Category Archives: Uncategorized

Here’s How to Mini-Flip and Stage Your Home This Fall

Image

Copy of Untitled

 

Home staging is becoming known as a must-do for home sellers. 

 

The reason? It works. 

 

According to a report from the National Association of Realtors, 58 percent of sellers’ realtors believe that buyers offer more money for staged homes than for unstaged, and 77 percent thought staging made it easier for buyers to visualize themselves in the home. 

 

Staging can be even more effective if you do what’s being called a “mini-flip” on your home first. 

 

Rather than a full remodel, which has been shown repeatedly to have a low ROI, mini-flips involve deep-cleaning, painting, perhaps putting in new flooring and lighting, and/or refinishing cabinets, depending on what your particular home is most in need of. 

 

So how can you improve your chances of selling your home this fall, and being in your new one by the holidays? Here are a few tips.

 

Focus on decluttering and deep cleaning first.

 

Decluttering and deep cleaning have some of the highest ROI of any home project out there, according to data from HomeLight. 

 

Whether you tackle this yourself or hire professionals, a decluttered, spotless home makes it much easier to see what actually needs attention. Maybe those cabinets don’t look as dated as you thought. Maybe the master closet carpet just needed a good steam clean, not a full replacement. 

 

In addition, getting rid of things you no longer need will make it much easier to gather ideas on how to stage your home and which rooms might benefit from it the most. Without the visual (and mental) clutter, you’ll be ready to start making your home look the best it possibly can. 

 

Paint, paint, paint. 

1881348Painting is a relatively inexpensive, low-effort project that has the potential to absolutely transform a room. 

 

If your walls are dingy, or faded, a new coat of paint will make them look fresh and new. If you have a room that’s painted an unusual or vibrant shade, repainting it in a neutral color like an ivory or gray will make it appeal to a much wider range of potential buyers, while also creating an air of calm and peace. 

 

Don’t make any staging decisions until after you’ve painted, as your colors and selections may look very different in a repainted room than they would in the original. 

 

As the weather gets colder, embrace “hygge.”

 

This Danish term for warm, cozy living became popular in the design world a few years ago, and since then many designers and home stagers have called upon principles of hygge to stage homes that are inviting and welcoming. 

 

Ways to incorporate hygge when you stage your home include: 

 

  • Creating a cozy sitting area by moving your comfiest armchair next to a window, and adding a few plush throw pillows. 
  • Add warm rugs in key areas, like in front of your fireplace and on cold bathroom floors.  
  • Open up the home to natural light with long, sheer curtains. 

 

Add in just a few thoughtful details, like artwork, tasteful seasonal flower arrangements, and accent decor. 

1540833264400blob

It’s important when staging your home to stick to the essentials—you don’t want to visually overwhelm potential buyers.

 

However, you also don’t want the home to look bare. There should be art on the walls (even DIY art can help stage your home if it’s done well), a light flower arrangement or two, and some tasteful accent decor. Fall-themed pillows in rich oranges, reds, or browns, candles, and seasonal wreaths are just a few options. 

 

Mini-flipping and staging your home before selling can offer you huge returns both by speeding up your home sale and earning you a higher selling price. And if you’re in the staging business yourself, be sure to connect with your local real estate agents about working with mini-flippers!

 

Color Psychology and Its Importance in Home Staging

Image

When designing or staging a home, embrace the opportunity to let your expertise shine, and create a place home buyers can spend quality time with loved ones, unwind from a hard day’s work, and something that reflects them in the best way possible. Remember, staging is only one part of the house selling process. You need to make sure you carry out your other due diligence, and this article from TheAdvisory will help you do just that. Today, we’re going to delve into the importance of color in home staging, and how it can affect not only the mood of a room, but the mood of the people inhabiting it.

 

As you decide what colors to add into a space, you have to think about the purpose of that specific room. Some questions to ask yourself include: What is the intention of the room? What emotions do you want to evoke? Who inhabits this room most?

 

Then it’s time to select the most tasteful variation of the color to add into the space.

 

 

  1. Red

Depending on the shade you choose to bring in, hues of Red are often associated with energy, joy, warmth, and sophistication. Lighter shades of red have been known to promote energy and passion, while darker shades instill a sense of sophistication.

image001

 

With that being said, red is considered the most powerful color, and it is often not well received in bedrooms, or rooms where calm and relaxation are desired. Living rooms can be a great area to add corals and burnt orange hues with accent pillows, or other home decor accessories. Maroons and pure reds are better suited for a dining room, bringing about a sense of warmth and richness when paired with rustic naturally dark toned dining room furnishings.

 

 

2.   Yellow:

      Yellow is a great color to tie into a space to bring in a sense of happiness, brightness, and positivity. It’s a great way to brighten up a space that may lack natural sunlight, or is a high energy area for your family. Yellow helps to stimulate the left side of the brain, which produces creativity and deep thinking.

image003

 

Yellow is a great color to incorporate into a kitchen or office. With gold being a trending accent color right now, it’s an easy variation of yellow to tie into a home office using office supplies and desk accessories. Keep in mind that yellow is the most eye catching color on the spectrum, so it’s important to limit how much you introduce into a space due to its overwhelming properties.

 

 

3.   Green:

Being the color most found in nature, green exudes feelings of harmony, growth, and vibrancy. It is a simple way to bring some of the outside, in, which creates a fresh and harmonious space for potential home buyers.

image005

Darker and more raw shades of green are a great way to bring nature into the home, both with home furnishings, and fresh plants. Plush green living room sofas and accent chairs are a unique way to bring in raw green hues into a space, while balancing it out with crisp whites to give it a modern, vibrant feel. While lighter greens, which promote calm and harmony, like mint or emerald, are great to incorporate into kids rooms. It can add a pop of color while promoting a calm atmosphere, appealing to home buyers with a young families.

 

 

4.   Blue:

Blue is most commonly connected to feelings of tranquility and relaxation. More muted blues are often associated with the ocean, which creates a serene tone in the room. Pastel blues help to brighten up a space, while lowering stress. Blue is the mostly widely accepted color, and appeals to wide range of individuals, making it a great color to stage a home with.

image007

 

Kids’ rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms are the perfect spaces to incorporate shades of blue. Bedrooms are meant for sleep and relaxation, so tying it in through accent walls, curtains, and bedding accessories will have a softening effect. You want potential home buyers to envision a space they can retreat to, so choosing a shade like dusk, is a great way to promote calm, and create an area where they can unwind from the day’s stresses. In the bathroom, pair denim shades of blue, or lighter shades, with white appliances, for a clean look that will appeal to a wide range of tastes and styles.

 

 

5.   Purple:

Purple combines the energy of red with the stability of blue, and instills a sense of luxury and royalty in a space, while also inspiring creativity. Lighter shades of purple are often brought in through fresh flowers, or used as an accent color against neutral and natural colored furnishings. With spring right around the color, lavender and orchid are shades that can really freshen and brighten up a space.

 

Purple is also a great color to bring into a hobby or office space, with its ability to inspire creativity and deep thinking. Darker shades like eggplant and plum can be brought in through desk chairs or accent chair pillows. Desk accessories, and purple accent vases with fresh plants, paired with white or natural toned furnishings, are great decor pieces that establish a professional yet creative environment.

image009

 

6.   Black:

Black is a prominent color that can make a space feel both elegant, and sophisticated. Different hues can also, help to bring an industrial urban look to a space through lighter greys, silvers, and pure black accents.

image011

 

Black is a great color to incorporate into a bathroom, with a stark white contrast to create a classic and clean look that can be accessorized with an accent color of the home buyer’s choice. Blacks versatility makes it easier for potential buyers to envision making the space their own. It is also a great color to tie into an office space, to create a classic professional design, or a dining room through industrial styled lighting andpewter colored cast iron dining chairs.

 

 

7.   Brown:

Similar to green, brown is a natural color often derived and most associated with nature. Tieing browns into a space can instill a sense of warmth, comfort, and stability. Darker, more raw browns, like umber and pecan tones, can add a richness to a room, while lighter hues can create a modern, simplistic space when paired with white and lighter green shades.

image013

 

Brown is a great color to tie into a living room with natural colored coffee tables, entertainment centers, and leather sofas. Dining rooms are also a great place to introduce shades of brown through raw wood tables and lighting fixtures made from non-conventional wicker materials. This helps to create a warm and comforting area where families can envision enjoying eachothers’ company. Adding fresh plants to the space can add to the natural feel, while mushroom colored rugs offset the darker brown hues.

 

 

 

Create drama in your Stagings with these easy DIY faux arrangements

Posted on by

01cactus

Glass Vase and/or Colored Sand will be your number one priority in arranging your faux succulents. Be careful not to do too much color, taking away from the plant itself, or other design elements, you can also go for the more simple approach of just using the glass vase. This arrangement adds to an artistic side of a potential buyer, or could be what they’re missing in their own house. The best part is – It won’t break the bank! Faux succulents are now available at multiple different locations including target.

cactus2

Design is all about Color!

Posted on by

jpeg

Blue

As tried and true blue, you bring a no-nonsense attitude to most endeavors, and your strong belief in the things you undertake is often the key to their success.

jpeg (2)

 

Green

Celadon indicates that you are a good listener, have genuine compassion, and allow others to express their hopes and fears.

jpeg (3)

 

Red

Red is the color with the most energy. It can trigger responses for example, stop signs or fire hydrants. It can signal that you’re maybe a bit tempestuous, someone who seeks out new experiences and surroundings.
jpeg (4)

Yellow

Yellow is a color that signifies friendship. With this in mind, you want to keep the yellow brighter, reminding of sunshine, instead of dingy. Great for any room.
5

Purple

“Purple, in its darkest values (eggplant, for example), is rich, dramatic and sophisticated. It is associated with luxury and creativity; as an accent or secondary color, it gives a scheme depth. Lighter versions of purple, such as lavender and lilac, bring the same restful quality to bedrooms as blue does, but without the risk of feeling chilly”
6

Orange

“Orange evokes excitement and enthusiasm, and is an energetic color. While not a good idea for a living room or for bedrooms, this color is great for an exercise room; it will bring out all the emotions that you need released during your fitness routine. In ancient cultures, orange was believed to heal the lungs and increase energy levels.”
7

All information was provided by: https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/colors/g1370/room-color-meaning/?slide=1 and https://freshome.com/room-color-and-how-it-affects-your-mood/

Using Artwork to Decorate A Home

Posted on by

Using Artwork to Decorate A Home

 

A home is a reflection of the people who live there. Your client’s home – or their space you are designing – should reflect their personal style and their interests. It should also be inviting to others who are visiting. That’s a lot to ask, right?!

 

Luckily, decorating a home doesn’t have to be labor intensive, expensive, or involve too much work. Artwork can help make a house a home and make it more appealing to the client’s visitors and to the client themselves every day! It can also be confusing, and it’s easy to buy too much or too little, or stress over design decisions, making using artwork to decorate your home more stressful than it should be, and even if you have issues with pests in your home, you can check out Pest Control Markham Exterminator to get help with this

 

Here are 7 easy ways to use artwork to decorate a home and make sure your client’s personality – and the beauty of their home – shines through!

 

1. Don’t focus on price. Some pieces of art are expensive, some are not. Both can be equally beautiful. Anything can be art – a cool, unique tapestry, personal photos, even found objects – and even pieces of art purchased can be inexpensive. Try scouting out local artists, especially if they’re just getting started. The piece may be by a famous artist in a few years, and you’ll know you helped them get there! Also, some pieces, like canvas art, can be customized and personalized without sacrificing quality – all for a very affordable price for those clients looking for a great value!

photo1

Canvas art by Canvas Press

 

2. Make sure you have art the client loves in every room! Don’t neglect the kitchen, entryway, or bathrooms – if you can’t find the perfect piece for your cleint, you can get a customized piece of art. Just don’t leave blank walls! Visitors feel more comfortable in a lived-in space!

photo2

Interior Design by Style My Space

 

3. Keep proportions in mind. This one is pretty easy – don’t put a giant painting on a tiny wall, or a tiny photo on a giant wall, all alone. Walls are like bodies. You would feel uncomfortable in clothes that are huge or too small, so dress your walls in the appropriate sizes!

photo3

Interior Design by Style My Space

 

4. Do plan – but also be spontaneous! Making a photo wall? You probably want a layout before you start hammering. Plans are important when it comes to using artwork to decorate a home. But don’t feel like you have to stick to them! If a piece doesn’t work, or if you find something better, change it, even if it disrupts your plan! Another good idea would be to lay out the photo collage on the floor to have an idea how it will look like together. By doing so, you’ll be able to make small adjustments that will make it look perfect!

photo4

Interior Design by Style My Space

 

5. Don’t forget about plants! Plants are great for decorating a home. But wait? Isn’t this about art? Plants can be art too! Look for beautiful pots or pretty rocks to surround your plants with, and take some of the art off the walls into the room itself. Plus, you’re making the air in the house easier and cleaner to breathe – something everyone loves!

photo5

Interior Design by Style My Space

 

6. Make a statement. Statement pieces are great! One large painting can have a huge impact, as can bright colors (don’t be afraid of color!), and interesting subjects. Don’t crowd too many statement pieces into one space, but having a spot of visual focus is important in any room, and it gives visitors or potential home buyers something to remember and discuss.

photo6

Interior Design by Style My Space

 

7. Let your clients love what they love unapologetically. Do they love bright walls? Love it and use it. Do they love large paintings of abstract fruit? Love it, find it and use it. Even if something isn’t trendy, or if the rules say not to do it, if they love it, use it to how they wish! That’s the ultimate tip, and if you follow that you’re clients will love the space you designed for them!

 

Decorating is fun, but it does have rules – even if they’re just there to be broken! Happy decorating! If you are passionate about decorating and looking to learn more check out The Academy of Interior Design. The Academy of Interior Design offers 5 day certificate courses that prepares it’s students for a career in interior design.

 

To purchase canvas art for your project check out – Canvas Press. Canvas Press offers high quality canvas art for an affordable price.

How to Make the Most Out of Wall Art

Posted on by
Wall art hung in a space has the potential to make or break the room. If hung properly, the wall art can enhance the room, and even make the room appear the optimal size and shape. If the wall art is hung poorly on the other hand, it could be a eye sore, even if the piece of art hung is beautiful.

When hanging wall art – placement is essential. A beautiful piece of art can look terrible or unnoticeable if hung improperly. Here are some generic rules of thumb to follow:

  1. Let’s start with a common trick – wall art should be hung at eye level. Yes, this is very true, however, what if your ceilings are low, or you happen to be relatively shorter or taller than the average human? In this case, consider hanging wall art ¾ of the way up of the wall. If you divide your wall into 4 equal parts from floor to ceiling, then your wall art should be hung in the third section from the bottom.
  2. If you are looking to make a statement with a collage of wall art, treat that collage as one piece in respect of figuring where to hang it on the wall. If the collage were just one piece, where should that one piece start and end? To figure out where to place each individual piece in the collage, lay it out on the floor prior to hanging. This will ensure a good arrangement.
  3. Make sure the art being hung alines with the size and shape of the room. If a room has long, wide walls, then a long piece of art would be appropriate. On the other hand, if a room has tall, narrow walls, then a tall piece of art would be appropriate in this case. Also be conscious of the size of the art. Save large pieces for large rooms, and smaller pieces for smaller spaces.

IMG_5347.JPG
Students of The Academy of Home Staging learn how to hang canvas art for a lived-in redesign. Notice how the collage is treated as one piece.

When hanging wall art near furniture, these rules of thumb change to accommodate the furniture, and don’t forget to use the best classically designed furniture. Nothing it worse than an unsettling wall gap between the sofa and the art being hung above. In contrast, hanging the art too close to the furniture can also hurt the visual of the art. When hanging art around furniture keep these dimensions in mind:
  • Wall art should be hung 6 to 8 inches above the sofa.
  • Wall art should be ½ to ⅔ the width of the sofa.
  • Wall art generally looks best at eye level – about 57 inches from the floor.

Whether staging or designing a space, canvas art is a great high-quality option that is also affordable. Canva Prints offers customized canvas art, perfect to accentuate a room with. Click here to see their prints.
Interested in learning more great design tips, or looking to start a design business of your own? Check out The Academy of Home Staging and Design. The Academy offers 5 and 6 day home staging and interior design certification courses that prepare each student for a career in design through personalized instruction, mentoring, and hands-on exercises. Click here for more info.

Why Home Stagers Are Needed More Than Ever

Posted on by
Redfin recently studied a sample of over 3,000 United States citizens in 11 urban areas who either purchased a home, or was in the process of purchasing a home. The motivation behind this survey, according to Redfin, was to better understand the mindset of the current people in the market for a new home and to figure recent trends in home buying.

Redfin found six primary findings, one of which we thought was relevant to home staging:
“33% of people who bought a home in the last year made an offer without first seeing the home. That’s up from 19% a year ago.”

Millennials are making waves and changing the way one buys a home. With more Millennials entering the real estate market, the percent of people purchasing a house without first seeing the house is growing rapidly, and it is important to actually check it at least to make sure you do the inspections with the right contacts, like electricians, All Service Plumbing for any type of water damages you might have as this is a current issue in many properties. To further this inference, 41% of Millennials reported they have made an offer sight-unseen, compared to 30% of Generation Xers and 12% of Baby Boomers, one of this percentages has one of the biggest reality checks as many really have problems to agree to not see or check for a regular house inspection and don’t forget the plumbing service with plumbers allendale nj.
But what does that mean in terms of home staging?
Home buyers are relying on the internet to shop for and purchase homes. This alone shows the importance of photography and home staging in today’s real estate market. With the online trend there is no real estate agent to talk the seller through the best features of a listing. This means that the pictures alone need to showcase a listing’s best assets. With effective home staging, the pictures will be able to speak for themselves, no sales pitch needed and the house need to be intact, now it all about the demand, in this website you can find all the assets it brings like water system electric management and more.  
To conclude, while we cannot say home staging is the only answer to these recent trends, we can say it’s a great time to launch a career in home staging. The average return on investments is growing. Staged homes now boasts selling 88% percent faster and 20% more than non-staged homes. This tells us that home stagers are in demand, start your career today with The Academy of Home Staging and Design.

Top Ten Ways to Update Window Treatments

Posted on by
 Windows are more than just sources of fresh air and natural light; they are a decoration, a place to showcase personality and style. But if you are looking for fresh then I recommend instead to get an Eastwood Air air conditioning.  When windows look like they’ve seen better days, it’s the perfect time to update them with one of these top ten design trends. It’s time to throw open those drapes and reveal your inner stylist!
1. Nature Indoors
Decorate a ledge or windowsill with items from nature. Bowls of brightly colored fruit (wooden or resin are a good option if the window gets a lot of sun), or add small, low-maintenance potted plants to bring the outdoors inside. Pair these items with exposed wood blinds (view the Bill’s Blinds Ltd website) or natural woven shades to take full advantage of the natural look you want.
.
 Wood blinds
 
2. Color Coverings
Plain white shutters or blinds offer a clean look, but don’t draw attention and are not as fun as colored window coverings.  Install some new coverings in complementary colors like ocean tones—blues, turquoise, teal, and soft greens—or pair brown with the latest jewel tones of persimmon, orange, and gold. Go even softer and match your home’s neutrals with dove gray, lavender, and similar dusty hues.

 

Drapes
3. Luxury Fabrics
Rich fabrics such as damask, satin, fur, suede, leather, silk, and velvet, when used in window coverings can create instant luxury to any home décor.  Luxurious fabrics will always be popular with those who want to enhance the look of their home. Take luxury to the next level and upgrade every element of window decor with crystal, beads, tassels, and metallic rods. Your home will feel as elegant as a French palace!

 

tassles
4. Bamboo
For an environmentally friendly update, bring on some bamboo! Replace metal window hardware and draperies with bamboo.  The design world is trending more towards natural looks and away from metals and sparkles. Bamboo is resilient and sturdy and will withstand the test of time.

 

 bamboo
 
5. Soft Textiles
Soft textures like grosgrain and velvet can be used as a ribbon accent on otherwise plain blinds and drapes.  They are also a creative way to hide route holes for the strings used in most blinds. The best part about adding these soft textiles is that they can be switched up depending on the season, the holiday, or just your design mood.

 

 soft textiles
6. Simple Lines
Sleek and simple lines, whether in silhouettes or accents, make a window treatment instantly modern. Finish the look with chrome or clean enamel hardware. A quick and simple way to implement this modern look is installing a panel-track system to combine soft, light fabrics with easy use and a perfectly updated window.

 

straight lay
________________________________________
 
Love Design? 
We do too! That’s why we’ve developed our 5-Day Design Certification programs, so anyone who has ever been interested in a Design Career, can learn straight from the source – hands-on and side by side with industry experts who pass along decades of experience and knowledge. No need to spend the next 2-4 years reading college text books when you can be on the inside track, experiencing the business of real life design, out in the field and hands-on.
Click here to learn more about our unprecedented, experiential 5-Day Design Certification programs, geared to have you prepared to take on clients, the minute you walk out our doors.
________________________________________
 
7. Bold Prints
Simple and neutral – it’s not your client’s thing? Choose a bright, bold floral or geometric pattern for the fabric used on their window coverings. The windows and the room will be instantly infused with spunk and youthfulness. Keep the pattern large rather than small to avoid a too busy or overwhelming look.

 

bold drapes
8. Silk Panels
Silk window draperies continue to be popular in the design world. While more expensive than other fabrics, silk brings a shine and lightness that is guaranteed to upgrade any room. These panels can be adjusted to always allow the desired amount of light into a room as well as being easy to take down and clean.

 

silk drapes
9. High Tech
The natural trend is uniquely contrasted with the ongoing technology boom. Incorporate technology into your design by controlling blinds and curtains with a remote, a light switch, or by using the Internet.  No matter what the design of your room—natural, modern, luxury—going high-tech with your window treatments will bring your designs into this new era.

 

 powered drapes
10. Green
Green is more than just a soothing color; going green with décor is a way of designing rooms that are environmentally friendly. Fabrics that contain UV repelling fibers reduce glare, reduce heat transfer, and reduce your energy bill, with the furnace repair englewood nj you can check your costs, install and repairs any heating system.  Fabrics are going green in many other ways as well. Some contain antimicrobial and anti-fungal fibers woven in.  Other fabrics are stain, mold, and mildew-resistant; still more are colored with non-toxic dyes, all of which make your décor healthy for you and your personal environment.

 

going green
With some simple, trendy upgrades, you can turn your windows from just a typical light source to an avenue for your personality and style!
Kim Kapellusch
The Academy of Home Staging
(800) 574-5576