Preparing your Portuguese holiday home for Autumn? Five unmissable tips

The holidays are over for most of us. September is here and now it's time to get back to your routine: to work, to school, to extracurricular activities, to the gym... If you have a holiday home, whethere you've spent time there over the summer, or you haven't opened the door in months, this is also the time to clean, organize and tidy up for autumn, before diving into the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Of course, this is a task that requires time. You might not be able to do it all right now, but getting ahead of yourself will be worth the effort. To help you in this process, Habitissimo experts have prepared five valuable tips on how to better organize your holiday home to face the final stretch of the year.

1. Painting, renovations and minor repairs

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If you plan to renovate your space, it's best to start now. The cold can come at any time and it can even creep up on you while you are in the middle of a task. But remember that in these last weeks in which we can still feel the heat, specialists in reforming houses are in high demand. 

If you left some small repairs undone over the summer, like changing the taps that won't turn off or fixing that slightly warped door, now is the time to get it done! 

2. A little bit of organization and cleanliness

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In summer and on holidays, we all get a little more relaxed. But now it's time to get organized and tidy away what you won't need for the next few months, like beachwear... Imposing some order on your holiday home is the first step to prepare it for autumn in a calm, ordered way. And once that's done, take a look at these tips to keep the place clean and tidy.

And, while you take care of tidying up and cleaning the house, take the opportunity to get rid of the useless things that you've kept for years. The space that this frees up will be very useful for storing things that you'll use when you return to your routine. Especially those winter clothes that take up much more space than summer clothes.

3. Space to study or work from home

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If you are working from home, you might be making the choice to do so from your holiday home for a change of scenery. If you already have a space to study or work at home, make sure that everything is in perfect condition and ready to use: the desk, chair, shelves, lighting, etc. But if until now you were working remotely at your living room or kitchen table, this might be the time to think about making a small, dedicated workspace in your home.

You don't need a huge space, but you do need a corner that is as far away from distractions as possible. Sometimes the solution is as simple as moving some furniture around. If you want to go further though, here are some ideas to fit any lifestyle.

4. Adapt your home decor

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When was the last time you redecorated your holiday home? Sometimes, small details can make all the difference, making the house more comfortable and cozy. And you can give it a new look without changing too many things. A good way to get back into the routine in a new spirit is to do some home decor. Just make sure to avoid some common mistakes!

We suggested changing the furniture arrangement to make room for a desk. But it's also a good idea to change the decor in your living room or bedroom to make it look different to you. If you add a few more autumnal accessories - like a new sofa cover, a rug, or replacing an old lamp - the change can be spectacular. 

5. Prepare the bed linen

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Of course in Portugal it's still hot enough most days and you don't think about your bed linens too much. Calm down, there's no need to go get the duvets yet. But it's time to keep the warmest bedding handy , for when the nights get colder. Or those thicker curtains in the bedroom that give you a warmer atmosphere when temperatures drop.

By making these changes in your holiday home now, returning to your routine will be a little more comfortable, not least because the biggest changes have already been made. That's what we're telling you: don't leave them for tomorrow.