Staging Tips You Can Live With

Spring really is coming......and now is the time many people are getting their homes ready to sell when the snow finally does melt. Many of these houses for sale will still be occupied, which means the home owners must still live in them. Not any easy thing to do when you have kids, pets, jobs and a life.But it is possible to make some changes that will help your home appeal to potential buyers - and also to you while you're still living there.

Begin with paring down. When you move, do you really want to take the boxes you haven't unpacked from the last move? Or the toys the kids have outgrown? The clothes you really (just face it) won't want or be able to wear again? Clean them out now, while the weather doesn't encourage you to go outside. Then enjoy the feeling of spaciousness that comes with less "stuff".

Make a few simple updates. Because we've been stuck inside you may have had the opportunity to look around your house ..... a little too closely. That's okay because now is the time to make a few of those changes that are bugging you. Changes that will also appeal to the next owner. Rooms need a fresh coat of paint? While you may want to wait until you can open the windows at least for a little while (although low VOC paints really don't have much odor at all), go ahead and pick out the colors. Don't play it too safe. White can feel very cold, can show all the fingerprints, and be just plain boring. Consider instead warm neutrals that flow from room to room. I'm a huge fan of the Benjamin Moore Historical Colors. Most are beautiful colors that go with anything.

While you may not want to purchase new furniture, take a look at what you've got. Will you be taking it to the new house? If not, now may be the time to get rid of it. While that may feel empty to you, live with it for a while. You may find less furniture open up the rooms, making them feel more spacious. If not, try rearranging the furniture. Remember the goal is to showcase the house, so a different furniture arrangement may not only make the house feel better, it gives you the opportunity
to showcase features of the house like the fireplace or the view to the backyard.

If the house still feels a little boring, add a few simple touches. Slipcovers may give your tired sofa a boost, new throw pillows may add a bit of pizazz, and a new duvet cover may update your master bedroom. Just remember not to decorate too much. It's the house you're selling not the furnishings!

Wallpaper - It's Back!

And while I wasn't sure about really wanting it back initially, I'm slowly being won over by some of the beautiful textures and patterns available - as well as unique places to put it.

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Jute has always been a favorite of mine in floor coverings, but these beautiful colors for wall coverings would really add interest to a family room, a bathroom, or a child's bedroom.

Beadazzled

Or what about the shiny texture of this wallpaper that comes from - wait for it - glass beads! Shiny and metallic finishes are quite popular and can do wonderful things with with lighting. Imagine the beauty of a dining room chandelier in a room with a metallic-finished wall covering!


If  you're considering wallpaper, pay close attention to pattern and scale as it relates to the room. Large scale patterns on all four walls can overwhelm a room, but may add just the right touch on the focal wall. If the wallpaper is delicate, it may be a good choice for a powder room, but not such a good choice for going up the stairs.

If you prefer a smaller scale print, it might get lost in a large room, especially when seen from a distance. Better to keep small scales in smaller spaces such as powder rooms and laundry rooms.


Hanging wallpaper can be a bit tricky. Walls may not be plumb, which means the seams won't align. Figuring out how much you need can also be difficult, particularly with intricate patterns. And some of the beautiful looks of today require exact hanging and measuring. It's usually a good idea to leave the measuring and hanging to a professional.

If you're still not convinced that wallpapering a room or even a wall is a good idea, what about the back of a bookshelf or inside the kitchen cabinets? Go as bold as you like and enjoy the pizzazz it adds to your home - just in smaller doses.

Interesting in seeing more wallpaper ideas? Then check out my latest board on Pinterest and see what you think.

Rugs Aren't the Only Answer for Floors

While I've never done it in my own home, painted floors are beginning to appeal to me. It started with a great article in House Beautiful.......and went from there. There are so many creative ideas out there!

Courtesy HGTV

If  your wood floor just isn't in good shape, a paint job may be just the uplift you need. And if you keep it simple not only will it be a fraction of the cost of refinishing, but you can also keep your area rug.

Courtesy House Beautiful

Want a little more interest? Think colors! A pretty color will add more pizazz and make a rug unnecessary. If you're afraid of going to bright in the house, what about a porch or patio? Nothing brings to mind summer skies better than a sky blue floor.

If you really want to get creative, consider a pattern. While this may be a little tricky for the amateur (but certainly not impossible), even the cost of hiring a professional is worth the unique patterns you can have. Your floor becomes truly one of a kind.

If your entire floor doesn't need painting (or even if it does), consider a painted rug. And just like a "real" rug, the wear and tear on a painted rug just adds a lovely patina.

If you decide to paint your floor, there are a few things to keep in mind. The floor needs to be completely free of dirt and dust before you begin. Otherwise, you'll have a bit more texture than you may have bargained for. If you're getting a bit creative, it's probably a good idea to paint a sample board. That way you can make sure you are getting the colors, patterns and textures you really want. If the floor is already varnished, that will need to be removed before painting. And a coat of polyurethane is probably a very good idea, particularly in high traffic areas.

Like these ideas but want to see more? Check out my Painted Floors board on Pinterest!

We Need Lights at This Time of Year!

Lighting is critical in a good design plan. But even more so during the dark days of winter. While you may not have the budget to redo your home's entire lighting scheme, there are some easy changes you can make to make your home lighter and brighter at this time of year.

Begin with the entry. Even if you have a chandelier, a lamp on the entry table or a floor lamp beside a chair invite your visitors inside and set the tone for the rest of the home.

Check out the living and family rooms. Would changing lamp shades to a lighter color help? What about adding ambient lighting, such as a pretty accent lamp on a bookshelf or one or two on the mantel? Not only does this provide additional soft lighting to the room, they also help to draw your eye to a focal point of the room.

Dining rooms usually have a chandelier of some sort. (Design tip: your chandelier should be at least 12 inches narrower than the table and hung between 27" and 36" above it.) But what about buffet lamps? Would that bring a nice glow to the room?

Under-cabinet lighting is nice in the kitchen, but if you don't have it what about adding an accent lamp on the countertop? Ditto bathrooms, where having a lit lamp feels much warmer than walking into a dark space.

There are so many options available for lighting today. It's nice to know you don't have to spend a fortune if you don't want to! Want a few more ideas? Then check out my newest board on Pinterest Inexpensive Lighting Options

Easy Entertaining Ideas

It's the time of year for entertaining, whether it's a small family gathering or something larger with family and friends. Rather than become stressed, keep things simple.

Courtesy HGTV

Start with simple decorations If you're house is already decorated for the holidays, you're all set. If not, make it easy and green with things from the great outdoors (or the supermarket). Fill glass bowls with fruit spray-painted in holiday hues (pine cones work as well) and add a few ornaments. Sprigs of winterberry and holly in small vases scattered throughout the house are lovely, as are sprigs of fresh herbs.

Gather branches and spray-paint white, gold or silver and place in large vases, then add a few ornaments for additional interest. And, of course, plenty of candles everywhere.


Serve food buffet style - and don't hesitate to buy heat-and-serve or better yet, foods best served at room temperature. Stores like Costco and Trader Joe's offer wonderful prepared appetizers and dinner courses. Enhance them with your own special touches of spices or herbs, even just for decoration.

Keep your choice of dishes simple and easy as well. While paper may not be the best "green" choice, there are lovely tin dishes available that can easily be mistaken for "real". Or buy an inexpensive set of white dishes that go with everything. It won't matter if one breaks.

Now, sit back and enjoy spending time with your family and friends.

Mirrors, Mirrors, Everywhere?

Much as I love mirrors, I've learned to really pay attention to where I hang them. They really do have a function. They can be hung to reflect something pretty, like the light of a beautiful chandelier. (But make sure they don't reflect the people eating.) Or to double the impact of a vase of fresh flowers or it candles.

They  can be hung where they are useful. Bathrooms are the most obvious of these places, but what about entry halls? Isn't it nice to do a quick check before you go out the door? Or perhaps the entry is on the small size. Nothing like a mirror to open up the space and make it feel larger and lighter.

And they can be used as art. But even as art, unless you are doing something fun like this creative grouping from Real Simple, be very careful what the mirror reflects.

Placing mirrors on mantels can be a great idea - as long as the ceiling isn't reflected. And that dining room mirror? Hang it high enough so the chandelier is reflected, but not the diners (unless you aren't sure you have enough to feed everyone). Above the sofa? Maybe.......as long as the main thing you see is yourself - or others - walking by. It may be that an eye-catching piece of art is a better idea.

Want more reflections on mirrors? Check out my board on Pinterest.

Something Different For Fall

I know there are a lot of nice decorating ideas for fall. But sometimes they can seem a bit similar. So I started considering a few things that may bring a little difference to our decorating.

The first I came up with is a different take on a table runner. I love burlap and most of its incarnations, but webbing? Now this is cool! And HGTV gives you instructions on how to make it. 

What about changing the color of traditional fall decorating? Instead of the usual red and gold, what about a deep purple (think cabbages and eggplant), greens of late season peppers and gourds (those can be pretty bright) or even the browns of Indian corn? (Check out for most recent board on Pinterest for a lovely take on a brown and cranberry table setting.)


Another idea: select fall patterns instead of just fabrics for your pillows and throws. Fall fabrics are of course sumptious (although you might consider tweed instead of something more "traditional" like chenille). But a houndstooth pattern has always said fall (and Overstock has plenty of it).

There's also nothing wrong with the tried-and-true at this time of year - just consider a twist on the theme. If you've ever seen pumpkins on a stick (Trader Joe's and Whole Foods always have them at this time of year), they may become a fall decorating staple. And nothing beats traditional pumpkins used in slightly less traditional ways (think vases, candle holders, and serving stands).

The good news is that there are as many decorating ideas for fall as there are leaves on the trees.......so pick your favorites and have fun!
And if you need a little more inspiration, check out my latest board on Pinterest.