We hope that some of these tips are helpful to you. Please contact us if the subject you'd like help with is not on this page. There is a unique article on "Decluttering" at the bottom of this page. It's a different way of thinking about the items that we all collect. This is a must read. Happy learning!
Trying to sell a house? Try some of these tips from Interiology, (CISS) Certified Interior Staging Specialist:
Clean, clean, clean-windows, baseboards, bathtub and tile, etc... Make it Q-Tip clean, because if people see or smell something, they’ll start being more critical from the get-go.
Don’t let the back of your couch be the first thing people see when they enter either the house or the living room.
Remove magnets, photos, notes and other things from the front of the refrigerator. Remove most items from kitchen and bathroom countertops.
Hide the collection of E.T. memorabilia, stash the softball trophies, take down the family photos (sometimes). You want people to look at the house, not your personal stuff. On the other hand, some people might see them and think, cute kids. I feel good about this home.
Things go better in threes: Group three candles on a mantle, arrange three baskets on a shelf, place three pillows on the couch.
When showing the house, keep curtains and shades open. The more light, the better.
Get rid of clutter everywhere. Minimize furniture; don’t let it dominate a room. Take leaves out of the dining-room table. The strategy in staging is not to show off your furnishings but to show off the house.
Don’t forget the outside. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, maybe put in some flowers. Some people dismiss houses without ever leaving the car.
Clean fireplace and prepare with logs for display.
Consider lighting up the fireplace during the colder months.
Clean out the entry closet and put only a few hangers so that the buyer can visualize winter coats.
Have beds made.
Lock pets up away from home during showings.
Play music during open houses.
Tag or remove items not included in sale (i.e. water conditioner, chandeliers, plants, drapes).
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Repurpose Unused Rooms
A big part of what Interior Designers can do is create fantasy spaces: an exercise room, a meditation space, an art studio, a family game room, a den, a bar, etc... We take that unused space and turn it into something you've always dreamed about having."
If you have a room that currently serves only to gather junk, repurpose it into something that will add to the value — and enjoyment — of your home, like this dreamy project room in the HGTV Dream Home 2006. Move boxes to a rented storage space (or better yet, have a yard sale or donate their contents to charity) and get to work creating the space you yearn for. Miscellaneous Tips...
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Miscellaneous Tips...
Paint Painting your walls is the cheapest and easiest way to incorporate a new color into your decorating scheme. With just a simple coat of paint, entire rooms can be transformed and renewed. Make sure you have the right sheen of paint. This can also make a huge difference as to the effect of the paint color. If you'd like help with this please contact us.
Fabrics You can also have a chair or sofa reupholstered with a favorite color, have new window treatments made, or just add color accents with throw pillows.
Ideas Look at magazines or the internet for inspiration. You may resist the idea of using a certain color in your home, but after seeing it in a photo, you could change your mind entirely.
Samples Most paint stores offer premade color chips of the paint colors they sell for you to take home. Before you actually paint on your walls, put the paint on something that you can hang on the wall and move around, such as a canvas. Tape that square up on your wall and live with the color for a few days before you decide if it’s right for you. See how it reacts to differrent lighting, throughout the day.
Plan ahead If you’re going to work with painters, you should have all your room colors planned out in advance and samples ready so the crew will simply have to follow the numbers to make sure your walls have the perfect colors for your overall decorating scheme.
Emphasis A room where everything gets equal importance will seem either scattered or boring. You need an anchor. Architectural spaces often have points of interest such as a fireplace or a window with a beautiful view. You can choose to enhance the built in focal point by arranging furniture around it to emphasize it. In a room that lacks such a built in point of interest you can create one through groupings of furniture or using an unusual or large piece.
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Decluttering
January 15, 2009 www.dailyom.com Clearing a Space for Change The Weight of Objects " In life, we tend to have an easier time acquiring possessions than we do getting rid of them. Just as we harbor emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can tend to be filled with material objects that we may feel compelled to hold on to. Most people are not conscious of how much they own and how many of their possessions are no longer adding value to their life. They fiercely hold on to material objects because this makes them feel secure or comfortable. While it’s true that the ownership of “stuff” can make you feel good for awhile, it seldom satisfies the deep inner longings that nearly everyone has for fulfillment and satisfaction. It is only when we are ready to let go of our baggage and be vulnerable that it becomes possible to recognize the emotional hold that our possessions can have on us.
It’s not uncommon to hold on to material objects because we are attached to them or fear the empty spaces that will remain if we get rid of them. Giving away the souvenirs from a beloved voyage may feel like we are erasing the memory of that time in our life. We may also worry that our loved ones will feel hurt if we don’t keep the gifts they’ve given us. It’s easy to convince ourselves that unused possessions might come in handy someday or that parting with them will cause you emotional pain. However, when your personal space is filled with objects, there is no room for anything new to enter and stay in your life. Your collection of belongings may “protect” you from the uncertainties of an unknown future while keeping you stuck in the past. Holding on to unnecessary possessions often goes hand in hand with holding on to pain, anger, and resentment, and letting go of your material possessions may help you release emotional baggage.
When you make a conscious decision to fill your personal space with only the objects that you need or bring you joy, your energy level will soar. Clearing your personal space can lead to mental clarity and an improved memory. As you learn to have a more practical and temporary relationship to objects, positive changes will happen, and you’ll have space to create the life that you desire."
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