BoomerGirl Diary

Holiday entertaining season is upon us, and in some households it will run clear through to Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 3.

But what to do now if you cringe each time you look at the stained carpet, fret that the draperies look so last-century or that the living room could use a little something, though you're not quite sure what?

We asked five experts — a real estate agent, a model home stager, an interior designer, a professional organizer and a cleaning service owner — what three or four things they'd recommend to spiff up the homestead, even if time and money are tight.

Decluttering was at the top of several lists, way ahead of shopping for throw pillows and scented candles.

"For most people, it's a question of taking things out, not adding them. And it's free," says Donna Evers, president of Evers & Co. Real Estate in the District of Columbia.

"Tackle paper clutter first," urges Susan Hayes, an organizer in Bethesda, Md. "If you can't get rid of it or clean it up, put it all in a plastic bin and hide it somewhere in the closet. You don't want that to be the first thing people see when they walk in." Clear off kitchen countertops as well, she says.

Once the extraneous stuff is out of sight, basic cleaning sets the stage, says Rita Leigh, founder of East Coast Maid Service in Hyattsville, Md. "The main thing are the floors; they are a big part of the house. If they are worn and stained, get it done," says Leigh, who uses a residential steamer to clean her own carpet.

Other general housekeeping chores are important — dusting, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming — especially if there are pets, she says. Window-washing can make a house sparkle. If you can't do it yourself, you can call in the pros, but with commercial firms charging $5 to $8 a window, the cost can quickly add up. "If you're on a budget," says Leigh, "have only the downstairs windows washed."

With cleaning out of the way, what next?

Evers recommends buying a few throw pillows for chairs and sofas to brighten a room; she's a particular fan of holiday red. For those more ambitious, consider painting the dining room, which can probably be done over a single weekend. "It's the cheapest thing you can do to a house," Evers says, and changing this prime party space "can warm it up, make it dramatic."

Realtors know the value of curb appeal, so Evers also suggests giving the house a once-over from the outdoors: "Go stand in the street and look at the house as if you've never seen it before. Shrubs that are too tall? Cut them way back or get rid of them." And add a few hardy plants at the entrance.

Organizer Hayes has another exterior suggestion: Spiff up the oft-overlooked back yard, because it is visible through doors and windows. "Decorate with small white lights and ribbons on trees, which makes a beautiful backdrop," she says.

Tynesia Hand-Smith, whose Metro Design Interiors in D.C. has furnished dozens of model homes, recommends painting a single accent wall in a room to make it pop. If that's too daunting, conduct a housewide search for mirrors and artwork that can be moved from one spot to another to change the look.

Hang a mirror over a dining room sideboard for drama and to reflect light from windows or flickering candles. Or replace an existing mirror with a painting, print or piece of fabric. Swap tired curtains or shades for new ones. Hand-Smith's favorite sources for bargain art, mirrors, toss pillows and window treatments include Marshall's, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Kirkland's, Z Gallerie, Pier 1 and Ikea.

Welcoming aromas can set the mood for a party. Hayes suggests simmering spices on the stove. She likes Williams-Sonoma's Mulling Spices, but you can make your own using cloves, cinnamon, allspice and orange peel.

Decorator Matthew Swingly, owner of McMaster Wallace Interiors in D.C., is also a fan of candles with a seasonal aroma. He is careful not to use them near the dining area, however, where the fragrance can interfere with the food.

He buys lots of "disposable house plants" such as orchids, cyclamens and paperwhite narcissus from the grocery store or Ikea: "They make people feel important." For inexpensive cut flowers, he hits Costco, which sells two dozen roses for $14.

Other suggestions by Swingly:

• Decorate the table with (free) evergreens, berries, pine cones and nuts from your own yard or that of friends or neighbors.

• Get new pillows or a throw in warm wintry colors (he likes the selection at Marshall's) and, for a change of scenery, try swapping the living room and dining room rugs.

• And if you have a fireplace, always light a fire for guests because "nothing sets a mood better."