Staging and Children's Rooms

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

In my Realtor / Stager world - one of the most asked questions I get is "how we will be staging my child's bedroom?". Parents worry about making any changes to the child's room may be too disruptive to their son or daughter and they strongly doubt that it will stay neat. They are sure it can NEVER look like the photo above.

During the initial home tour, the child's room can look like this!

A conversation with the homeowners includes a discussion about WHO their buyer might be. What is the age range? Are they likely to have small children, pets. This information all factors into the Staging Plan!

My advice to parents is start with de-cluttering. If you're moving, then you can start packing up books, toys, clothing items your child won't need in the next couple of months. Pack all personal photos. If the room has black out blinds or draperies - keep them open during the day to show off the room. AND, the bed needs to be made EVERY day! If the room is painted hot pink or bright purple - that needs to be toned down. If the buyer does not have children, they need to envision how they can use that room. Guest room, office? NO buyer wants to have to remove Disney decals or border from a wall and repaint.

This photos show great examples of how you can corral toys and books with baskets and cubbies. This makes it easier for your child to find and put away his things each day. Show that you DO have enough storage in your home!

Photos courtesy of Pottery Barn and Organized by Tina.

Need help preparing your home for Sale? Let's talk about a Staging and Sales strategy!

Getting Greener - In Your Home

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Are you of fan of greening up your space? This time of year, do you long for something green and alive in your home? When I was taking my Staging certification through Barb Schwarz's (the inventor of the Staging Industry) ASP training, it was stressed that there should be some greenery in every room. I often don't stick to that rule in my Staging, but do think SOME greenery indeed breathes a bit of life into a space.

I found this interesting article with great tips to green up your space!

The process of turning your home from just another brick building on the block to a truly welcoming home can be an arduous one.

There is an innumerable amount of things to consider and it’s easy to let things get overcomplicated. So today we’re going to take the “complicated” out of the equation by learning how to use plants in home decor.

Plants have been used for hundreds of years and for good reason – they work! Their beautiful colors add a sense of life and vibrancy to any location and make them perfect for creating a welcoming, inviting home.

Here are some of the most important things to consider when using plants in home decor.

How to use plants in home decor: rule #1

Stick to the style: Style is the number one consideration when decorating with plants. You may have found the most gorgeous greenery you’ve ever laid eyes on, but if it clashes with your home’s dĂ©cor, it’s going to do more harm than good.

For example, if your home has a very modern design, look for plants with solid colors and clean, straight lines. For someone with a ranch style home, some cacti or other prickly plants would be a good choice. Remember, you want your plants to enhance your home’s existing look, not stick out like a sore thumb.

How to use plants in home decor: rule #2 Get the right planters: If you plan to use plants around your home, there’s a good chance you’ll be placing them in some planters. And just like the plant should match your home’s decor, the planter should too.

Think stainless steel boxes for ultra-contemporary settings and classic Roman vases for more traditional homes. And don’t just let your planter be the place where your plant lives – let it work with the layout of your home.

Good examples include lining a front walkway, using them at each corner of a patio, or using them to frame something, like two small trees on the front porch of your home framing the front door.

How to use plants in home decor: rule #3:,/p>

Use plants inside and out Remember to use your plants both inside and outside the home. Don’t limit yourself to specific areas – every part of the home can benefit from a little plant life.

Take the master bathroom, for example. It may just be a bathroom now, but add a philodendron or two around the bathtub and it’ll start to look more like a spa.

If your patio’s looking a little bare, clear out a corner and add a water feature with some native plants and flowers in small decorative planters around it. It’ll make a feast for both the eyes and the ears!

Rule # 4: Place plants appropriately: Finally, remember to place your plants appropriately, both for aesthetics and plant health. For aesthetics, if something doesn’t seem to mesh, don’t do it just for the sake of being different. You may consider it unique, but your guests may consider it a total dud.

On the health side, be sure your outdoor plants are safe in bad weather and your indoors plants are placed so they can get plenty of sunlight, if applicable. The last thing you want is a hail storm to ruin your patio arrangement or your begonias to start growing sideways because they’re not getting enough light. Using plants in home decor has never been easier.

Plants have been one of the most popular ways to decorate ever since… well, ever! And it’s still that way today. Vibrant, green plants bring a sense of life and happiness to the home, creating a welcoming environment for all who enter. In the end, isn’t that what we’re all striving for? Happy planting!

Article by Tina Forman. Posted in Decor.

Pix courtesy of Atlelier de Campagne and Down to Earth Style.

Need help pulling your style together? Let's chat about it!

Feeling Neutral ?

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

New year = New look for your home? There are very black and white opinions out there when it comes to neutral decor. Are you a lover of it?

MOST pages of the latest Restoration Hardware catalog are graced with photos of neutral rooms. I have really come to embrace the look. It transcends from everyday living to Staging a home. The lighter colors make a space seems larger. A good sized sectional in neutral won't be the elephant in the room as it doesn't have the visual weight that a dark leather one would.

You can create your own look by adding layers of texture. This room is a great example of how to personalize neutrals.
Gotta have more color in your life? Well, Neutrals are the perfect canvas. You won't tire of solid oatmeal colored sofa like you would of one with a print. This is your chance to use your accessories to personalize your space.
Here, you can add a punch with pillow covers, your favorite vases and artwork. Have some fun with it. Neutral does not mean boring! Pics from Restoration Hardware.
Need help pulling your look together. Preparing your home for the upcoming Spring market? Let's talk about it.

Clutter Busting!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Hope your New Year is off to a great start! Are you on a mission to take control of clutter this year?
FlyLady.net says: Your home is filled with clutter of all shapes and sizes. This is why you are unable to keep it clean — you have too much stuff! All we ask is that you set a timer and spend 15 minutes a day decluttering. That’s it. Anyone can do anything for only 15 minutes, even if you have to break it down into five-minute segments. These are the five tools we give you to help you declutter and also make it fun for you! When you get the e-mail reminders/checklists from FlyLady, try them yourself. What do you have to lose (besides clutter, of course!)? Gain back the serenity in your household!
The site is full of excellent de-cluttering and overall homekeeping tips!
Need tips on Staging and preparing your home for sale? Let's talk about it!

The Power of Paint

Friday, January 4, 2013

Planning some decor changes around your home this year?
Paint can be a low-cost, high-impact way to add character and depth to your designs. Interview a hundred interior designers and you'll hear it a hundred times, the quickest, easiest and cheapest bang for you buck is paint. "Paint is your friend!" they'll say, "Paint adds personality to a space" and "If you don't like the color, you can always re-paint!" All true. Paint is a friendly design medium. Unlike wallpapering, almost anyone can do it. Actually anyone can do it, it's just a matter of how patient you are and even then it's usually a weekend project at most (read: quick DIY for those of us with short attention spans for house projects). And with the low VOC paints on the market, paint is the environment's friend as well. Paint is also, a great way to add character and depth to a space in need of a personality boost. You can catch ALL the tips on the Williams Sonoma Marketplace.
Need some help preparing your home for $ale? Let's talk about a Staging Plan and a Strategy to get it sold!

Designer Resolutions

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Perhaps you're on a mission to get tackle long overdue organization projects in your home this year - like those closets!
It's rather refreshing to see that designers have room for improvement is their lives as well. Williams Sononma's Designer Market place posted New Year's Resolutions of some top designers like Kim Myles of Miles of Styles: My resolution is to be completely open to possibilities—both in life and in design. My mantra will be, "Yes, why not?!"
If you're planning on a fresh start this year - let's talk about your home's worth and a $trategy to get it SOLD!

Some New Year Inspiration

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Feeling inspired to do great things this year? Yahoo posted 20 great Rags to Riches stories. Love a great self-made entrepreneurial story. This one is about the founder of Forever 21.
Do Won Chang and his wife, Jin Sook, moved to America from Korea in 1981. When they first arrived, Do Won was forced to work three jobs at the same time to support them, as a janitor, a gas station attendant, and in a coffee shop. Eventually, they were able to open their first clothing store in 1984. That one store grew into Forever 21, which pioneered fast fashion and is now a multi-national, 480 store empire that generates around $3 billion in sales a year. It's a family business, with the couple's daughters Linda and Esther helping to run the company.
Hope you're inspired to do great things this year!