This time of year, there’s so much going on, it’s easy to fall behind keeping your home tidy. What do you do when guests are on their way and you need a 15-minute cleanup plan, because that’s all the time you’ve got left? If you need a last-minute solution to get organized for the holidays FAST, you are not alone.

For those of us in the business of home organization solutions like we are here at Modular Closets, it becomes clear that even the most organized people can start to get frazzled around the holidays. You can make all the lists and schedules you want, but it’s still difficult to keep up – and an unexpected visit can feel more stressful than festive.

In order to keep your holiday spirits high, we’d like to share this 15-minute cleanup plan, so you know exactly what to focus on in those last-minute moments when guests are on their way to your door:

1. Cleanup your Entryway

As this is what guests will see first when they arrive, you want to make sure to make a good first impression.

Take a look at your doors and make sure they’re clean. Give your doormat a quick shake and make sure the floor space where guests enter is cleared and presentable. If you have extra boots or shoes cluttering up your entryway, move them to a bedroom.

It’s also a good idea to free up space in your entryway closet, or wherever you might hang up your guests’ coats, hats, and gloves – which may be wet depending on the weather.

Pro Tip: quickly sift through the mail and other paper that tends to clutter up an entryway. It can be delightful and inviting to leave out a small pile of holiday-themed cards or general interest magazines, but put everything else in a bag you can leave in your home office or other out-of-the-way area until your guests leave.

2. Check On your Entertaining Space

When guests come to visit, they’re likely to only see a few rooms of your house. If necessary, limit the rooms you will invite them into, and focus on tidying-up just the few rooms guests will see.

Make sure you definitely have some rooms that can be off-limit to guests with the doors shut. These rooms can serve to hide clutter temporarily during your guests’ visit.

As for the rooms your guests will enter, you can quickly remove any clutter to a space behind closed doors. Consider lighting a candle to immediately add a sense of warmth and freshness to the space.

Pro Tip: don’t forget about a bathroom! Focus your attention on one bathroom which guests will use and make sure it is wiped down and stocked with any necessary supplies and linens.

3. If Necessary, Go Over the Guest Room

If your guests will be staying overnight, you’ll want to make sure the guest room is in order.

Make sure they have a clean set of sheets and plenty of pillows and towels. If your guest room has been used as a catch-all space for random stuff you own, now is the time to quickly move those belongings to a different room your guests won’t see.

Don’t forget to check the closet and make sure your guests will have plenty of space to unload and store their own things!

4. Do a Final Walkthrough

Lastly, do a quick walkthrough of all the rooms your guests may enter.

Be on the lookout for any final objects that may be out of place. Ideally, these objects will have a rightful storage spot where they can quickly be brought and left.

While a quick-fix is sometimes necessary, if you really want a home organization solution that will make your cleanup an easier and faster process over the long term, your best course of action is to upgrade your closets so you’ll have all the shelves and drawers you need to keep your belongings organized.

At Modular Closets, we specialize in offering an affordable alternative to custom closets. Our modular approach to custom closet design allows to offer a high-quality product – 100% plywood closet systems – for a fraction of the cost of expensive designers. You can get the high-end look and functionality of a beautiful, personalized closet system without breaking the bank.

Check out our gift to you: a free closet design!