Many of us have experienced an embarrassing moment when a visitor dropped by with little warning, but my friend's story tops them all. She was spending a lazy Sunday at home in New York City, when a friend called to say she'd be stopping by shortly with one of the town's most prestigious interior decorators. My friend thought the right amount of notice for such a visit would have been about 12 months (by then she could have had the place completely renovated), but instead she had about 30 minutes to whip her home into shape. Apparently she pulled it off well enough—she never got a visit from the housekeeping police—but she asked what I'd have done in similar circumstances.

I'd have done the following, and gone as far down the list as possible until the doorbell rang.

1. Check your outfit, comb your hair, and fix your makeup. The first thing your guests notice isn't your living room—it's you.

2. Close doors, blocking off the view of whatever rooms will not be in use.