Posts tagged home decorating

Declutter: Taking the First Steps

Jul16
2010 1 Comment Written by Alicia

first steps to declutter

You hear it time and time again. As a home seller, or just as a homeowner, you need to declutter your home. Get rid of your built-up storage, reorganize and make your house look spacious, empty and clean. As with most advice, the job is easier said than done.

So how do you begin the decluttering process? There are simple steps you can take in your daily life to prevent clutter in the first place. Starting now, say no to junk mail. As soon as you pick up a piece of mail that you know is junk mail, toss it in the recycle bin without wasting your time opening it. If you want coupons from an ad, make a list and cut out the coupons immediately before tossing the rest of the ad. Don’t save the junk mail for a later date. Better yet, register with the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association website. According to an article from the The Daily Green, you pay $1 to have your name removed from mailing lists and your junk mail decreases by 75 percent in 90 days!

When it comes to decluttering your desk with old bills and paystubs, most people are afraid they’ll either need this information in the future or that someone will get hold of a private account number or personal information. The first fear, that you’ll need the information in the future, is a difficult issue to work though. Usually, after filing income taxes and receiving your tax return, you won’t need past paystubs. Medical bills are usually safe to throw away after a year or two of keeping them. If you’re afraid of people getting a hold of personal information, invest in a paper shredder and recycle.
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Embrace Outdoor Living!

Jun04
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

outdoor living

If you live in an area of the country with four pronounced seasons, you might think that spending money on your backyard is a waste. If you can only spend time in an outdoor oasis for half the year or less, why not stick to updating the inside of your house instead? However, right now, when the warm summer sun graces you with its presence more often than not, you might really regret not having a place to soak up the rays and breathe in the fresh air. How do you solve this dilemma?

Embrace the outdoors. Nowadays, there are so many options for updating your backyard so you can enjoy an outdoor oasis year-round! Instead of viewing your backyard as separate from your house, landscape supply companies recommend that you view your backyard as an extension of your house.

For example, instead of setting up a portable grill that you can bring outside in the summer and store away in the winter, incorporate a permanent outdoor kitchen in your backyard. Not only will the appliances be more sturdy and weatherproof, but you will also have no excuse not to use them in the winter! You can brush the snow off your patio and fire up the grill. Heat your hands over the stove while you cook up a pot of chili or some juicy steaks. On a chilly autumn night, fire up the grill and roast some marshmallows or warm up some milk for hot chocolate. It is easier to bear the cold temperatures when you have warm kitchen appliances to make the atmosphere toastier!

Not willing to spend the money for a full outdoor kitchen? Opt to build a permanent fire pit instead, which will still be readily available year-round, and which will add more rustic qualities to your outdoor experience! If you stick with a traditional grill, clear a special area for the grill and add lots of outdoor furniture around it so you have no excuse not to cook outside. Loads of manufacturing companies are coming out with new weather-resistant furniture fabrics to keep up with the outdoor furniture trend.

Also, you should incorporate as much color and variety into your backyard as possible. Choose trees that burst with flower buds in the spring and bright colors in the fall. Plant evergreens that block wind in the winter. Grow perennial flowers that will reappear each year, a little more impressive than the last year. By having foliage to look forward to year-round, it will make you more apt to spend time outdoors so that you don’t miss any particular moment in nature’s transformation!

If you keep up with current trends, this will make you more apt to enjoy time in your backyard now. Why not invite all your guests over to awe over your contemporary, chic outdoor oasis? According to flower nurseries, current trends include raised gardens or flower beds that are easier to view than flat gardens. Vegetable gardens are increasingly popular because they are everything in one: visually appealing, tasty and environmentally and economically smart! While some plants and gardens become more popular, others lose their admiration, such as ash trees and yews.

Still not convinced that you can bear the Northern or Midwest weather without some sort of shelter? No problem. Gazebos can be added to your yard within hours, and most gazebos offer window options that keep the enclosure protected from winter temperatures. Another popular option is to build a patio or deck, and then to cover half of that terrace with a screened or glass enclosure. This allows you the ability to feel like you’re enjoying time outside while remaining protected from rain and wind. Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are popular features to add to these enclosures.

As you can see, outdoor options are seemingly endless, and the possibilities continue to increase as the popularity of spending time outdoors increases! Now is definitely the time to embrace the outdoors.

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Remodel the Right Way

May28
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

remodel the right way

Want to increase the value of your home? Want to remodel or upgrade a room? Want to make everyday life more comfortable? You can do all of the above by choosing to remodel a room with smart upgrades done right. To show you what we mean, here are three examples of possible upgrades that you might not normally think about; upgrades that will make life easier and will increase the value of your home if done right.

Kitchen Island

Adding an island to your kitchen could increase countertop space, cabinet space, organization, efficiency, sitting space and overall appeal. However, in order for the island to work in your favor, you must measure correctly. Your cabinet and appliance doors must be able to open completely without hitting the island. You must be able to comfortably move around the entire island. If you can’t measure 40 to 50 inches between the island and your cabinets and appliances, forget the island.

Floor Heating

Since hardwood flooring is considered more eco-friendly and attractive than carpeting these days, converting to hardwood could increase the value and buyer interest of your home. However, hardwood could also result in cold floors in the morning and evening. To decrease discomfort as you prepare for your day, consider not only upgrading your flooring to hardwood, but also adding heating pads to the upgrade. Since the heating pads are placed underneath the flooring, the perfect time to add this feature is when you are tearing up your current flooring anyway. Otherwise, the costs will outweigh the value.

Irrigation Systems

Landscaping is a huge hit in areas with warm weather and houses with large yards. To decrease the amount of work that you need to do in the yard, adding an irrigation system to a significantly landscaped yard is ideal. The system allows you to set when you want the system to turn on and how long you want it to run. However, contractors will need to tear up parts of your yard in order to install the system’s piping, so the best time to add this upgrade is when you’re planting new grass or ripping up grass for a garden, pond or patio. Otherwise, your yard will suffer.

As you can see, timing is everything when it comes to remodeling. Tons of options are available when it comes to remodeling or upgrading, so make sure your upgrade of choice suits your house and is worth the cost and labor.

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Spring 2010 Colors

May21
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

bold colors

Looking to add a seasonal flare to your home? Fashion experts are stating that during a financially tight time, it’s more fashionable to add bright accents and accessories to what you already have instead of redoing an entire room. Therefore, when you feel the need to spruce up a room for summer, splash a bright color onto one wall in a room of white walls, add bright pillows to a beige couch, display bright dishware on a brown dining room table and hang bright chiffon curtains in a neutral-toned room.

Already display colors in your décor? Find new bright options that correspond with what you have!

Did we mention that bright is in? Bright colors possess the ability to lift a mood and make you feel one with the bright colors found in nature at this time of year. Fashion experts in the clothing industry have named these colors as the top 10 colors for spring 2010, which will overlap into summer 2010, and clothing trends tend to coincide with home décor trends:

  1. Turquoise, which evokes a calm, cool and soothing ambiance.
  2. Amparao blue, which is warmer and more energetic than other blues.
  3. Violet, with its warm, romantic attributes.
  4. Aurora, which reminds you of the summer sun.
  5. Fusion Coral, a provocative hue full of energy.
  6. Tomato Puree, a tangy and inviting orange hue.
  7. Pink Champagne, a luxurious kick to standard pinks.
  8. Tuscany, a warm, more natural beige hue.
  9. Dried herb, a neutral green that works with other natural colors.
  10. Eucalyptus, a cool gray that coincides with all bright colors.

The beauty of these hues is that they agree with each other and with neutral tones that you already display. Have fun with this as you add feelings of energy and optimism to your interior!

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged ,

Quick ideas to freshen up your home

Apr30
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

With spring well under way and May just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to spruce up your home! Take a cue from your bright and thriving surroundings, and freshen up your residence!

To get you started, here are a few decorating tips:

  • Mix it up: Today’s decorating isn’t matchy-matchy. You want to mix textures and patterns in similar color schemes to create more visual interest. For examples of how to do this well, check out rooms like this and this!
  • Think of scale: Small pictures on huge walls is a definite don’t. Think about what goes with the size of the space when you’re trying to decorate.
  • Depersonalize: Sure, your baby’s adorable, but home buyers will see that room covered with junior’s photos as YOUR home, not theirs. Sure, they can use their imaginations, but you can make it easier for them by depersonalizing. Get rid of the knick-knacks that make your home scream you. Take down your framed degrees. More ideas on depersonalizing are available here.
  • Go green: Bringing the outdoors in is a sure way to spruce up this season. Whether this means adding a few plants or setting fresh flowers on the counter, going green can add just the right touch to your decorating scheme.

Implement these simple ideas, and you’ll be on your way to a spruced-up home! And remember: getting your place looking its best isn’t just valuable for you and your loved ones; it’s also a sure way to improve selling appeal!

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Plan for Overnight Guests

Apr16
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Whether you live in a six-bedroom mansion or a studio apartment, chances are you’ve had or will have an overnight guest at some point. And whether you are putting up your in-laws for a holiday weekend or letting your friend crash for the night, you want your guest to feel comfortable. How do you create overnight comfort for a guest? Where do you put the guest? While you could just throw a blanket onto the nearest couch that already contains decorative pillows, you could also plan ahead with the necessary equipment.

Here are the best ways to plan for an overnight stay at your house, depending on what you have available:

• If you do happen to have a spare room available in your house, consider turning this room into a guest room. The ideal guest room would contain neutral décor in color schemes suitable for a man or woman, such as earthy tones in light green and brown. The sheets and bedspread should have a simple design and should be noticeably washed after every use. The closet should be empty so your guest can use it, and towels should be folded up on a chair. For an extra flare, you can place a mint on the pillow. A guest room offers your guest adequate privacy.

  • Work with the space you have. If you have a private office, media room or any other room that is shared and belongs to no particular family member, add a pullout couch to this room. That way, when a guest comes to stay, the room can be offered to the guest as a private, enclosed area for him or her to rest.
  • Even if you don’t have an entire room to offer a guest, work with accessories to create a peaceful atmosphere. In your main living area, include a pullout couch, a futon, a plush lounger or a sofa bed that will allow your guest to stretch out and sleep comfortably. On the nearest table, provide an alarm clock, a scented candle and an empty drawer for your guest to use. Consider purchasing a room divider that will provide extra privacy while you guest sleeps.
  • Can’t fit any of the above furniture into your living quarters? Include a rollaway cot, a blowup mattress or a sleeping bag in one of your closets or storage areas. This way, at least you’ll have some sort of sleeping arrangement to offer your guest. Always keep a clean set of sheets, blankets and pillows in your house, and keep your floors vacuumed and your carpeting washed. Set up a sleeping arrangement for your guest that is located near a bathroom with a nightlight.

Not only will these preparations organize you for when a guest does decide to stay, but neutral guest rooms, extra office furniture and plush couches also add to the appeal of your house on a regular basis.

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Where to Find Affordable Furniture

Apr09
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

living room

Furniture is home décor that will never go out of style. No matter what else changes, we will always need a table to sit at, a couch to lounge on and a bed to sleep in. So whether you want to decorate your new home with new furniture, you want to spruce up your home for sale with new furniture, you want to offer a fully furnished aspect with your home sale or you want to purchase new furniture for your home that is not for sale or new, there are an abundance of places where you can find sturdy, attractive and incredibly affordable furniture! You just need to know where to look.

When you’re about to invest in a new piece of furniture, before you begin browsing online catalogs and visiting upscale boutiques, first try checking out these places:

  • Hotel furniture liquidators take used hotel furniture and resell it out of warehouses for an affordable price. Most hotel furniture is contemporary and convenient, and the items rarely look used.
  • Overstock outlets sell furniture that have completed closeouts, clearance sales or were returned. Companies send overstock items to outside outlets that sell it for a ridiculously low price.
  • Flea markets sell secondhand goods in a bazaar-type fashion. You never know what you’ll find from people looking to get rid of unused items, so you should regularly visit flea markets for treasured goods.
  • Antique stores often sell furniture pieces that will stand out in your contemporary home with their rusty, used appearances. If history and past cultures interest you, affordable options are often available, each with its own history.
  • Garage sales are convenient and definitely cheap. Because the owner doesn’t have to transport the furniture further than his own yard, the items are always marked down so that as many items get disposed of as possible.
  • Classified ads allow the current owners of unused furniture to advertise their items without having to move them. Therefore, impressive items are often offered at reasonable prices. All you have to do is go pick them up.
  • The end of a driveway offers surprisingly impressive steals at the fair price of FREE. If you’re willing to let your guard down for a few minutes, you can carry some nifty furniture pieces over to your house that your neighbors were just too lazy to sell.

If you found affordable furniture at a different location than those mentioned here, share with us so that others know where to shop too! During this tight economy, budget shopping is smart and tasteful.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged ,

Clean/Update Your Fireplace

Mar26
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

Now that the winter chill is dissipating from your interior, your fireplace is soon to become an object of visual appeal again rather than a mechanism to warm your room. With this said, now is the perfect time to clean out the remnants of past fires and to update any part of the fireplace that will make it look more impressive.

To properly clean the fireplace:

You’ll want to wear some sort of hand protection, such as latex or garden gloves, while cleaning. With a garbage bag and a shovel, begin scooping out the loose soot in the fireplace. When most of the loose soot is removed, lay newspapers down as you use a wire brush and a scraper to loosen the soot from the walls. Roll up the newspapers and throw them in the garbage bag. Use a sweeper to sweep the remaining soot out into a dustpan or onto a newspaper spread out in front of the fireplace.

Mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of warm water. Using a scrub brush, scrub the walls and floor of the fireplace to remove all remaining dirt and dust. Take the grates outside to scrub them down with the bleach mixture and scrub brush. Allow them to dry before placing back in the fireplace.

Clean the outside of the fireplace. Sweep up any soot that fell onto the floor around the fireplace, clean the fireplace doors with glass cleaner, polish metal tools and metal accents, dust and polish the mantel, and clean or repaint any of the surround that has chipped or looks dull.

You might also want to consider cleaning the chimney, which involves purchasing brushes that are sized to fit your chimney and cleaning with these brushes from the roof, down into the chimney, and from the fireplace, up into the chimney.

To update the fireplace:

Once your fireplace is thoroughly cleaned, consider updating it. Head to your local home improvement store to purchase a new wooden mantel, columns, surrounds and any other molding or decorative elements you’d like to add. Because all of these items are sold separately, you could just update the mantel, or just add columns to flank the fireplace, or just replace the old surround with a new material.

Kits are available from the store for a few hundred dollars that you could put together yourself, but these are limited in choices. A specialist could faux finish your fireplace for a bit more money, or a professional could create a custom look for three to four times the cost of a kit. The choice on how much you want to spend is up to you.

For simple upgrades, one idea is to add a mesh curtain to your fireplace in order to prevent fallen logs or sparks from reaching outside of the fireplace pit, while still allowing you to enjoy the heat radiating from the fire. You could also add glass doors if you prefer, and you could add a fireplace heater, which converts cold air into hot air on a regular basis. All of these upgrades could be mentioned in your Buy Owner advertisement when trying to sell your home, and they will all make for a more pleasing winter next year.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

10 Tips for Spring Decorating

Mar19
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

It’s spring! What does that mean for your decorating?

Out with the old, dark, heavy and dreary, and in with the new, bright, light and cheery!

New seasonal decorating ideas are available every year, but the rule of thumb seems to stay the same, which is that home décor trends tend to follow those of clothing fashion. Therefore, for quick, trendy ideas, visit your favorite clothing shop to spot the fabrics, colors and patterns of this year’s spring line. Or, take advantage of these 10 ideas already laid out for you:

  1. The general idea behind decorating for spring is to rid your interior of access blankets, rugs, wintery decorations and heavy curtains that block the wind. Substitute these items with ample hardwood or tile flooring, vases filled with bright flowers and light, lacey curtains.
  2. Add brightness to every room with at least one pastel-colored accessory. This could include real or artificial flowers, a bright vase, a slipcover, pillow shams, curtains, tablecloths, artwork, picture frames, rugs or anything you prefer!
  3. Incorporate spring scents into your house. While one option is to just open the windows and let the aromas of rain and renewed grass float in, allergies might cause you to choose a different option, such as scented candles and air fresheners. Choose scents like rain, honeysuckle, lilac or lavender.
  4. To avoid allergic reactions to flowers, decorate your stairway railing or fireplace mantel with bundles or tissue paper flowers. These are easy to make, emit an artsy ambiance, come in any color and cause no allergic reactions!
  5. Choose a color scheme for your décor, such as aqua and peach, or yellow, orange and lime green, and then decorate with an abundance of different patterns that match your choice of colors. This Bohemian-style of décor adds visual interest.
  6. Start saving empty water bottles, soda cans or milk cartons to use as planting pots. Stylize these containers with brightly colored stickers, paint or lace. Fill them with dirt and add an assortment of herbs, vegetables or flowers. Place them on windowsills until it is warm enough to replant them outside.
  7. Decorate the outdoors by hanging a colorful spring wreath, an Easter bunny or a brightly colored bow to the outside of your front door. Dig the outdoor furniture out of the shed, clean and place back on the porch. Hang attractive bird houses and feeders in the trees. Hang a spring flag, such as the logo of a baseball team.
  8. Purchase some spring magazines with themes such as gardening, spring cleaning, healthy eating and getting into shape. These magazines tend to display bright, cheery colors that every guest will want to pick up and read.
  9. According to fashion experts, the color for 2010 is turquoise. Use this color liberally to decorate your interior. It pairs well with yellows, browns and pinks. Looking ahead to summer 2010, start decorating now with gold, bronze and other warm, metallic colors.
  10. As far as patterns, fashion experts boldly state that patterns are in, whether they are floral, striped or abstract. Other fashion statements to be seen this spring include oversized bows, sheer and see-through fabrics, futuristic/metallic accessories, leather, metal, military and tribal patterns and more. Basically, anything goes this spring.

To read our spring decorating tips from 2009, which could also work for 2010, click here.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Beat the Winter Blues

Jan08
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

winter-house1

After the holidays come to a close and the decorations are neatly restored into boxes, our homes tend to appear emptier and drabber. There are no more strings of multicolored lights, sparkly tinsel and fuzzy Santa hats to brighten our spirits. Though this drab feeling will pass with time, and you’ll soon remember what you love about your year-round décor, why not add a bold touch here and there? Little additions to your home’s winter décor will add just enough flare to beat the winter blues!

• Add throw rugs, pillows, vases or other miscellaneous knickknacks in warm, earthy tones that will increase the energy of a room. These tones will lift your mood by reminding you of the warmer days ahead. When those warmer days arrive, your décor will already be ready for them!

• Hang a new piece of framed artwork on your wall. Anything new to your eyes will lift your spirits. Opt to hang a framed picture of your family or friends, from over the holiday season, to remind you of the good times you shared.

• Go shopping at an antique store, a thrift store or a flea market for small and affordable finds. You can add flare to your home without feeling guilty for shopping post-holidays.

• Switch your winter, holiday candle scents with fragrances that will remind you of spring, the season of rebirth. Choose floral favorites or an ocean/rain aroma.

• Purchase some herbs to plant in indoor pots, and set the pots on a windowsill or near a window. The herbs will provide natural fragrances and a healthy addition to meals. When summer arrives, bring the pots outside!

• Replace heavy curtains with light, airy alternatives. These will allow the short hours of sunlight to stream inside, and it will remind you of warm summer breezes to come.

• Drape blankets and throws over your couches and chairs to add new patterns to a room and to have on hand during blistering cold nights. Also, keep fresh logs of wood in the fireplace for a quick strike of a match!

• During winter clearance sales, score some visually appealing mugs and some convenient hot chocolate, tea or coffee mixes. Place packets of hot chocolate or tea inside the mugs, and use these sets as a centerpiece that is easy to reach!

Before you know it, you’ll be hanging red hearts and Cupids around your house while you nibble on chocolates. After that, spring will be here before you know it!

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