Therapeutic design principles, as discussed by designers and psychologists in the article, prioritize creating spaces that foster relaxation, safety and emotional well-being. Experts like Rachel Blindauer recommend focusing on soft textures, muted color palettes and the intentional use of asymmetry to avoid rigidity.
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Interior designers offer tips to make small homes feel more spacious, including maximizing natural light with wall mirrors, using soft paint colors to reflect more light and choosing appropriately scaled furniture. They also recommend multifunctional furniture for added storage, utilizing vertical space for storage and shelving, and installing curtains close to the ceiling to create the illusion of height.
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If you’ve ever scrolled through Instagram and suddenly felt inspired to reorganize your pantry or carve out a cozy reading nook, you’re not alone—and today’s homebuyers are feeling it, too. Social media is greatly shaping home design and staging.
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Though the holidays are historically one of the slower seasons in real estate, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any house-hunters out there looking to ring in the New Year in a new home. To strike the right note, make sure to show prospective buyers how your home can meet their holiday needs, without a lot of distracting decorations.
In the latest issue of Magnolia Journal, Joanna Gaines shares her five must-have elements for a functional and welcoming entryway: hooks for organization, mirrors to brighten the space, surfaces for convenience, catchall dishes for small items and ample storage. Gaines emphasizes that these essentials can be adapted to any space, from large foyers to small apartment entries, for style and practicality.
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Color, texture and patterns make for more playful backgrounds in unique, cozy spaces. In home staging, you can still embrace this hot trend, even without getting too wild.
Artificial plants can be a practical alternative to real ones, especially in spaces with limited sunlight or for people who travel frequently, according to interior designer Laetitia Laurent. Designer Erica McLain suggests using preserved or dried botanicals as a more authentic option and advises choosing faux plants that mimic natural imperfections and pairing them with natural elements, such as stones and raw woods.
Your home never gets a second chance to make a first impression with prospective homebuyers – and fall is the perfect season to make that first impression unforgettable. With autumn underway, enhance your home’s exterior with fall maintenance and seasonal staging!
Here are seven ways to boost curb appeal when selling a home this fall:
While the vibrant hues of foliage add beauty to the season, fall leaves can sometimes look messy when they accumulate in your yard. Regularly raking the leaves helps maintain a tidy appearance and prevents potential damage to your lawn.
With the arrival of shorter days, it’s essential to ensure your outdoor lighting is in top shape with updated bulbs. To take lighting to the next level, consider installing stylish sconces, a weather-resistant chandelier or lanterns to create a warm welcome that starts outside.
In warmer climates, lawn care is a year-round endeavor that entails cutting grass, trimming hedges, edging walkways, maintaining flowers and more. But in colder climates, fall is when lawn care tapers off as winter looms ahead.
That said, if your home is on the market this fall, make sure to maintain a sleek yard by keeping up with tasks like lawn mowing and leaf raking. The general rule of thumb is that you can water the grass until nighttime temperatures start to dip closer to freezing, making it necessary to turn off the irrigation system.
Fall mulching offers several benefits – including insulating your soil and plant roots, which in turn can reduce stress caused by low temperatures. Plus, adding a topical layer of mulch to beds during the fall can give a refreshed look to help with curb appeal.
Seasonal decorating is a great way to impress potential buyers and create an inviting atmosphere. To spruce up the space, hang a wreath in rich autumn colors on the front door, add a fresh welcome mat, and consider implementing seasonally-specific items like pumpkins and gourds.
Flowers are another great addition to a home’s exterior, even during fall. Enhance your front porch with flowerpots or window boxes filled with fall favorites – like low-maintenance mums – in shades of orange, yellow, pink, purple and red.
Transform your front porch, patio or deck into a cozy retreat where buyers can picture themselves enjoying the season while watching the leaves fall. Stage the space with simple outdoor furniture and add a few decorative items, like weather-proof pillows.
With cooler temperatures making outdoor work more comfortable, it’s an ideal time to tackle tasks that benefit the structure’s exterior. Touch up any peeling paint on the outside of the home – and if a full paint job is needed, consider doing it before it gets too cold out. Other beneficial tasks include power washing the exterior, cleaning or replacing house numbers and polishing door hardware. These updates can help show potential buyers that your home is especially well-cared-for.
Ready to sell your home this fall? I’ll be happy to help; contact me today!
Should you stage your home before selling it? The answer is generally yes. Home staging is your chance to make buyers fall in love with your space by highlighting its best features – without a full remodel.
First impressions matter, and staging is a powerful tool that can make your property stand out. Here are four compelling reasons to consider staging your home before listing it for sale.
Home staging entails decluttering and depersonalizing, as well as rearranging furniture and décor to best compliment the space. Some people choose to upgrade furnishings, while others may hire a professional home stager who can bring in their own items.
Doing these things can instantly give the space a renovated feel, even if it isn’t newly built. This simple approach helps showcase the potential of each room and can make your home more appealing to buyers. To take it up a notch, people often repaint their walls, opting for light and neutral colors, and invest in better lighting to increase brightness throughout the home.
Staging your home can impact its sale price and can potentially benefit your return on investment. After all, when a home appears updated and well-cared for, buyers are likely to want it more.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) 2023 Profile of Home Staging report:
A crucial aspect of staging your home is decluttering. Clearing out excess items enhances the visual appeal and can make each room feel larger – a concept especially helpful in smaller dwellings.
Start by optimizing floor space. Then, clear unnecessary items from countertops and store away overly-personal items or mementos. Remember that overcrowded surface areas could distract potential buyers from important features throughout the home.
The same report from NAR found that 81% of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as their future home. Staging is essential for helping these prospective buyers to forge that emotional connection, making your home feel like the backdrop for their memorable moments.
To create this bond, keep decorations simple and neutral, allowing the space to feel like a blank canvas for their future rather than a reflection of your past. Scent – adjusted with things like air fresheners and incense – is another way to evoke emotion and make buyers feel right at home.
Staging is part of an effective home-selling strategy – and by thoughtfully curating your home’s appearance, you can leave a lasting impression on buyers and help your house go from “for sale” to “sold.”
Searching for a trusted professional to help you sell your home? Contact me today!
Here are six tips for enjoying a cozy home while it’s all happening:
Whether your home will be a hub of activity or a calm oasis, it’s a good idea to tidy up and end the year on a clean note. Start by storing past-season décor and clearing surfaces and countertops. Consider how many coats and shoes are taking up space in the entryway, too.
Then, give your home the deep clean it deserves. Dusting and vacuuming – as well as wiping down the bathrooms and kitchen – will set you up for peace of mind all season long.
After sprucing up your space, celebrate your efforts by cozying up to watch your favorite holiday film.
Year-end is a great time to refresh your rooms by swapping out your framed photos. A lot has probably happened during the year – and displaying your photos is a fun way to spark conversation and relive the moments. It’s an instant connection to your best memories and your favorite people or places.
Help the holiday season feel merry and bright by adjusting the brightness inside your home. According to a RE/MAX agent and interior design expert, lighting plays an important role in setting the tone for a space. And the shade of the lightbulbs themselves can impact the experience in a room.
“We can use light to control the way a space visually expands and contracts. Bright light helps a space feel larger and cleaner in some circumstances, whereas dim light makes the space recede, feel more intimate, and can also be used to hide things,” says Jeannie Do, a member of The International Group with RE/MAX Professionals in Lakewood, Colorado.
The lightbulb shades are typically listed on the packaging, described in ways like “natural daylight” or “warm white.” Do recommends shopping for bulbs between 3,000 and 4,000 Kelvin degrees for balanced lighting.
Have guests coming into town? Make sure a spare bedroom feels like home-away-from-home for your visitors.
First and foremost, remove your own items that ought to be stored elsewhere. Then, give the room a deep clean – it’s likely dusty if it’s not used as much as other rooms. Next, prepare the bed by washing the sheets, fluffing pillows, and keeping extra blankets close by for chilly nights. Don’t forget to leave clean towels, too, and replenish essentials like hand soap and shampoo in whatever bathroom guests will use.
For many people, eating is a major part of gatherings. This is especially true around the holidays, where customs and traditions – in the form of family recipes – are upheld or evolved with modern twists. Help make your dining area inviting and eye-catching by sprucing up the table.
Simple additions to elevate the space could be a runner, placemats, and decorative napkins. Get creative with a seasonal centerpiece – some opt for greenery, garland, tapered candles, flowers, or a mixture of multiple elements.
There’s no right or wrong when it comes to the timing of putting up holiday decorations. Whether it entails stringing up lights outdoors or decking the halls indoors, decorate your home with festive flair that brings joy to everyone.
In addition to holiday-specific items, create an ambient wintry atmosphere with plush blankets, fun throw pillows, and seasonally scented candles (think balsam fir or vanilla spice). Consider stocking up on holiday items like festive-flavored coffee and tea, hot cocoa (and marshmallows, of course), baking supplies, and any other goodies that bring warmth and happiness this season.
Searching for a new place to spend the holidays? Contact me today!
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