sure you have all the essentials on-hand. If you don’t know your date’s favorite food or drink, have a variety. Pick up an assortment of drinks (soda, water, wine) and snacks (crackers, cheese, chips, fruit, vegetables). In the bathroom, ensure there is extra toilet paper, tissues, soap, air freshener, and hand towels.

Furnish It

You don’t have to go out and buy all new furniture, but it’s important to make sure your space is fully furnished. Your living room should have a sofa, two end tables, a coffee table, media unit, and two occasional chairs (if there’s room). Your bedroom should have a bed with a headboard, two nightstands and a dresser. The rooms should feel full, but not cluttered or cramped.

Accessorize

Accessories add warmth, color, texture, pattern, and coziness to a space. Even though your place is now fully furnished, these small items make the space feel lived-in and complete. Place a wooden tray with magazines and two hurricane candle holders on your coffee table, throw color-coordinated toss cushions for your sofa and purchase an area rug to help define the space. Style your bedroom with a pair of lamps and a few of your favorite hardcover books on the nightstands.

Keep Him Groomed

Get your mind out of the gutter. I know you love your pet more than anything, but unless you know your date is an animal lover, try to keep him out of the way. Nonetheless, make sure your animal is properly groomed, trained and well-kept. Keep an eye on your pet to make sure he doesn't annoy, bother or invade your date’s personal space. A lint brush is always good to have on hand. 

Be Prepared

Things don’t always go as planned. Maybe you were supposed to have a night on the town but a thunderstorm came in. Whatever it is, make sure you have a back-up plan in case you two are spending the night in. Add a few romantic comedies to your DVD collection, have some classic board games available or pull out that old box of cake mix and do some baking. These simple activities will make her feel comfortable and at home.

Add A Touch Of Luxury

If your date sleeps over, make her feel like she checked in to a five-star hotel. Make your bed up with four sleeping pillows, two firm and two soft. For that hotel crispness, use white cotton or linen sheets that are starched and ironed. Stock the bathroom with new toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and clean towels (bath, face and hand). To add a touch of luxury, have a small basket with items that she wouldn’t find at home: lotions, small bottle of perfume, small make-up kit, razors, and a lush robe. Before going to sleep, leave a dim light on in case she needs to get up in the middle of the night. 

Set The Mood

Your place is now clean, furnished, styled and stocked. Before she comes over, you need to set the mood. Lighting can make the biggest impact. Dim your main lights and light a few candles around the house. For a little background music, make a playlist of soft, mellow, classic tunes, and then you're set to go.

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