If you're single, a tidy home can do a lot for your love life.
According to stats from eHarmony, just over 60 per cent of Aussie singles think a messy home is a deal breaker.
In the lead-up to Valentine's Day it might be worth re-evaluating your home situation – especially if you plan on taking a special someone home after a date.
"If you invite a love interest into your outdated and dirty home, they will undoubtedly question your taste and hygiene – or more specifically, lack thereof," says Emma Blomfield, interior stylist for TheHome.com.au.
"Your home says a lot about you, so you should make sure it's sending your love interest all the right messages."
Here are some turn-offs you might want to take care of before you bring a new date home.
A messy house
Blomfield says it's important to make sure your house is clean, tidy and free from suspicious smells before you invite a date around.
"It's not hard to do a quick tidy-up and vacuum before you leave the house so no excuses," Blomfield says.
While ideally your whole house should be clean, she says there are particular areas to keep spotless.
"If time gets away from you, the most important rooms are the living areas, bedroom and bathroom," Blomfield says.
Dirty laundry
No one – especially not a new love interest – wants to see your dirty knickers lying around the house. Even better than throwing all your dirty clothes in a basket, says Blomfield, is hiding them in the laundry. Because no one ever takes a new date into their laundry, right?
Quirky decorations
A personal touch is always nice, and it can help show of your personal taste and style. However Blomfield says there are certainly a few things you might want to avoid decorating your home with lest you scare off any potential mates.
"Keep sporting memorabilia to a minimum on your shelves and walls," says Blomfield, "and don't even think about putting your teddy front and centre on your bed!"
Basically anything that labels you a serial bachelor/bachelorette is a no-no.
Another decoration that might be obvious is any photographs of you and ex-boyfriends – no matter how much you like the photograph.
If you have some quirky possessions that you really love, find some good storage solutions for them. Perhaps when your romance is not so new, you might find out that your lover doesn't mind your old taxidermied dog but for now some things are best kept under wraps.
Bad furniture
If you are being judged for your Ikea collection you might not be with the right person, however that said a living room constructed with milk crates may not give the impression you're after.
"We are told we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but it's very hard not to form opinions of your date when you're invited into their home for the first time," Blomfield says.
The interior stylist says investing in a couple of new pieces of furniture can make your home look better.
A messy bed
This is especially important if you're bringing a date home for the first time: make your bed, and make it with fresh linen.
An unmade bed is uninviting and will give the impression you put little effort in, especially if the sheets aren't clean.
