How To Stretch Your Home Staging Dollars

<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWq7czq9H_pZu3-exvAesaPsvGLp9x2paLh_0wTYFUmCUCPaZr2NiL6hGGxtMrS2UwhN125eVVgho_29DrAnsYhzjR9Vds6Zz1gImBTqFUryxOPTRydQhVMCfBr9GP9RjOQA9FqhJxU0/s1600/competition+bhg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWq7czq9H_pZu3-exvAesaPsvGLp9x2paLh_0wTYFUmCUCPaZr2NiL6hGGxtMrS2UwhN125eVVgho_29DrAnsYhzjR9Vds6Zz1gImBTqFUryxOPTRydQhVMCfBr9GP9RjOQA9FqhJxU0/s1600/competition+bhg.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A DIY home stager needs to know her competition. Otherwise she<br />won't know if countertops should be granite and appliances<br />stainless, or whether laminate counters and white appliances<br />are just fine, as in this photo from Better Homes and Gardens. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Are you worried about how much it will cost to stage your home? <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Do you dislike the thought of putting money into a home that you’ll be leaving?<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">I’ve learned that effective home staging doesn’t have to be expensive. Your home can attract good offers even if you don’t have a big staging budget. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or a mother-in-law who will loan you her antiques. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or an interior designer friend who will take your hand. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Or a husband who loves fix-it projects and has the time to tackle them.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can do your own staging and you can do it inexpensively. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are only two tricks to it.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;">Prioritize: Decide What’s Important</span><o:p></o:p></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Maybe you’ve already made that list of what needs tweaking, cleaning, organizing, or dressing up. My first trick is to separate the Must-Do from the It-Would-Be-Nice-To-Do. Ask yourself:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Left undone, would this task or purchase give me black marks on an <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/02/advice-about-negotiations-and-home.html" target="_blank">official home inspection</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something I have wanted to do almost from the time I moved into my home?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can this be accomplished without a reconfiguring of plumbing or electrical systems?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something family members, visitors, and others also think is a good idea?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it a change I can take with me when I move?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does it offer <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/home-improvements-that-deliver-most.html" target="_blank">good return on my investment</a>?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do these changes represent features many buyers want, such as an eat-in kitchen, updated basement, or a modern outdoor living space ?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do other homes in my market, at my price point, offer this kind of feature?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the improvement expand usable square footage?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Does the improvement make the home easier to maintain or conserve energy?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSjA4fJWFVejzAYMaT08jw3QWhKGglfQmJ1LwHJWDKXfT7JHERpQNGfdeuE2eE2JbVjrfutnt0N4p90XHs04Mle2dsJgW91-hB-3K2fd3Gn5Jm9KHg1rBguLkB8jquYglMYrjbpxOto/s1600/narrowhomeoffice_zpsf54084c9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFSjA4fJWFVejzAYMaT08jw3QWhKGglfQmJ1LwHJWDKXfT7JHERpQNGfdeuE2eE2JbVjrfutnt0N4p90XHs04Mle2dsJgW91-hB-3K2fd3Gn5Jm9KHg1rBguLkB8jquYglMYrjbpxOto/s1600/narrowhomeoffice_zpsf54084c9.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;">A home office is something most buyers want. If you can tuck one<br />into</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Trebuchet,sans-serif; line-height: 20.8px;">a narrow space, you'll be ahead of the game. If you can do it<br />on budget, you'll get good return on investment. Photo:LampsPlus</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, look at your answers. Bump to the top of your prioritized list the tasks you answered “yes” to. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">These are the projects that should take your time and money. Either eliminate or place low on your to-do list those items to which you answered “no.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">   </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But how much money should you spend? Real estate experts suggest spending one to two percent on improvements when you’re planning to sell your home. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s always reassuring to know that statistically you’re within guidelines. That means if you plan to list your home for $250,000, your staging budget should be between $2,500 and 5,000. You’ll want to spend it wisely. That’s where the second trick comes into play.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18.0pt;">Source Right: Make Economical Purchases</span></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Get Discounts.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Always inquire about price reductions. Don’t demand, just ask. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/insider-tips-notes-from-blue-collar-gal.html" target="_blank">people who do work for you</a> if they give discounts for paying with cash, or if you pay an invoice within the first week of receiving it. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070543_zpsb11b9888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070543_zpsb11b9888.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The rocker is a thrifted deal find I painted white.<br />The side table is an old tv tray stand that <br />I upcycled by DIYing a mosaic top.<br />The planters are dollar store resin pots. <br />And the pansies are Walmart six-packs. <br />It all adds up to thrifty curb appeal. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask stores if they give discounts to military, ministerial, disability, AAA, students, or seniors if you qualify for those groups. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ask if the item is going to go on sale. Watch for sales. Print or clip and use coupons. Even if you don’t have a coupon for a store, ask the salesperson if you qualify for one. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Stores will often discount the last item in a line of bedding, or the end of a bolt of fabric, or a chair that's been a floor sample, or a dishwasher missing a manual, or a lamp with a chip you'll never notice. But only if you ask! </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Shop where you have a discount or loyalty card, whether online or at brick and mortar stores. Shop discount stores and outlet stores.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Buy Direct.</b> Patronize the local stoneyard for granite. Hire a handyman from your own hometown or neighborhood. Visit the largest area discount nursery for landscape shrubbery. Use online companies like <st1:city w:st="on">Dalton</st1:city> for carpets. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />Sometimes buying direct means buying local, and sometimes it means shopping nationwide for the best deal. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">  <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Buy Second Hand.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t turn up your nose at these kinds of outlets. Often you can find second hand places that sell appliances and furniture that look brand new. This could be scratch and dent merchandise, very slightly used, or come from a model home or manufacturer’s closeout.<br /><br />Furniture from places like Salvation Army and ReStore have frequently been donated by people with money and taste. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-every-garage-sale-shopper-needs-to.html" target="_blank">Garage sales</a> are a source of deeply discounted furniture, appliances and accessories for staging because sellers are usually motivated. Your purchases may need minor repairs or just a coat of paint to make them perfect for staging your home.<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">    <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/6af0630d-9de4-4130-94dd-edf2c5405dbe_zps684f67b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/6af0630d-9de4-4130-94dd-edf2c5405dbe_zps684f67b3.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mike Row has personally spoken to Congress and<br />trade associations about his mission to change<br />perceptions of blue collar work. His foundation<br />awards trade school scholarships to people <br />willing to pursue a trade. Photo:Listal.    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Do Things Yourself.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Know <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/07/lets-get-real-about-diy-projects.html" target="_blank">when to say yes to DIY.</a> If you clean your own home as though you were detailing your car, if you paint your walls like a pro, if you mulch and prune your own landscaping, if you declutter and organize your own closets, you’ve put money in your pocket.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />When I first began studying real estate, one of my teachers used to tell the class, “If you will do what others are not willing to do, you will have what others do not have.” It was just a new way of saying, “Work hard.” Or as Mike Rowe, one of my heroes, likes to say, “Work smart AND hard.”<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But there are also times when not hiring a professional or a qualified tradesperson is shortsighted (or illegal according to building codes and local ordinances). If you decide to lay ceramic tile in your bathroom and you’ve never laid tile before, the results could actually detract from the value of your home.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Plan Ahead.</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most trades and products have a downtime, a period when their cost is lower than usual. Although it may be difficult to plan much in advance when you are staging your home, and you don’t know how long you’ll be living in your home, this scheduling approach is still worth considering. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />For example, buy heating fuel in the summer. Buy patio furniture and grills in October. And hire the heating and cooling guy in the spring or fall.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h3><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;">The Lessons</span><o:p></o:p></h3><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember that if you spend $5,000, you can’t expect to raise your asking price $5,000. But you might sell your home faster, so fast that you’ll save more than $5,000 in carrying costs like insurance, mortgage interest, taxes and utilities.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep the big picture in mind, and don’t expect to make a huge profit by selling your home.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ebook_cover1_zps9cb7beec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ebook_cover1_zps9cb7beec.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Selling a home is like running a small business, so think like an entrepreneur and make all your staging decisions cost effective ones. Time and money both have to be budgeted if you’re going to stay sane and get the job done. These are the simple techniques I’ve used and I’ve seen others use to make home staging cost effective, and you can do it, too.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />There's more of this kind of sanity-saving advice in my<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html">home staging eBooks</a>. You can download them instantly and begin staging your own home today. They’re only $5 each!     </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 10pt;">Top Photo: BHG</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>

How To Stretch Your Home Staging Dollars

A DIY home stager needs to know her competition. Otherwise she won't know if countertops should be granite and appliances stainless, or ...

Read more »

Year in Review: Helping You Look Ahead

Now that all the ho-ho-hoing is behind us, it's time to jump into 2014 with fresh goals and sweet expectations. A popular inspirational quote on Pinterest now advises: "Don't follow your dreams, chase them!"  Maybe you have dreams of selling your home. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-1-P1040264_zpsdc1f0bf2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-1-P1040264_zpsdc1f0bf2.jpg" width="347" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My blog is supposed to help you stage your home.<br />It's 2014. How am I doing?  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>With that possibility in mind, I've gathered the posts from this blog that more people read in 2013, the posts they liked and shared on Facebook, commented on, and pinned on Pinterest.<br /><br />To this list, I've added the posts I personally think will help you the most when you are staging a home for sale. <br /><br />To kick things off, in January I blogged about assessing your own staging efforts. Most people have difficulty judging their own work. I devised a simple test to see if your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/01/can-your-home-pass-this-staging-quiz.html" target="_blank">home staging tricks</a> are all that they can be. Just answer the questions and you'll know if what you've done to get your home sold is on track.<br /><br />Some readers and Facebook friends told me I was giving away too many secrets when I wrote about the pros and cons of tackling DIY staging, but I like readers to make their own choices. Here's what to read if you are wondering if you should <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/03/should-you-stage-your-own-home-or-hire.html" target="_blank">stage your own home or hire a stager</a>.<br /><br />In May I waxed all nostalgic about my love affair with porches. Porches add value to a home, but even if your house doesn't have a real porch, decks and patios can be just as charming to buyers. Learn how to stage a front porch and your curb appeal can skyrocket. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/05/best-tips-for-staging-your-porch.html" target="_blank">Stage any porch</a> and you've added usable square footage to your home.   <br /><br />I recently viewed a home and was asked what to change about the decor. The single mistake that stood out was a lack of pattern. All walls, all draperies, all upholstery and all flooring were solid colors. If you are afraid of adding pattern, you need to get over it! Please read this post to learn <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-make-patterns-work-for-your-home.html" target="_blank">how to mix patterns.</a><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/decorpadtwinbeds_zps2aee0b27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/decorpadtwinbeds_zps2aee0b27.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Bedroom and living room furniture define the lifestyle a home portrays. Find out why<br />mid century modern furniture is ideal for staging. Photo: Bryght Modern Furniture.    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Since I think <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-you-should-know-about-mid-century.html" target="_blank">mid century modern furniture</a> is beautiful, I'm glad many readers agreed. You don't need to live in a 1950's ranch house to make the most of this style's clean lines and classic textiles. Discover all the reasons why MCM designs are safe choices for effective home staging. <br /><br />Who doesn't love a makeover? I kept the chair my friend Rhys wanted to throw out because I knew I wanted to experiment with painting fabric. It was one DIY project that received a good number of Pins, and a makeover I really had some fun with. Go visit my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-beautify-ugly-microfiber-chair.html" target="_blank">microfiber chair repaint</a>.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040958_zps586f18af.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040958_zps586f18af.jpg" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My husband is a rock star to my mind. <br />He taught me all his professional <br />painting secrets. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>But this tutorial on <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-project-overhead-garage-door-re.html" target="_blank">painting an overhead garage door</a> received even more views and Pins. If you are not a blogger yourself, you may not realize all the planning and details that go into making a good tutorial. When someone else is doing the work -- my own Mr. Lucky in this case -- and I am the photographer and note-taker, a tutorial is a whole lot easier to put together.<br /><br />I wrote a few posts about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/09/five-rules-for-staging-mantel.html" target="_blank">how to stage a mantel</a>, but this one seems to have the best advice, all in a nutshell. Learning how to put together a pretty mantel is an excellent exercise to hone your skills for tablescaping and accessorizing any room. The same rules apply. Check 'em out.<br /><br />People who know me know I am happiest when I'm fooling around with plants. Whether you are a gardener or not, your home will benefit from a few strategically placed potted plants. Here's the skinny on <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/06/quick-and-dirty-tips-for-plant.html" target="_blank">how to choose containers for container plants. </a><br /><br />It's common knowledge that <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/08/dont-be-tv-diva-when-you-paint-walls.html" target="_blank">painting a room</a> is one of the best ways to spend time and money when you're selling a house. As a professional housepainter, it drives me a little batsy to see people do it wrong, wasting energy or getting poor results. Please don't let that be you. Do yourself a favor and follow my simple room-painting pointers.<br /><br />Those are my Top Ten. If putting your home on the market is part of the plans you have for 2014, I sincerely hope that these posts and my blog and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>s help you reach your goals.<br /><br />I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead as my blog continues to grow, thanks to readers like you. I value each one of you, and hope you'll continue following my home staging adventures in the coming months. I have so many ideas and projects to share with you!<br /><br /><br />

Year in Review: Helping You Look Ahead

Now that all the ho-ho-hoing is behind us, it's time to jump into 2014 with fresh goals and sweet expectations. A popular inspirational ...

Read more »

Make This Festive Felt Wreath

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060869_zpsab596fad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060869_zpsab596fad.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s not to love about a wreath? Like Santa himself, it’s round and plump and comes with interesting little surprises. You can hang a wreath on a wall or a door, or lay it flat on a table. Heck, you can even hook one on a chair, a garden gate, or a newel post. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The best ones are homemade. Try it. Let a wreath express the personality of your home – modern and glitzy, old fashioned and charming, historically accurate, or cutting edge creative. What’s your style? How can your wreath emphasize your home's special-ness?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Starting Point</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Years ago, it took me a few seasons of cranking out disappointing DIY wreaths before I realized, “It’s the base, stupid.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The way you begin the wreath is the most important element in its design. A wreath base needs to be a sturdy framework, and a good background that is handsome enough to stand alone. No skimpy grapevine circles or pine branches tied to a wire coat hanger. Give it some body.      </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s why I love to use forms made of either foam or straw. Either one can be the start for this wreath made from strips of felt. It’s similar to the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/need-some-curb-appeal-dress-up-your.html" target="_blank">rag wreath I made for Spring</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Gather Supplies</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s what you’ll need: </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Wreath form</li><li>Felt</li><li>Ribbon</li><li>Decorative clusters </li></ul><div class="MsoNormal">The amount of felt you’ll need depends on the size of your wreath and how fluffy you want it to be. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One thing’s for certain: it’s cheaper to purchase felt by the yard than by the “craft square.” I know your color selection will be limited because craft stores sell more felt colors than fabric stores sell. I wanted a white background for this Christmas or Hanukkah wreath.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve also made felt wreaths using a combination of felt colors (see below). Felt is easy to work with because it’s so well behaved. It’s a “pressed” rather than “woven” fabric, so it doesn’t unravel and doesn’t need hemming. I chose to cut this version with pinking shears for added interest.<br /><br />Another thing is for certain: a wreath like this is a whole lot easier than the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/12/festive-staging-prop-extrodinaire-how.html" target="_blank">felt topiaries</a> I made two years ago.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Cut the white felt into strips that measure at least twice the circumference of your wreath form. Mine measured about 1.5 inches by 18 inches. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080361_zpsb71b71f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080361_zpsb71b71f1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If you don't have pinking shears, no problem. Your wreath will still look pretty.<br />These babies are fairly goof-proof.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Three Layers</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The first layer on this wreath is made of quilt batting. You don’t want any of the base material showing. I liked the fluffy white background in case there were any gaps between felt ties. The batting is rather snowlike, too. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There’s no need to secure the batting. The felt ties will hold it in place. Begin by tying one piece of felt, locating the knot slightly off center. Tie the next one snug up close to the first, with the knot slightly off center in the opposite direction. Alternating between these two knot positions makes the wreath look fuller. <br /><br />This is the kind of work you can do while you watch your favorite Christmas movie. I doubt that you can mess it up, and if you do, the knot tying is reversible and tweak-able.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080349_zps662a2d3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080349_zps662a2d3a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Whether your base is straw or foam, covering it with a background material<br />is always a good start towards producing a really finished look. However, if your base is </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">a color similar to your felt and your ties are close together, a covering may be optional.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080351_zpse79f1e9b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080351_zpse79f1e9b.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Off-set each knot so that they don't line up around the center of the wreath.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Place the Bow</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve gone around the full wreath circle with felt ties, tie on a ribbon. You can make one simple loop for hanging, or tie a single bow, or a full multi-loop bow. I like the <a href="http://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-tie-a-perfect-bow.html" target="_blank">bow tying tutorial Kristi gave</a> on her site, Addicted 2 Decorating. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060878_zpsa6ce2c06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060878_zpsa6ce2c06.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060877_zps9d27307d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060877_zps9d27307d.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I always place one big bow before adding everything else, even though I know some designers add the bow last. I figure it's the focal point, so why tack  it on like an afterthought?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I prefer wired ribbon over grosgrain or satin ones because the wired edges make it look perky and stay perky.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Next, I add decorative picks that I’ve either made myself or bought. Here's your chance to get as quirky, sophisticated, artsy, or funky as you like. Just remember that you don't want to add anything too valuable or too distracting. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">About Picks</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I wrote last winter about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/11/making-greenery-wreath-for-christmas.html" target="_blank">how to wire a pick </a>with natural trimmings. Wooden picks aren’t the best way to go with felt wreaths because they don’t pierce the felt. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Instead, you can use a variety of other methods for those finishing details. You can sew on decorations (like smaller bows, buttons, ornaments, and jewelry). I like the sewing method when I plan to dis-assemble and reclaim the decorations later. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I like to hot glue decorations like tiny toys and silk flowers onto the felt wreath when I know the wreath won’t be recycled. If you glue and want to recycle the wreath for another seasonal holiday, you can just remove the felt strip that has chunks of glue on it, and go on from there. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thirdly, you can use straight dressmaker pins to attach decorations to the felt wreath. This method makes sense when the attachments are lightweight and would show glue or stitches. Pins hold firmly in foam, but not so well in straw. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The blue and white winter wreath I made this year features silver ornaments and glittery snowflakes that I stitched on, pine cones and magnolia cones that I painted and glued on, and bows that I pinned on.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, use scissors to give your wreath a little styling, just the way your hair stylist finishes your haircut. Snip, fluff, and you’re done.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080150_zpscf053f96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080150_zpscf053f96.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hang It Up</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Because felt isn’t exactly all-weather fabric, if you want to use this wreath outdoors, it needs to be in a protected area, like a porch, or on a door with a wide overhang above it.  I usually hang it on a wide plastic or metal hook, but if you are hanging it on a small nail, you might want to make a loop of fishing line on the wreath. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Hang your wreath where it will call attention to a desirable feature of your home, or perhaps dress up an empty area in a foyer or hallway, or even a decluttered bathroom. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080375_zpsde9b9496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080375_zpsde9b9496.jpg" width="482" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I like to randomly mix three shades of green for a felt wreath <br />that looks like holly. Sort of. The "berries" are wooden beads sewn on.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080369_zps5fae862e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080369_zps5fae862e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>If you have a  rotary cutter, a cutting mat, and a metal T-square, cutting felt strips </i><br /><i>for wreaths goes lickety split. These strips were cut from 9- x 12-inch felt squares.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Given a choice I’ll choose a wreath over a garland, banner, or other holiday dress-up. Felt wreaths and rag wreaths are especially easy, economical, and fun to make. That’s the kind of project that calls out to me. You too?  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember that a staged home – complete with a seasonal wreath welcoming visitors and prospective buyers – looks like a loved home, a well-maintained home. You can get more house-selling tips in my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook,</a> <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope you’ll try your hand at one of these hardy, all-purpose wreaths. If so, please share your results with us here in the comments, or on our Facebook Group Page. </div>

Make This Festive Felt Wreath

What’s not to love about a wreath? Like Santa himself, it’s round and plump and comes with interesting little surprises. You can hang a wrea...

Read more »

How Scents are Messing with Your Health

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080113_zps19eb8cf7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1080113_zps19eb8cf7.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Do you know what's in your home fragrances?<br />It's fun, frugal, and healthier to make your own. Try a scented spray, <br />a lime<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/want-some-holiday-scents-make-citrus.html" target="_blank"> pomander</a>, your own diffuser, and my citrus and salt potpourri. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If your home is for sale, it better smell good! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve blogged about how important it is to eliminate smells from <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-to-do-with-your-pet-when-your-home.html" target="_blank">pets</a>, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/07/mildews-deal-breaker-for-home-buyers.html" target="_blank">mold</a>, or cooking. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sanitation and ventilation usually take care of these problems. But most of us like to add another fragrance, whether it's an air freshener, a room atomizer, or scented candles. Department stores develop their own signature fragrances to get you in the mood for buying, so why not you?    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The problem is almost all these manufactured scents create health problems. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 8.35pt;">Artificially scented products like the ones I mentioned, as well as soaps, laundry detergents, spray cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, pesticides, preservatives, plastics, and a  host of other ordinary items, contain what’s called endocrine disruptors.<br /><br />An endocrine disruptor is a naturally occurring or man-made chemical that either acts like or blocks the hormones of your internal endocrine system. These false hormones are called xenoestrogens and the list of conditions they create is long: early puberty, lessened female fertility, endometriosis, cancer, and other disturbances to your nervous system, immune system and reproductive system. </div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 8.35pt;">You can see why it’s important to know where you’ll run across these pretender hormones. They can enter our bodies through our skin, the air we breath, and the foods we eat.<br /><br />You may already know about these ingredients and their effects on the body. If so, please help me spread the word. Rather than fostering paranoia, let’s all look for ways to rid our lives of these toxic chemicals. It’s important.</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s especially important if you are a woman. And even more so if you are pregnant or could become pregnant. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zpsbb982a62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zpsbb982a62.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">On the left -- some of the cleaners that contain <span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">xenoestrogens. Yes, even Mrs. Meyer's <br />stuff contains artificial fragrances. On the right are harmless,economical<br /> substitutes that do the same work -- baking soda, vinegar, microfiber<br />cloths and essential oils (not to be confused with fragrance oils).    </span></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here’s How to Start</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li><b>Read labels.</b> Check for fragrance ingredients. Manufacturers are not required to list all chemical additives by name. The only acceptable fragrance should be “essential oil.”</li><li><b>Avoid plastics.</b> Store and cook food in glass or stainless. Avoid non-stick cookware. Microwave in glass or ceramic. Use a fabric instead of a plastic shower curtain. Don't handle new plastic products that have a strong chemical aroma. </li><li><b>Don't touch.</b> Don’t handle the thermal receipt a store gives you. Instead, ask the cashier to place it in your shopping bag. Wash your hands after handling one. </li><li><b>Skip the canned goods.</b> Buy fresh or frozen foods so you can limit exposure to BPA in can linings. Favor organic foods.</li><li><b>Filter water.</b> It’s better than drinking spring water that’s been stored in plastic bottles. </li><li><b>Go natural.</b> Use natural insecticides. Purchase unscented bath, beauty, laundry and cleaning products. Do it yourself. Make your own air fresheners and cleaners.     </li></ul><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps240da487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps240da487.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">No one loves a deliciously scented soap more than I do. Check those labels. <br />You'll find that almost all supermarket soaps are not really soaps, <br />but "beauty bars" or "deodorant bars," whatever that is!<br />If you buy locally produced soaps,  you'll fare much better. <br />Yardley soaps and Dr. Bronners are good.<br />You can also create your own bath scrubs and skin care products. <br />I wash my face once a week with a teaspoon of sugar for an exfoliant.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Easy Formulas </span></b><br /><b><br /></b>Yes, you can create home remedies to replace the nasty but necessary home care products you count on. Read labels of "green products," and if you still don't like what you see, turn to DIY.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Natural air freshener</b>: Cut orange in half. Scoop out pulp (the part you would eat), and reserve the pulp and the remaining half orange for another use. Rub inside of empty orange half with 2 teaspoons salt. Place in pretty bowl and set where it will scent the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Natural oil diffuser:</b> Combine 3 parts mineral oil, 2 parts vodka or gin, and 1 part essential oil of your choice. Pour into container with narrow neck (the neck reduces evaporation). Insert reeds and invert the reeds every few days. Use the same formula minus the mineral oil to make an air freshener spray.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It's not true that natural essential oils won't bother chemically sensitive people -- people who might be coming to view your home on the market. To be safe, keep the scents in your home on the light side, never overwhelming.       </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps031a1bd7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps031a1bd7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fabric softener sheets and liquids are prime offenders. So are the aerosols that claim to <br />"freshen the air." Below I've given you websites that will hook you up to<br />directions for making heavenly and user-friendly aroma sources, including sprays and <br />diffusers.  I love the "candles" that operate on batteries. <br />They don' t have any fragrance,  but they glow and flicker convincingly.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Call to Action</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">      </div><div class="MsoNormal">This post is not a go-green-or-die proclamation. Instead it’s a call to increase our awareness of environmental toxins, so that we can make changes to improve and protect our own and our family’s health. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Will I still bring out the Bar Keeper’s Friend to treat a rust spot that nothing else can tackle? And resort to Lime-Away to deal when hard water stains build up?  Probably. But I’ll limit my exposure as much as possible. I’ll ventilate, wear gloves, use sparingly, and continue to search for substitutes</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps9e274c98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-EndocrineDisruptors_zps9e274c98.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Manicures. Will this be the one that's hard to give up? <br />Try the nail buffer for an alternative to chemical polishes and glues. I use one and I love it. <br />Natural, healthy-looking, shiny nails can be sexy, too!   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Links That Help</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />My research unearthed numerous support sources. We are not alone! Here are some sites that will give you details and encouragement. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you majored in chemistry, check the Wikipedia listing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are a teacher, check <a href="http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/">http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/</a>  </div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’d like a quick overview specifying the dangers of endocrine disruptors and what you can do to avoid them, go to <a href="http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp">http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp</a></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.15pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">If you are pregnant and want advice from a doctor, try <a href="http://nurtureparenting.com/pregnant-and-pre-polluted-eight-choices-for-a-cleaner-womb/">http://nurtureparenting.com/pregnant-and-pre-polluted-eight-choices-for-a-cleaner-womb/</a></div><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.15pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">If you want a quick list to the dirty dozen endocrine disruptors check </span><a href="http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors" style="background-color: transparent;">http://www.ewg.org/research/dirty-dozen-list-endocrine-disruptors</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you need a list of health ratings for common health and beauty products, the best one is <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/">http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want concise recipes for making your own cleaning products, visit <a href="http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm">http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to read what Glamour Magazine told women to do, read</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://notjustaprettyface.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/glamour.pdf">http://notjustaprettyface.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/glamour.pdf</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are into making your own bath and beauty products (great as gifts!) you’ll find recipes here <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5801/7-ingredients-20-diy-beauty-recipes/">http://wellnessmama.com/5801/7-ingredients-20-diy-beauty-recipes/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you like making your own air fresheners, try those at<br /><a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2012/11/small-measures-natural-room-spritz.html">http://www.designsponge.com/2012/11/small-measures-natural-room-spritz.html</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to know the post I like best for making diy air fresheners, it’s <a href="http://www.thankyourbody.com/homemade-air-freshener/">http://www.thankyourbody.com/homemade-air-freshener/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to buy reed diffuser sticks, you can get them from Yankee Candle  <a href="http://www.yankeecandle.com/flameless/reed-diffuser/reed-sticks">http://www.yankeecandle.com/flameless/reed-diffuser/reed-sticks</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">And from Amazon</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rattan-Reed-Diffuser-Replacement-Sticks/dp/B003YDSTM6/ref=pd_sim_hg_50">http://www.amazon.com/Rattan-Reed-Diffuser-Replacement-Sticks/dp/B003YDSTM6/ref=pd_sim_hg_50</a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want to choose from a major list of quality essential oils, order from <a href="http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index2.php">http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/index2.php</a><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What's Your Story?   </span></b><br /><br />In today’s world we can’t eliminate all the things that compromise our health, but we can certainly reduce our exposure to them. I’m renewing a pledge to myself to substitute real fragrances and fresh air for chemical derivatives. I hope you’ll join me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What will be the artificially scented product most difficult for you to give up? And how can you find an acceptable replacement?<br /><br /></div></div>Don't forget to order my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i> If you are selling a home, it will take you through the steps that make a difference!<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

How Scents are Messing with Your Health

Do you know what's in your home fragrances? It's fun, frugal, and healthier to make your own. Try a scented spray, a lime pomander ...

Read more »

How to Make a Padded Headboard to Stage Your Bedroom

Need a tutorial for a DIY headboard? No problem.There's a gazillion of them in blogland. I wanted to design a headboard that was perfect for staging a bedroom. I wanted it to be --<br /><ul><li><b>Lightweight </b>so it could be moved easily when you move</li><li><b>Self-supporting </b>so you don't mess up your newly painted walls with hanging hardware</li><li><b>Inexpensive</b> so you don't spend money you could use for other home staging decor</li><li><b>Quick and easy</b> to make because you have enough to do getting your home ready to sell</li><li><b>Attractive</b> enough to be the focal point of a bedroom, and add value to your home</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070972_zps764b6749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Let me give credit to Chaney for pointing me in the right direction with the headboard she made on <span id="goog_419963148"></span><a href="http://www.mayricherfullerbe.com/2013/07/how-to-make-upholstered-headboard-from.html" target="_blank">her blog, MayRicherFullerBe</a><span id="goog_419963149"></span>. Her version fit all my criteria for a headboard perfect for staging.<br /><div><br /></div>These are the supplies you'll need to make a headboard for a double bed. My total cost was $76, a nifty price for a headboard that tall and wide.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070972_zps764b6749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070972_zps764b6749.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><ul><li>2 10-foot 2 x 4s</li><li>4- x 8-foot sheet of 3/16-inch hardboard (wall paneling)</li><li>24 1-inch paneling nails</li><li>4 zinc corner braces with screws</li><li>Hammer, screwdriver</li><li>2 Yards of fabric at least 54 inches wide </li><li>1-inch thick foam for extra long twin bed ( 39 x 80 inches)</li><li>2 1/4 yards quilt batting, 110 inches wide</li><li>Stapler and staples</li><li>Yardstick or measuring tape, scissors</li><li>Spray adhesive or painters tape</li></ul><br /><br />When you buy the 2 x 4s, have the store cut them into four lengths, each 55 inches. You'll have some waste. I bought fir because it weighs less than pine. It's also softer than pine, so stapling takes less effort. This lumber cost me $13.<br /><br />Have the store cut the hardboard into a 4-foot x 62-inch piece. You'll have a nice leftover piece of "project paneling" to take home if you want. You can adjust these measurements if you prefer a  headboard that's not as tall or if you have a queen or twin bed. The hardboard cost about $12.50<br /><br />If you want to make a tufted headboard, buying standard pegboard with holes in it will make your project easier. I opted for simple -- no tufting, no nailheads -- just padded. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070864_zpsce94abeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070864_zpsce94abeb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Lay the 2 x 4s on the ground or floor so they look like the above photo. Lay the hardboard on top (in the photo, it's on the bottom, the next step). Align the 2 x 4s accurately with the edges of the hardboard so that the corners are squared. Drive a nail into the hardboard at each corner and then at intervals of about 10 inches all around the four edges so that they go into the center of the 2 x 4s.<br /><br /><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070866_zps1367a696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070866_zps1367a696.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />Screw the corner braces in at the corners as shown. These braces will strengthen the headboard. Lowes sells them in a package of four with screws for less than $3.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070875_zps3885b20f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070875_zps3885b20f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Flipped front side up, your headboard will look like this. I worked outside on a dropcloth, but this project can be done in the house after the messy carpentry work is finished. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070876_zps5c678989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070876_zps5c678989.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The foam that's made to fit a long twin bed cost me $24. It's more than long enough, but needs to be pieced to make it wide enough to cover the hardboard. Trim the excess 8 inches off one side with a serrated edged knife.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Headboardpadded_zps1a283b75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Headboardpadded_zps1a283b75.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The edge doesn't have to be perfectly smooth where you slice it because it will be covered with the fluffy quilt batting. It should be straight, however, so use the edge of the hardboard to guide your bread knife.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070884_zpsac60311f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070884_zpsac60311f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Since the bed itself will cover the bottom center of the headboard, it's not important to pad it with foam. I used foam scraps to cover most of the legs because the legs usually show. I used a spray adhesive to make sure it didn't slip around while I was covering the headboard, or later with use. But you can use a few pieces of painter's tape to position and hold the foam. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070889_zps635ed33f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070889_zps635ed33f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Lay the batting over the foam. Fold it over so you have two layers. It will be a little short, so let the underneath layer be the shorter one and place it at the bottom of the headboard. Quilt batting comes prepacked or by the yard. I paid $5.50.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070892_zps3f64e101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070892_zps3f64e101.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The adhesive or the tape will hold it securely enough while you flip the headboard over, but then you'll want to adjust it to be sure you have enough batting to wrap around and staple on all four sides.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1070894_zps8637ae30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1070894_zps8637ae30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Begin stapling the batting to the center of each of the four 2 x 4s, and then work out to the corners. Make the corners as smooth as possible.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1070905_zps4c4eeadf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1070905_zps4c4eeadf.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Set the headboard upright, and lay your fabric down in front of it, with the wrong side of the fabric facing the batting. If your fabric pattern has a one-way design or needs to be centered, this is the time to do that. I bought drapery weight rather than upholstery weight and paid $18 for 2 yards. You could spend lots more for something you just gotta have, or hunt around for a bargain and spend less. Chaney bought a $25 curtain panel for her pretty headboard. If your pattern needs to be centered and it's a large design, buy an extra half yard.     <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070908_zps6499a1c3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070908_zps6499a1c3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Lay the headboard on the fabric, adjusting it so there is enough fabric all around to wrap and staple. If you have more than enough fabric, trim it all from one side (assuming you do not have to center the fabric design). This way, if you want to use the excess fabric for some other decorating project, you'll have one piece rather than two narrow pieces.<br /><br /><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070910_zps11c6ae96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070910_zps11c6ae96.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />Staple all four sides of fabric to the 2 x 4s, starting in the center of each side, and working out to the corner. To keep the edge from looking wobbly, pull fabric out and away from the center when stapling, rather than pulling straight out. To make smooth, rounded corners, start by stapling them at the very corner, and then work toward the sides by pleating the fabric.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070914_zps1920cf47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070914_zps1920cf47.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Cut the fabric to wrap it where the leg meets the board at the inside corner. If your fabric falls short, staple a piece of the scrap fabric to the leg, matching the pattern on the front of the leg if possible.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070942_zps3a04c9db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070942_zps3a04c9db.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />You can choose to attach the headboard to a bed frame with bolts, but it's probably not necessary. I propped this against the wall. Because the feet are sturdy, it's stable once the bed is against it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>A staged bedroom isn't complete until it has a focal point, and it's usually the headboard. An attractive one like this, made from a fabric that ties all the other elements of the room together MAKES the room. And now you know how to make one yourself that's perfect for staging.<br /><br />If you have a home for sale, download my home staging <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070958_zps9e4733e7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070958_zps9e4733e7.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span id="goog_243442617"></span><span id="goog_243442618"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />

How to Make a Padded Headboard to Stage Your Bedroom

Need a tutorial for a DIY headboard? No problem.There's a gazillion of them in blogland. I wanted to design a headboard that was perfect...

Read more »

Polka Dot Pumpkins and Getting Thrifty

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070049_zpsecd8ad6d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070049_zpsecd8ad6d.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Do you want to sell your home? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Is it staged to tell home buyers that you care about your home?<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It doesn’t take much to put out a happy, positive message to buyers, starting with the outside entry.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sweep the area near the door. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Knock down the cobwebs. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Put out a new <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/curb-appeal-hows-that-welcome-mat.html" target="_blank">welcome mat</a>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Maybe<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/girls-guide-to-painting-your-front-door.html" target="_blank"> paint the front door. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now’s the time to add some seasonal décor, too. You have most of October and November to show your colors – the colors of autumn. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Keep It Simple</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I concentrated on green this fall. And it worked fine indoors. But green just doesn’t have the punch for a festive front entry.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, I chose black, white and orange as a theme. I recycled a grapevine wreath I made a couple years ago by striping it, spraying it white, and gluing on some bows and balls. I made three fabric pumpkins. And I bought some mums. Done.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">With those elements, I was able to dress up this home’s front step.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070069_zps76107d42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070069_zps76107d42.jpg" width="509" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I hung the wreath on the storm door so it could be seen from the road.<br />I prefer a grapevine wreath to one of foam or straw because it's <br />lightweight and stands up to all kinds of weather.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070073_zps9fb51623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070073_zps9fb51623.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Polka dots are one of my favorite patterns, and I think most people are charmed by<br />them, so I made three polka dot bows. I like to use odd numbers  when constructing<br />a wreath. A 40% off coupon saved me when I bought these plastic (unbreakable!) <br />bulbs that came as a package from Michaels. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070066_zps0f8df692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070066_zps0f8df692.jpg" width="601" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A strip of ribbon glued to a plain plastic flower pot dresses it up.<br />It was the scrap I had left from a roll of ribbon.  The mums tie the colors<br />of the front door to the colors in the wreath. </span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div><i><span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070062_zpsd730151e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070062_zpsd730151e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Fabric pumpkins are surprisingly easy to make. These three took me about an hour, <br />from ironing the fabric to gluing on the driftwood stems. Start with a long rectangle,<br />stitch or glue the short ends together, then gather the long ends and stuff.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070060_zps0d7a9051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070060_zps0d7a9051.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Drapery weight fabric works best for pumpkins. These sit under a porch roof, so <br />they are protected from wet weather. I stuffed them with filling from an old pillow.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070059_zps6bae00bc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070059_zps6bae00bc.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Don't ask me why I had bright orange polka dot fabric in the back of <br />my fabric closet, but it came in handy to repeat the wreath's polka dot motif. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070058_zps4836be57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1070058_zps4836be57.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The fabric for this pumpkin is a old linen tablecloth. The silk </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">leaves and embroidery thread wrap-arounds are optional. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether your home is for sale, or you just want a welcoming entryway, now’s the time of year to celebrate fall and boost your curb appeal at the same time. It's easy and economical if you do it yourself, keep it simple, and recycle. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are selling your home and you want encouragement and a whole host of tips for staging it yourself, download my popular <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar. </i></div>

Polka Dot Pumpkins and Getting Thrifty

Do you want to sell your home?  Is it staged to tell home buyers that you care about your home? It doesn’t take much to put out a happy, pos...

Read more »

DIY Craft Project: Upcycled Tin Tray

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060841_zpsaf925480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060841_zpsaf925480.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>I used my DIY autumn-themed tray to anchor a group of props <br />suggesting a small beverage center. To be safe, <br />I stage with empty liquor bottles or bottles filled with water. </i> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One prop that’s indispensable to home staging is the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/99-centtray-makeover.html" target="_blank">simple tray.</a> It corrals little things and adds a subtle layer to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-photo-primer-for-staging-your.html" target="_blank">tabletop decorating. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether it's round or square, flat or with a curvy lip, vintage or brand new, wood or rattan, a tray can make a bunch of ordinary stuff look important and planned. It's an automatic de-clutterer.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I decided to makeover a derelict metal tray I’ve owned forever. It would be perfect for autumn entertaining or staging in any room -- if only it looked presentable. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This fall I’m taking a stand against the usual Halloween colors. I’ve centered my fall <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/09/five-rules-for-staging-mantel.html" target="_blank">decorating around greens.</a> I hunted through my fabrics to see what I had that was both green and harvest-reminiscent. Bingo – a green and cream <i>joie de vivre</i> print that included fruit and vegetable images.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The fabric lived a previous life as a DIY shower curtain from a house I staged eight years ago. My first step was to cut out only the images I wanted. I didn’t want ladies and gents dancing in their fancy clothes. I didn’t want the scrolls and birds and flowers. I wanted fruits and vegetables! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Knowing I had enough of the fabric scraps to make a collage, I then sanded and primed the tray. I used an orbital sander for most of it, but an orbital doesn’t get into corners, so I hand sanded those areas. It’s not perfect, and it still has a hole in the bottom, but good enough!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060762_zps6912708b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060762_zps6912708b.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">What I started with: the tray and the fabric. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">I 'm sure that as a young thing, my toleware tray was quite a sight -- strong</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"> and stylish with a black base coat decorated with hand-painted flowers. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Blog-AutumntrayDIY1_zpsd2697582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Blog-AutumntrayDIY1_zpsd2697582.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">These are the images I liked best in the fabric I was re-purposing.<br />I thought they looked like traditional fruits of autumn.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060769_zps53e6f9ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060769_zps53e6f9ea.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is how the tray looked after I gave it a good sanding to remove <br />corrosion and old paint. Many of you would like it to stay this way. <br />But I think it's a bit too <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-home-stagers-can-learn-from-shabby.html" target="_blank">shabby</a> for home staging.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060824_zps8443ef09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060824_zps8443ef09.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">After a coat or two of  spray paint, things started to look better. The hole </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">didn't bother me. I knew it could be covered with a fabric scrap. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I sprayed a couple of coats of cream colored Rustoleum paint that matched the fabric background. Then I trimmed the fabric scraps and arranged them to fill the tray. Once I thought the arrangement looked okay, I used spray adhesive to anchor them, making sure the edges were glued down well. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060827_zpsab084c46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060827_zpsab084c46.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>As in decoupage work, sharp scissors will give you good results. I fiddled with</i></div><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><i>the arrangement until I liked it, overlapping some of the fabric pieces. </i></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The next step was to finish the tray with a few coats of clear gloss spray to protect it. Any time you want to make custom props like vases, lamp shades, trays, artwork or other decorative accessories, pasting paper or fabric onto a surface and then clear-coating is a method you can count on. It’s easy and it’s cheap. The clear spray is especially stinky, so I suggest you give a tray a few days to out-gas solvents before serving guests drinks or staging your foyer console with  it.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060853_zps4626f813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060853_zps4626f813.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The cut metal edge gives this tray a little extra flair. It's the perfect size for staging<br />a dry bar or small beverage station in a living or dining room, or on a <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/05/best-tips-for-staging-your-porch.html" target="_blank">porch</a>.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">  </div><div class="MsoNormal">When it comes to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/finishing-touches-department-where-to.html" target="_blank">trays</a>, a gal can’t have too many, especially if she is staging a home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Want more ideas and inspiration for staging your home? Just download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>. Don’t stage alone, when I can hold your hand and make your home staging easier and more effective.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Linky%20Buttons/Fall2013Badge%7CTheLetteredCottage_zpsb3d51d8c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Linky%20Buttons/Fall2013Badge%7CTheLetteredCottage_zpsb3d51d8c.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div>

DIY Craft Project: Upcycled Tin Tray

I used my DIY autumn-themed tray to anchor a group of props suggesting a small beverage center. To be safe, I stage with empty liquor bottle...

Read more »