There's a time for giving your house a deep Spring cleaning, but preparing for unexpected guests is not that time. If you find out with just a couple hours — or a few minutes! — notice that company's coming, no need to panic. All it takes is a little prioritizing and a few shortcuts, and your house will be visitor-ready in no time flat. Read on for my tips on how to speed clean every room in your house!

• The whole house: Skip the vacuum. Use a DustBuster to pick up noticeable debris in high-traffic areas, and follow with a dry Swiffer if needed. Avoid strongly scented cleaners like bleach and Pine-Sol, and opt instead for Mrs. Meyers Basil Countertop Spray ($4) or Method Multi-Surface Wipes ($4). Light a couple scented candles, and open all the windows.
• The entry: Hang up jackets and scarves, and either put away shoes or line them up neatly. Relocate stacks of mail to the office or a letter basket, and spritz the entry with a fresh-smelling room spray — I'm partial to Crabtree and Evelyn's Lavender Room Spray ($16).
• The kitchen: If you don't have time to wash and dry the dishes lying around, give them a quick rinse and stack them neatly in the sink to get them out of the way. Wipe down the counters with a cleaning wipe, and take out any stinky trash like compost.
• The living room: Pick up any out-of-place items and toss them in a basket. Refold throws, straighten sofa cushions, and put throw pillows back in their rightful place. If you have pets, give their areas a quick shot of Febreze.
• The bathroom: Wipe down the bathroom counters, sink, and faucet with a premoistened, flushable cleaning wipe, like these from Method ($4). Spritz a little cleaner into the toilet bowl and give it a quick swirl with a toilet brush.

Just before your guests arrive, dim any overhead lights, light a few more strategically placed candles, and open a bottle of wine. I guarantee no one will be looking around for what you missed! How do you speed clean to prepare for unexpected guests?

Ever since I came across this beautiful Moroccan bedroom in interiors photographer Brian Park's portfolio, I can't stop thinking about traveling to Morocco myself to find that room . . . and take a nap in it. The starkness of the room, warmed up by the deep blue walls, is such an interesting contrast to the ornate, feminine bed; the overall effect is so peaceful and inviting.

I may not be able to take a trip to Morocco in the near future — I may not even be bold enough to paint my bedroom walls this shade of blue — but a dreamy bed like the one in the photo is certainly within reach. I think my favorite is Anthropologie's Dawning Lark Bed ($1,998), but I'd settle for any of them. Take a look at the rest of my picks below, and tell me which one you're dreaming about dreaming on!

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Prince William and Kate Middleton have already made it clear that they want to add their own touches to their wedding: they're bucking the traditional sit-down breakfast before the ceremony for a more casual buffet-style reception and asking for charitable donations rather than gifts. Now it seems that approach extends to the day's flowers and greenery.

The couple wants their floral arrangements to be sustainable and beautiful, without seeming over the top. Kate has requested the bulk of the floral displays be centered around live, growing plants rather than cut flowers and is also requesting that the plants come mainly from royal estates. An avenue of trees in planters will line the path leading to the altar; azaleas, wisteria, beech, and lilac will also be planted around the abbey. After the ceremony, the flowers and plants will stay behind for the public to view until May 6, and then they'll be replanted.

What do you make of Will and Kate's sustainable approach to wedding flowers? Is it a thoughtful detail, or just a meaningless gesture?

I spotted this sweet wedding favor DIY over at Ruffled, and was instantly struck by how versatile the project is. The bride created them as favors for her guests and cleverly displayed them on a wall painted with magnetic paint, but the project could easily be streamlined for use around the house.

My suggestion? Use them to plant your indoor herb garden! The cans would look cheerful lined up on a sunny windowsill, and each one would be easy to mark with a simple self-adhesive label. And when your herbs eventually fizzle out, as mine always do, just toss the whole thing — and restock your tin can supply next time you grocery shop.

I love visiting cities with quaint character and old world charm. But I have to admit, at the end of the day, I like to unwind surrounded by modern conveniences and simple, updated decor. Which makes the St. Paul Hotel, Canada's first design hotel, a tempting destination. The hotel is located in Old Montreal, with its beautiful historic buildings and charming European vibe, but the interior of the hotel is decidedly modern.

Floors throughout the hotel are a rich, dark wood, while furniture and accessories are in soothing, neutral earth tones. According to the hotel's site, guest rooms alternate between earth and sky themes; earth rooms feature bolder colors and stronger shapes (red stripes!), while sky rooms stick to softer tones, billowy curtains, and drapey fabrics. Decisions, decisions! Prefer fire over the other elements? The St. Paul Hotel can do that, too. Common areas boast uber-modern double fireplaces, and the hotel's on-site restaurant is adorned with black furniture, strategically placed flames, and a generally devilish theme.

Intrigued yet? Keep reading for a full tour!

Looking to get away with your sweetie this Valentine's Day, but still want the comforts of home? Breeze into the Windy City, and stay in the lap of luxury at Chicago's James Hotel. The hotel is smack in the middle of the city, close enough to the Magnificent Mile that you can easily step out to grab a bite or see a show — but why would you want to? The James features seasonally rotating art installations; a high-end steakhouse; a cozy bar; and a spa featuring Aveda products and in-room treatments.

Guest rooms are sparsely decorated but still cozy, with dark wood, warm, neutral colors, and clean lines, so you can truly settle in without feeling like you're being subjected to someone else's decor; I especially love the crisp white bathrooms and succulent plants. If you're looking for even more luxury, try one of the hotel's studios or one-bedroom apartments, with wet bars, dining rooms, and living areas, or go really big with a loft penthouse, complete with entertainment systems, Eames lounge chairs, and his-and-hers sinks.

If you do feel like getting out, check out a couple of the hotel's Paul Frank bikes to cruise around the city, or take a customized running tour — yes, running — through the city.

Keep reading to take the full tour!