What Is the Best Way to Refresh Your Home?

The best way to refresh your home is to begin with the spaces you use most: open the curtains, put stray items back where they belong, and clear surfaces such as the kitchen counter and coffee table. If you are resetting after guests leave, gather dishes, used linens, and trash first so you can see what needs attention without trying to tackle the entire house at once.

Dust shelves and other higher surfaces before wiping tables and counters, then vacuum or sweep and finish with the floors so falling dust does not land on an area you have already cleaned. In the bathroom and kitchen, focus on frequently touched surfaces and follow each cleaning product’s directions, choosing materials that are appropriate for the surface and avoiding mixtures of cleaning chemicals.

Wash guest towels and bedding, replace them with clean linens, and shake out or vacuum cushions and rugs as appropriate for their materials. When weather and conditions allow, open a window for fresh air, and make the room feel inviting again by straightening throws, making the bed, and clearing clutter from the entryway.

You do not need to renovate to give a room a new look: rearrange furniture to improve the flow, move a lamp to a darker corner, or bring out artwork and accessories you already own. Our team suggests choosing one or two changes you can maintain rather than adding more objects, especially if your goal is a calmer, easier-to-clean space.

Set aside a short block of time for each room, and finish with a quick walk-through to return anything you missed to its usual place. For more ideas, read our home reset guide and explore our Reset & Refresh: The Home Reset Handbook After Guests eBook.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating keep your reset manageable.