Apartment Makeover with Leon's #MyLeons / sponsored post

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcmvZZyCdiY9G6CI6AygFEdTbRwIk6vBSvIMG_JgwZPXlcOMOT9maGtOIZ3jaEFK6TwGRmWfDxv8yqdeK7Cmxkw0lHdB3p2tXFE7GY03uWA1hnNuLBHT3VkpCHrnRILf_ce3iIgAehmQ/s1600/Untitled-45s.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcmvZZyCdiY9G6CI6AygFEdTbRwIk6vBSvIMG_JgwZPXlcOMOT9maGtOIZ3jaEFK6TwGRmWfDxv8yqdeK7Cmxkw0lHdB3p2tXFE7GY03uWA1hnNuLBHT3VkpCHrnRILf_ce3iIgAehmQ/s1600/Untitled-45s.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3QaWRFLbdkTR1miwQIAC9D_rzQOayFSBqBlnIs7XD4TZ47VNwGWnAF-zxdBeoqApQQzNIVCWNY7XA8Xgf-De2zdKzAqrnCZvFEEXpDHtc0aYYBtRArVxHOqPGChq8bNvCWHFHruFnAw/s1600/IMG_9322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3QaWRFLbdkTR1miwQIAC9D_rzQOayFSBqBlnIs7XD4TZ47VNwGWnAF-zxdBeoqApQQzNIVCWNY7XA8Xgf-De2zdKzAqrnCZvFEEXpDHtc0aYYBtRArVxHOqPGChq8bNvCWHFHruFnAw/s1600/IMG_9322.jpg" /></a></div><i>I'll warn you - this post is long, but I wanted to really explain the significance of this sponsored post and all about it - so apologies, but I hope you'll enjoy the video and some of the pictures!</i><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG2E6QUj55H9eSy_L1P8v_0vwHf0TJo4mIZjEn7n4jIh1d3-q0s1nrsVYz54I88INCybmA7twWOCr3kCVBeg_Nrb2I8lS8p5OF6qZ7t2SNeX2ZWQUmIvB_nLzelSUOYYL_cnwEKXLTM0/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG2E6QUj55H9eSy_L1P8v_0vwHf0TJo4mIZjEn7n4jIh1d3-q0s1nrsVYz54I88INCybmA7twWOCr3kCVBeg_Nrb2I8lS8p5OF6qZ7t2SNeX2ZWQUmIvB_nLzelSUOYYL_cnwEKXLTM0/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />My little brother <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2012/08/family-news.html" target="_blank">Peter and his new wife Lindsay</a> have been living with my Mom since <a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2013/09/wedding-weekend.html" target="_blank">their wedding</a> last Fall, saving up and figuring out the next stage of their lives. Selfishly, I've <i>loved </i>having them around - we have Sunday night dinners, go to the cottage together, have movie nights - Oscar loves his Uncle Pete and they have had tons of "boys" days together. It's such a special bond, and I'm ridiculously grateful for that. I also feel like Lindsay has been in our family forever, I adore her like as if she was born my sister.<br /><br />A few months ago, Lindsay got accepted into nursing school (yay!) and in a week they are packing up and moving into their own place. <a href="http://www.city.peterborough.on.ca/site3.aspx" target="_blank">In another city.</a> (booooo!) Although I'm heartbroken to not have them right here - I'm so excited for their new adventure as a married couple.<br /><br />I noticed that Linds and Pete were on such a small budget for the move, and as such, they had little funds left over for decorating. I wanted to help them a nice place that would start them off feeling like "adults" so started thinking - <b>where could I shop that was economical, but also had stylish furniture</b>. Typically economical and stylish aren't words that you see together a lot when it comes to furniture. <i>And </i>I wanted to find a place that didn't scream "dorm" room like some other big box stores do. Right off the bat - <a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">Leon's </a>came to mind.<br /><br />My thought process was this - I knew that <a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">Leon's </a>pricing was very reasonable and in terms of style, their items appeal to a large market of people - you have formal, casual,country - a look for everyone. I knew if you took a few key pieces and added personal touches - what you may think may not be very stylish could really be when paired with the <b>right accents.</b> Having browsed <a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">their website,</a> after some looking there were some really great <i>classic </i>pieces. I felt like it was such a great collaboration, so I reached out to <a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">Leon's</a> and told them about Peter and Lindsay moving, my ideas of what I could do with their collections and.... they loved the idea of collaborating! I love when companies are game to have some fun, and think outside the box.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">Leon's </a>invited Peter and Lindsay to pick some major key pieces for their new place  - with my role to step in at the end to style and reveal. HOW FUN is that? Peter and Linds get awesome furniture, I get to play decorator for two of my favourite people.<br /><br />And so the decorating adventure begins. This isn't about decorating 100% with a store. Leon's knows you won't buy <i>all </i>your decorating accessories from them - but what I will show you is exactly what I had envisioned when I reached out to Leon's. How you can pick <b>single key pieces from their store</b>, and work magic with mixing and matching pieces. Because that's how I decorate, and likely many of you do to.<br /><br />To get an idea of our shop, and, the series - check out this video I made. I had a ridiculously fun time filming it and putting it together for this. Plus you get to see Linds and Peter. :) (I'm also wondering if you can spot the couch they pick??)<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="385" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BJy0ynko-VQ?rel=0" width="685"></iframe> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_HdYJzrTsbKFXUtZXF5bg6HINQmJ6AWUNxLkpOl6bOUGvVD1Oi7zPFtyKd7zdmUnmV8U9rV-cmDR6ewxySvKyTJ9Vmg198_mLe5a9qn5rK3nguYesbmH6ht_vzDFaOSWEFebj4_mgok/s1600/Untitled-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_HdYJzrTsbKFXUtZXF5bg6HINQmJ6AWUNxLkpOl6bOUGvVD1Oi7zPFtyKd7zdmUnmV8U9rV-cmDR6ewxySvKyTJ9Vmg198_mLe5a9qn5rK3nguYesbmH6ht_vzDFaOSWEFebj4_mgok/s1600/Untitled-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_HdYJzrTsbKFXUtZXF5bg6HINQmJ6AWUNxLkpOl6bOUGvVD1Oi7zPFtyKd7zdmUnmV8U9rV-cmDR6ewxySvKyTJ9Vmg198_mLe5a9qn5rK3nguYesbmH6ht_vzDFaOSWEFebj4_mgok/s1600/Untitled-4.png" /></a></div><br /><br />So the first step in this whole adventure was to actually pick some furniture that that the lovebirds liked. I had done a preliminary browse <a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">on their website</a> which has all of the pieces listed, along with measurements. The initial browse on the website was a good introduction and, gave us an idea of what we wanted to focus on. But I'm close to the<a href="http://www.leons.ca/shared/store/storelocations.aspx" target="_blank"> Leon's at The Roundhouse</a>, so that's the destination we picked as our "go to" location.<br /><br />The three of us headed to the <a href="http://www.leons.ca/shared/store/storelocations.aspx" target="_blank">Roundhouse location</a> in downtown Toronto. (It's GORGEOUS) I tagged along to be a voice of reason (and to snap photos) but tried to stay in the background as much as possible, as it was their first foray into furniture buying. And from experience I knew that an excursion like this could be stressful. (Especially when you have your sister tagging along). A shopping trip like this, you are trying to figure out your own style, tastes and at the same time - dealing with your partner on what they want. I remember Aubrey and I having a meltdown over <i>china patterns </i>for our gift registry. Deciding on what your style is as a couple is <i>ridiculously </i>hard. So as I told them, the first visit wasn't to buy anything or, make decisions. It was like dating. You needed to go meet the pieces, test them out. And so, that's what we did.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W1Y6gAusXNgdI0cz0qUIuolm8CD5KIkTRbD6FdUneYvt6XSgG52EU-N5shEEQCTwvAkPyyxFNUkYhouyis_cCrrLefwf-fqVpeA5RyFw5xuB_r690khmZYuG79Nl-a44JGT_vC3nyuo/s1600/IMG_9347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1W1Y6gAusXNgdI0cz0qUIuolm8CD5KIkTRbD6FdUneYvt6XSgG52EU-N5shEEQCTwvAkPyyxFNUkYhouyis_cCrrLefwf-fqVpeA5RyFw5xuB_r690khmZYuG79Nl-a44JGT_vC3nyuo/s1600/IMG_9347.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Oh no. Not awkward<i> at all </i>to have your sister in law take photos of you testing out beds or mattresses. Not at all.<br /><br />I thought that they were for sure going to pick the bed above, but after a second visit, selected a different one. The bed shopping was pretty easy for them, and they picked a mattress that they adored. The bed wasn't really the "BIG" decision - it turned out to be the couch. Oh, the couch.<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdfbFk_4odypM8S4UcUXW6am9MmoU7Xz2WkOymbDeSKPztwg4_RZRg8fY6TYyja6oWEiylvUSVArH-CeDVL6By37OvSWU6aJoietI6nBUO8Gxa9_YSIN6GmRM_xGr0e3FNHl0VywSjKg/s1600/IMG_9433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdfbFk_4odypM8S4UcUXW6am9MmoU7Xz2WkOymbDeSKPztwg4_RZRg8fY6TYyja6oWEiylvUSVArH-CeDVL6By37OvSWU6aJoietI6nBUO8Gxa9_YSIN6GmRM_xGr0e3FNHl0VywSjKg/s1600/IMG_9433.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>This is the style of the two of them. Comfort is pretty much at the top of their list. I had to break it to them that this particular one was *slightly* too big.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8aKo2IQ9mhX5zF3NBlhwQhTm96l7a9xGtxVjYDKawO1qMDBsDO7lsyWcI13iTeskHWYvTrS5vegL-A5WqTVjW4ZQFyYIW3iJynvIl4g5MlCVh3gpIW5zNx5LMhy6pWRpbKGLXdHKbu8/s1600/IMG_9409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8aKo2IQ9mhX5zF3NBlhwQhTm96l7a9xGtxVjYDKawO1qMDBsDO7lsyWcI13iTeskHWYvTrS5vegL-A5WqTVjW4ZQFyYIW3iJynvIl4g5MlCVh3gpIW5zNx5LMhy6pWRpbKGLXdHKbu8/s1600/IMG_9409.jpg" /></a></div><br />Lindsay will likely kill me for this photo but I think she looks gorgeous even when sliding into a two person monster recliner. They actually stayed in this couch for awhile. It was being very much considered as a couch. Rec room - yes. Main living room? Not so much. (But they loved it so) Watch the video to see Peter's reaction when he sits in this couch. It's pretty cute.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVTF71GE5RDI3yHYwJW3CWd-gStyNYDbmAjyDcpJB4UDiwqt2AvtG7XZC8ye6dn6Wj1GhX2TVekhTAN5VrpU0TpYNEAcnTQi5R88hHrfLFGl20_tcTDfp0zVw-GqwFp8apxObAUGAcOc/s1600/IMG_9469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVTF71GE5RDI3yHYwJW3CWd-gStyNYDbmAjyDcpJB4UDiwqt2AvtG7XZC8ye6dn6Wj1GhX2TVekhTAN5VrpU0TpYNEAcnTQi5R88hHrfLFGl20_tcTDfp0zVw-GqwFp8apxObAUGAcOc/s1600/IMG_9469.jpg" /></a></div><br />As I anticipated, couch shopping proved to be overwhelming. Both Lindsay and Peter had different ideas of what they liked. When you first walk in, <i>everything </i>is a possibility. That blue couch? Yup. It could work. That tufted leather one? Ohhh. Gorgeous. Every couch you walk by could be "the" couch. When you let your eyes adjust to the large selection of what you can pick from, you start to see pieces that really are gorgeous, and, could be in an issue of Domino magazine, if it were paired with the right fiddle leaf fig tree and rifle paper co. wallpaper. There are gems in the store. If you haven't been to the Leon's Roundhouse downtown Toronto I highly recommend you visit. While you're down there, go visit the Train Museum<a href="http://instagram.com/p/rpiSaNQsmq/?modal=true" target="_blank"> like we did</a>. It's a vibrant, historic area of the city. The Leon's area is brightly lit, wide open, and styled beautifully into little vignettes that makes it easy to imagine a piece (or two) in your own home. I get overwhelmed in tightly packed spaces and this was anything but.<br /><br />I'll reveal what they picked later on this week, but the couch above was being considered as a major contender. (Peter loved it!) They <i>didn't </i>pick it - but I was digging it. If you're trying to picture why I love this one so much, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/littlehouseblog/references-tufted-leather-couch/" target="_blank">see some inspirational photos I've pinned here to show you. </a> The above couch is from <a href="http://www.leons.ca/living-room-furniture/leather/collections/shea/1647668.aspx#.U-v1GfldV8E" target="_blank">the Shea collection </a>and retails for $1,999 - Which is one of the higher end couches at Leon's. But a similar couch would run you at least <i>double that. </i><br /><br />Anyhow, I know this post is long, thanks for sticking through to the end. If you've watched the video, see if you can guess which couch they picked!!<br /><br />xo Lindsay<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG2E6QUj55H9eSy_L1P8v_0vwHf0TJo4mIZjEn7n4jIh1d3-q0s1nrsVYz54I88INCybmA7twWOCr3kCVBeg_Nrb2I8lS8p5OF6qZ7t2SNeX2ZWQUmIvB_nLzelSUOYYL_cnwEKXLTM0/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwG2E6QUj55H9eSy_L1P8v_0vwHf0TJo4mIZjEn7n4jIh1d3-q0s1nrsVYz54I88INCybmA7twWOCr3kCVBeg_Nrb2I8lS8p5OF6qZ7t2SNeX2ZWQUmIvB_nLzelSUOYYL_cnwEKXLTM0/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i>This blog series has been sponsored by <a href="http://www.leons.ca/" target="_blank">Leon's</a>. I have not been compensated for this series, however Lindsay and Peter have been gifted a few key pieces of their choice from Leon's to furnish their place. All other items in the reveal are my own - so stay tuned to see what I've been picking up at antique shops and auctions. Follow my decorating fun for my little brother's first place by following the Hashtag #MyLeons and #DecoratingMyLittleBrothersPlace (Yup, that's a pretty long hashtag that I came up with)</i><br /><br /><br /><br />

Apartment Makeover with Leon's #MyLeons / sponsored post

I'll warn you - this post is long, but I wanted to really explain the significance of this sponsored post and all about it - so apologie...

Read more »

Questions about Faucet Choices, Paint Colors, and Wicker Furniture

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1090097.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-P1090097.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> We’re getting ready to sell our home. The faucets in both bathroom sinks match the faucets in the tub and shower stalls.<br /><br />They all work and are in good condition, but they are shiny chrome, and dated. Should I invest in new ones that look more in step with the times? – Sarah H.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> Spend your money somewhere else. There’s no sense removing and replacing this kind of hardware that is functioning just fine.<br /><br />The fact that they are all the same style makes them appear new-ish, more like what you might find in a new house rather than an older one that’s had repairs over the years when things broke. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I would give the same advice to people with “dated” hinges and doorknobs, and even window locks. Working, and matching, keep them! When it comes to hardware like this, unless you want to purchase pricey top of the line stuff, most of what you buy today doesn't compare to the quality commonly available even a few decades ago.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> I am planning to stage the condo we just moved out of. It’s vacant except for a dining set, some end tables, and lamps. I’d like to add some wicker furniture because that’s easy to find at reasonable prices here in <st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state>. What do you think of wicker?  -- Erica S. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>As long as it is in good condition and comfortable, I would use wicker. Make sure any cushions look new and that the colors or patterns are not too bright or distracting. You’ll probably need a few pieces of contemporary or vintage upscale furniture (or what looks upscale) as well, so the condo doesn’t look too budget-conscious. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I don't recommend using outdoor wicker indoors. </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/liz-williams-interiors-amelia-island1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/liz-williams-interiors-amelia-island1.png" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Wicker doesn't have to be white. But in a staged room it probably <br />shouldn't be neon pink and lime green either. These simple wicker headboards <br />got a style boost from black paint. Photo: Liz Williams Interiors</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> All the rooms in my house are now different colors – mint green in the living room, a burnt orange in the family room, peach in one bedroom and blue in another. I want to paint all the rooms myself, and paint them all the same color. Doing one at a time, I know I can do it. My question is how do I figure out what color that will work with all the rooms?   -- Justine P.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>Good for you for tackling the staging job yourself! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You need to determine what elements in all your rooms will remain in the house and then find a color that works with these “fixed fixtures.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These fixtures could be the vinyl or tile in the bath, for example, or the carpet in the bedrooms. I would bring home from the paint store all the brochures that feature shades of neutrals and white, and find one color that has the undertones that harmonize with all your fixed fixtures. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I've blogged about the details of <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-choose-paint-color-easy-way.html" target="_blank">how to choose a paint color</a>. And, yes, white walls are fine for staging!</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><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/a2c633f4db1a009a2fd9024e17686bef1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/a2c633f4db1a009a2fd9024e17686bef1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">White walls make it easy for you to use the furnishings you already own,<br />and white walls make it easy for the new owner to postpone painting.<br />There's a reason museums and art galleries use white walls.<br />It  makes a great background color.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>Our home is for sale, and we have moved to a nearby town. The house is clean and empty. What can I do to make it sell fast?  Don’t say add furniture because there is no way I can afford that.  -- Keesha M.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I understand. Although I always recommend <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/02/strategies-for-staging-vacant-house.html" target="_blank">staging an empty home</a>, my experience is that if a house is clean, in good repair, and priced right, you will find a buyer. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make sure there is no deferred maintenance (a home inspection would help). The walls and possibly the trim should be freshly painted or at least look like they have been recently painted. And if there is carpet, it should be new or appear new. These are investments that pay off with a faster sale. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Good appliances, updated light fixtures, and extra-special curb appeal will sweeten the deal. Here are some other <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/staged-and-vacant.html" target="_blank">tips for selling an unoccupied home</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> We are listing our home with a realtor. He took a photo of the house just after it snowed. It looks pretty but I don’t want people to think about problems like snow when they see the photo, which will be the featured photo in our MLS listing. The exterior won’t look great until spring. What can I do meanwhile? -- Rachael and Alex B.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>There isn’t much you can do unless you have another <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-not-to-photograph-your-home.html" target="_blank">photo of your house in</a> another season. Most people don’t, so there is a lesson here for all home owners: Even if you are not thinking of selling your home immediately, having good pictures of your home in different seasons can come in handy in the future. <br /><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-bigstock-Middle-Class-House-547336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bigstock-Middle-Class-House-547336.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A photo of a snow covered property can be charming, but the profile photo <br />of your home on a listing should be current with the season so the home doesn't <br />appear to have been on the market for a long time.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When your exterior gets some springtime color, you can substitute another photo. Meanwhile, just be glad your realtor didn’t photograph your house when the snow turned mushy, icy and dirty.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don't forget that you can get answers to the most common home staging questions, plus much, much more, in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 home staging eBook</a>, <i>DIY</i> <i>Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. </i></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Questions about Faucet Choices, Paint Colors, and Wicker Furniture

Q: We’re getting ready to sell our home. The faucets in both bathroom sinks match the faucets in the tub and shower stalls. They all work a...

Read more »

How to Beautify an Ugly Microfiber Chair with Paint

<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-P1040924_zpsa865f64d.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-P1040924_zpsa865f64d.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I took one ugly chair and gave it six different looks. This is one.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>This is not an <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/photo-primer-to-staging-your-home.html" target="_blank">April Fool's Day post</a>. I really did convert an old microsuede chair into six versions of itself.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">I know you can buy fabric paints, but I wanted to see if you could use ordinary latex wall paint to change an ugly chair into something suitable for staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The answer is a definite yes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Can you use this method to overhaul all the upholstered furniture in your family room and give it another five years of daily service? No.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But it is a quick, simple and thrifty way to rescue furniture that is the wrong color, mismatched, stained, or faded, into furniture that looks fresh and clean enough for a staged room that doesn’t get much use. We're not talking heirloom quality here. We're talking home staging.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here is what I started with. A friend was planning to haul this chair to the landfill, when I intercepted it for my test. It was a sad-looking tawny brown, kind of like a shy puppy at the dog pound. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/homestaging/IMG_8378-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_8378-1.jpg" width="578" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Microfiber upholstery is okay, but this chair wanted a facelift.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal">My first step was to brush the surface with a stiff bristle brush to remove loose dirt. You could do this outside, or inside with a vacuum.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I knew that stains could bleed through the latex paint, so I examined the fabric for marks made by crayons, marking pens, grease, oil, or wax. My chair was stain-free, but if you see stains, give those nasty spots a quick hit with a spray of Kilz oil-based primer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I always start a painting project upside down. I flipped the chair over and painted the bottom edge. I used a light blue flat paint, and a two-inch latex brush. I didn't thin the paint, or add fabric medium to make the dried paint more flexible. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/homestaging/IMG_0550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_0550.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It's</i> <i>easier and more efficient to start painting the chair upside down. </i> </span></td></tr></tbody></table>Once the bottom edges were painted, I set the chair right side up and painted the remaining fabric. Don’t worry if your fabric looks splotchy. Chances are most fabrics will require two coats. Give it eight to 12 hours to dry thoroughly.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/homestaging/IMG_0554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_0554.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The first coat dries unevenly, but it's just a primer.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The first coat might activate some stains that were not visible to begin with. If you see bleed-through, give the spot a shot of your Kilz stain-blocking spray. After a second coat, applied exactly as the first, I was pleased to see the coverage looked even. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I didn’t like the cheap metal legs on this chair, so I painted recycled tin cans and slipped them over the legs. Then I wrapped the chair’s four decorative buttons in a slightly darker blue taffeta. I didn’t remove them, just laid a circle of fabric over the top of the button, and tucked it snug around the edges. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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/homestaging/IMG_3810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_3810.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I don't think anyone would guess that this pretty chair is painted microsuede.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">I actually lived with this chair as a side chair in my office/studio for a few months, so it did get some sitting on and feet-propping. The fabric doesn’t flex as much as it would with fabric paint, but it didn’t feel really stiff either. In fact, it felt smooth and pliable, like leather. It helped that my chair covering was snug, not floppy like some microfiber upholstery. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Phase two of the experiment was to paint a design on the fabric. I used a light blue highligher pen to free hand draw the design onto the painted fabric. It would have been easier to have selected a more free form design, but I really wanted the illusion of ikat. You can see the results of that project in the top photo.<br /><br />Next, I painted the chair all white and ran washi tape around the seams to suggest a contrasting piping. I unscrewed the legs, painted them green and replaced them. It did take two coats of a brushed-on white primer to cover the highlighter, but the fabric still wasn't buckling or cracking under all that paint.<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-P1040989_zps5f698bf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040989_zps5f698bf3.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">When I took the washi tape-trimmed chair outside for its photo, my <br />friendly backyard ginko wanted to get in on the session.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Then, I converted the legs to bun feet by covering them with burlap puffed up with some pillow stuffing. I removed the washi tape, and simply draped a scarf over the chair. You can't get any simpler than that, yet I really liked the look. I pinned the scarf at the corners with white dressmaker pins that were hardly visible. <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-P1040985_zpse4f25424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040985_zpse4f25424.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I liked the ethnic feel of this version. But if it would look wrinkled soon <br />if people sat on it, always a possibility during a showing. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I wasn't ready to give up on the chair yet. As an additional test, I covered the seams with some white plastic cording designed for making piping on outdoor cushions. I just hot glued it on. This piping definitely bumped up the style factor, and made it look more like a white leather chair. <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-P1050004_zps7d745abf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1050004_zps7d745abf.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I made cones of vinyl grasscloth-style wallpaper to slip over the metal <br />legs of the chair. It's amazing what a glue gun and paint will do!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal">Since I was having so much fun, I decided to print an all-over design, using a cork from a wine bottle as a stamp. I dipped it in black paint and pounced the circle design all over the chair. I did not fuss with precision placement, but printed in a fairly random pattern. It took about 30 minutes.<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/P1050016_zpsac316897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1050016_zpsac316897.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I might like this version the best.  It's the most decorative, and black and<br />white patterns in fashion and furnishings are trending right now.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>I’m pleased with how easy and frugal it was to transform a plain microfabric side chair into a handsome addition to a staged room. I think this technique holds possibilities for staging vacant homes or seldom-used rooms, rescuing furniture you own but don’t like, or second hand furniture you’ve bought for a song. If you have some microsuede upholstered pieces that are the wrong color, or just need some refreshing for staging, paint them!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Are you looking for other attractive and thrifty ways to stage your home for sale? Download <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">my $5 eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>, and you’ll have all the tips and formulas you need to make your home look better to home buyers. </div></div>

How to Beautify an Ugly Microfiber Chair with Paint

I took one ugly chair and gave it six different looks. This is one. This is not an April Fool's Day post . I really did convert an old m...

Read more »

What You Should Know About Mid Century Modern Furniture

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040782_zpsaa8962a6.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-P1040782_zpsaa8962a6.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">I thought she was crazy when my friend Becky started collecting 1950s furniture in the 1980s. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I grew up with those armless sectionals and amoeba shaped coffee tables. Maybe that’s why as an adult, I saw zero appeal.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Crazy ole me. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now I envy how Becky has decorated her <st1:city w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:city> home. Funny how the passage of time gives you a better perspective on design. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That furniture is easy on the eyes. It’s well-constructed. It’s colorful. It’s unique. And it’s on-trend now. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mid Century Modern furniture designers were recognized as rule breakers at the time. The novel concept to design furnishings where form followed function began in the 1930s. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the 1940s when furniture makers discovered what could be done with new materials like plywood, fiberglass, wood veneers, molded plastics, and synthetic pigments, they set off on a new and exciting path. And the rest is history. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you are staging your home to sell it, here’s what you should know about MCM furniture.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plays Well with Others.</span></b> You don’t have to have a glass-walled ranch house to use MCM furniture. These streamlined pieces mix with most décor and furniture styles, from <span id="goog_1205258200"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-home-stagers-can-learn-from-shabby.html" target="_blank">shabby chic</a><span id="goog_1205258201"></span> to ornate Asian. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I've owned the chair you see above for twenty years. I rescued it from a house being torn down. It's solid teak and weighs about 30 pounds! I took the seat apart and replaced the old tweed fabric with an animal print, stitching it to the original vinyl part of the seat.  No mater where I live or how I decorate, it looks at home.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prices Are in Reach. </span></b>MCM furniture is accessible. Sure, the pristine originals and the high quality reproductions are pricey. But you can often find vintage pieces on Craigslist, in thrift stores, and at other second hand sources. If the piece is in excellent condition and the seller is knowledgeable, the price may reflect the value that collectors place on 50s furniture. But often these pieces come onto the market because someone is cleaning out grandma’s house, or the piece needs repair, and that’s when you can score a bargain.</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://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/08/101495022.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/08/101495022.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The sleek lines and spider legs of this cabinet make it a<br />perfect candidate for home staging. BHG photo.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Color Palette is Delicious.</span></b> The colors typical of MCM design are usually fine choices for home staging. Wall colors tended to be dusty tones of pinks, greens, tans, and blues. But the palette also includes today-colors like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/why-cyan-could-be-your-go-to-color-for.html" target="_blank">cyan</a>, lemon, tangerine, and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/the-trends-that-can-update-your-home.html" target="_blank">lilac</a>. Home staging welcomes the natural woods and plastic woods, the pastel colors and black accents that are integral to these furnishings.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Lines are Perfect.</span></b> Another element that makes MCM furniture great for home staging is that it can make rooms look more spacious. Chairs have open arms. Some chairs are made of wire. Bookcases have pencil legs. Tabletops are glass sheets on aerodynamic bases. Credenzas hide clutter.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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/1-1-Downloads1_zps9a8a644e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-1-Downloads1_zps9a8a644e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mid Century Modern examples like these can help home stagers with their <span id="goog_1178630420"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">furniture </a></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">arrangement.</a> These pieces will create a clean, comfortable and edgy look in most homes.    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Creates the Right Mood. </span></b>MCM can manage to look comfortable and warm, and at the same time industrial. The original designers turned to mass production because they wanted to produce “democratic furniture.”  As a result, many pieces do have an industrial vibe to them. But because of the use of light toned woods and playful geometric textiles, these pieces stop short of looking cold. That’s a perfect prescription for home staging success, a style that appeals to the masses. </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://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/11/101466628.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/11/101466628.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Vintage 50s furniture doesn't have to look spare. Combined with slipcovered pieces <br />and floral drapes, they stay true to themselves yet look fresh. BHG photo.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nostalgia Gets Attention. </span></b>If your MCM furniture is in good condition, it will evoke memories for some of a more innocent era, when home ownership was easy by comparison to today, and when people were happy with a slower, simpler life. For young people who appreciate vintage, the charm is still there, without the grandma ruffles and florals.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mid Century Modern pieces have made their way to collections in <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Modern Art</st1:placename></st1:place>. They will never lose their value. Incorporate some MCM to increase the value of your home on the market by making it look more attractive, tasteful, and comfortable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You can learn more tips on furniture styles, demographics, decluttering, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">furniture arrangement, </a>curb appeal, and all things home staging related, if you download my <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>

What You Should Know About Mid Century Modern Furniture

I thought she was crazy when my friend Becky started collecting 1950s furniture in the 1980s.  I grew up with those armless sectionals and a...

Read more »

Roundup of my Favorite 2012 Posts

<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/Doubledecordoor_zpsa2aef862.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/Doubledecordoor_zpsa2aef862.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A front door in Charleston, South Carolina, welcomes the new year. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I chose to feature these posts based on how helpful they would be to you if you have a home for sale. Is that you?<br /><br />Let's start with getting it organized. In January I wrote about the dozen rules that help <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/dozen-rules-for-organizing-your-home.html" target="_blank">organize your home.</a><br /><br />In February, just in time for Valentine's Day, the blog featured a post on capturing the hearts of buyers -- <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/02/how-to-get-buyers-to-fall-in-love-with.html" target="_blank">how to win buyers</a>, seduce them, appeal to their senses, and not let them forget you.<br /><br />One of my March posts had to do with window treatments -- <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/03/listen-up-its-easy-to-make-no-sew.html" target="_blank">curtains and drapes that require no sewing, all designed especially for home staging</a>. I wrote a $5 eBook of 15 tutorials for No-Sew Window Treatments. Why let your windows go bare when it's time to stage, and why give your valuable window coverings away to the buyer?<br /><br />During the following month, April, I wrote about the most important <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/home-improvements-that-deliver-most.html" target="_blank">things you can do to help sell your home</a>. This story is packed with helpful statistics, experts' advice, and shortcuts. You're bound to get some new ideas for simple home improvements.<br /><br />Since I get more questions about furniture arrangement than any other topic,  May's winning piece has to be Handy Formulas that Make <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/05/handy-formulas-that-make-diy-home.html" target="_blank">DIY Home Staging</a> Easy. You'll find measurements, ratios, formulas and other space and sizing tips to make rooms look and feel more comfortable. Bookmark it!<br /><br /><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">Painting furniture</a> is another hot button topic around here. I collected my favorite tips in a post for one week in June, and I concentrated on the most common mistakes made when DIYers paint furniture. I'm a professional painter, so I gave you all the insider secrets to get the job done quickly but expertly. The <a href="http://www.thediyadventures.com/2012/12/13/diy-basics-painting-furniture/" target="_blank">DIY Adventurers Blog</a> liked this post so much they featured it on their site.<br /><br />Although it may not be an option for you, many people are considering the pros and cons of <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-renting-your-home.html" target="_blank">renting their homes until they can sell</a> them. I researched and opined about this topic in July. There's lots to weigh before making a decision.<br /><br />I could have called my August article, The Five Tricks Professional Stagers Use, something like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/08/five-tricks-professional-stagers-use.html" target="_blank">All You Really Need to Do to Sell You Home</a>. It's that succinct and helpful.<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://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2011/07/08/4c49a0629e47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2011/07/08/4c49a0629e47.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The white-on-white color scheme, done by Sarah Richardson. One blog post I didn't feature <br />here but that I suspect may help many DIY stagers decide on <br />paint colors, is <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-all-white-color-palette-is-it.html" target="_blank">my advice on an all-white color palette.</a> </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In September, I attacked another common problem -- mantel staging, and I listed my smartest steps for <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-abcs-of-staging-seasonal-mantel.html" target="_blank">staging a mantel </a>that actually helps sell your home.<br /><br />Does your home have some Wow Factors? That's the question I asked in an October post. Wondering <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/10/does-your-home-have-some-wow-factors.html" target="_blank">what wow factors are</a> and which ones might be do-able for your home, your market and your budget? See my advice and illustrations.<br /><br />My favorite post from November is called Ten Tips to Improve Your Autumn <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/11/ten-tips-to-improve-your-autumn-curb.html" target="_blank">Curb Appeal,</a> but no matter what the season, you'll find pointers here to improve the way your home looks all year long.<br /><br />This past month I concentrated on decorating and protecting your home for the holidays. I so enjoyed making the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/12/this-seasons-darling-tabletop-christmas.html" target="_blank">tabletop Christmas trees</a> I wrote about, that I am going to call that one my favorite December post. In a home on the market that needs to look festive but not crowded, these adorable tabletop trees fill the bill.<br /><br />Is selling your home and moving on to your next adventure part of your plans for 2013? Then take a moment to download 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>. It's over 150 pdf pages of illustrated tips and techniques, checklists and formulas, to take the work out of staging your own home. Kick off the New Year with staging that works! <br /><br /><br />

Roundup of my Favorite 2012 Posts

A front door in Charleston, South Carolina, welcomes the new year.  I chose to feature these posts based on how helpful they would be to you...

Read more »

The Stars Align When You Sprinkle in Some Bling

<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://s3.amazonaws.com/obaz.production/uploads/product_image/image/4937/xlarge_img76o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/obaz.production/uploads/product_image/image/4937/xlarge_img76o.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><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-mercuryglass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-mercuryglass.jpg" width="325" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Aren't these contemporary Mercury glass vessels<br />from <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/mercury-glass-cityscape-vases-c459/" target="_blank">West Elm</a> to die for? Here's my choice of the<br />best tutorial for <a href="http://lovelylittledetails.com/2011/04/07/guest-post-diy-mercury-glass-tutorial-kelley-maria/" target="_blank">hacking the Mercury glass look</a>.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Recently I blogged about decorators' best tips for home staging.<br /><br />This week I want to focus on just one of those: Using shine to bring a room to life.<br /><br />Here are my favorite sources for the kind of bling I am taking about.<br /><ul><li>Mirrors</li><li>Crystal and clear glass</li><li>Lucite and acrylic</li><li>Glass</li><li>Silver</li><li>Brass</li><li>Nickle</li><li>Chrome</li><li>Sequins, rhinestones, beads and other embellishments</li><li>Mercury glass</li><li>Glossy plastic and vinyl </li><li>Stainless steel</li></ul>You probably already own some of the bright objects listed here. Your assignment this week, if you will allow me, is to locate at least one large glistening item in each room.<br /><br />Bathrooms and kitchens will be an easy place to start your assignment. Stainless appliances and ceramic fixtures quality. Glassware is a natural in these rooms. I'm picturing a large clean glass bowl of lemons in the kitchen, and apothecary jars of spa goodies in the bath.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bring on the Bevel</span></b><br /><br />My favorite way to make a room glisten is to add mirrors. At least one per room. Large or small, depending.  And my favorite mirrors are bevelled mirrors. Heck, you can pick up a 30 x 30-inch <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/Decor-Wall-Decor-Mirrors/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbve6/R-203024519/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UDE_rKmPWNo" target="_blank">sunburst mirror at Home Depot </a>for about $35, or a 36 x 30-inch <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_308323-20531-72272_4294856763__?productId=3468697&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1" target="_blank">wide-framed mirror from Lowe's </a>for $60. That's alot of bling for the buck.<br /><br />Along the same lines, glass-covered prints in mirrored frames add serious wow to any room. I see these in vintage styles as well as sleek, contemporary styles.<br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/421752/Pleasant-Valley-contemporary-family-room-little-rock" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://st.houzz.com/simages/421752_0_8-3360-contemporary-family-room.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #444444;"><div style="text-align: center;"><small><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><span style="font-size: small;"><i>These botanical images take on a modern vibe when they're placed in mirrored frames. </i></span></small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This <a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary/family-room" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">contemporary family room was design</a>ed by <a href="http://www.houzz.com/professionals/interior-designer/little-rock" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Little Rock interior designer</a> <a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/tobifairley/tobi-fairley-interior-design" style="color: #444444; text-decoration: none;">Tobi Fairley.  </a></i></span></small></div><small><br /></small></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://www.digsdigs.com/photos/inspiring-chandeliers-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.digsdigs.com/photos/inspiring-chandeliers-17.jpg" width="499" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The bathroom chandelier, done right! There's lots of hard surfaces in this room -- </i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the tub, floor, window, tin backsplash, </i><i>chrome faucet, and glass vases, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>that the wooden fireplace surround </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and door are a welcome counterpoint. Photo: DigsDigs.com</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/05/15/101422259.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/05/15/101422259.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stainless appliances are still popular. Whatever your opinion of stainless, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>it does add gleaming surfaces </i><i>to a kitchen, and in a dark or otherwise </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>slightly </i><i>dated kitchen, that's a plus. Photo: BHG</i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/07/20/101811684.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/07/20/101811684.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A glass topped table and some clear seats almost disappear except for the shine </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>they bring to the eat-in nook. Chrome legs are sexy. No? Photo: BHG</i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><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://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/05/27/24685a25cb6e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/05/27/24685a25cb6e.jpg" width="467" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;">A chandelier is the ultimate bling thing. Look for a place where a fancy<br />light fixture might be a surprise, like a closet or bath. Photo: Traditional Home</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/08/30/a0d37705c0dd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/08/30/a0d37705c0dd.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This bedroom by Sarah Richardson is layered with subtle shine: the glass door knob, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>ceramic lamp base, lacquered nightstand, mirror over the bed, nailhead trim </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>on the headboard, a metallic vase, and some pillow textiles with sheen. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2008/04/15/71b28fea8534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2008/04/15/71b28fea8534.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A patent leather headboard like this one is going to make a bed the </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>focal point of any room. </i><i>This House Beautiful bedroom also features </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>a mirror over </i><i>the headboard and some metallic Buddha lamps. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do your homework. Hunt your home for sources of shine. Make them part of your staging mix. And don't forget that the existing fixtures you have in your house -- the chrome faucets, the ceramic lamps, the bathroom mirrors, the stainless appliances  -- should sparkle because you've cleaned and polished them. Do these things, and your home on the market will outshine the competition. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Do you need more advice, inspiration and formulas for beautifully staging your home on the market? You need my <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>.  It's an instantly downloadable, 150+ page pdf guide to home staging, for only $5! You can't afford to e without it, and I guarantee you'll  be pleased or I will refund your money. <br />   </div></div></div></div>

The Stars Align When You Sprinkle in Some Bling

Aren't these contemporary Mercury glass vessels from West Elm  to die for? Here's my choice of the best tutorial for hacking the Mer...

Read more »

Five Tricks Professional Stagers Use

<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://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2008/08/Sparrow.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2008/08/Sparrow.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Plants are one of the most important props that a stager needs. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Selling your home can be stressful. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It's one of the big transitions in life, and there are so many details to take care of. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But staging your own home needn't be something to stress and obsess about. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To help you get up to speed with staging, I've collected some of the best sure-fire secrets of the homestaging trade.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My favorite way to learn a new skill, whether it's knitting or Qi Gong or batik printing (something I am working on for an upcoming project) is to look at what the experts do, then follow their lead.<br /><br />No one learns in a vacuum.<br /><br />Why learn staging by making mistakes or looking at examples of what doesn't work? You have just one chance to make a first impression on buyers.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, here are my favorite professional shortcuts to success that will be easy for you to follow. Ready, set, go! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Paint All Your Walls One Friendly Color</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Stagers call friendly colors the ones that most people like. Most people feel comfortable around warm whites and pale neutrals. Avoiding strong colors lets people touring your home relax and get a sense of the room, without the distraction of saturated or unusual colors.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It also lets them know they can probably move in without having to paint the walls.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unwise wall colors to use when staging? Purples, deep red, Pepto Bismol pinks, black, chocolate, or dark greens. I've already written about my own <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-choose-paint-color.html" target="_blank">method for choosing a paint color</a>.<br /><br />Why one color? Because one color will unify your house, so that rooms "talk to each other." It will also make the house feel newer and larger. And it will save you money on paint, and save you time when you have to touch up. One color. Everywhere.<br /><br />If one color just doesn't work with existing fixtures (maybe you have a fireplace with yellow <a href="http://www.mariakillam.com/category/understanding-undertones" target="_blank">undertones </a> in the living room, and countertops with pink undertones in the bathroom) chances are you can find two colors that still "talk to each other." </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2006/10/100034202.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2006/10/100034202.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>Forget the bad rap neutrals get for being boring. You want benign colors that offend no one. </i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>You want colors that will unify all your furnishings. You want colors that anyone can live with,</i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>at least temporarily. No one would call this entranceway boring. Photo: BHG</i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Start with Some Matched Furniture Sets</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know, I know. Matchy-matchy is passe. All the decorators, the shelter mags and bloggers are raving about mismatched and eclectic furnishings. I’ve even written and blogged about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/05/yes-you-can-stage-with-mix-of-furniture.html" target="_blank">how an assortment of styles works well in the staged home. </a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But, darn it, there are times when a couple of perfectly matched pieces of upholstered furniture in a living room that’s otherwise a jumble of assorted furniture styles, just pulls everything together and elevates the perceived value of the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you don’t own matched furniture, often <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/02/slipcovering-101-learn-from-my-mistakes.html" target="_blank">slipcovering</a>, reupholstering or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">painting</a> some existing pieces works the same magic. Adding sets of lamps, vases, or framed art also works. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/01/101503816.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="533" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/01/101503816.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>It's not just the upholstered chairs that match in this living room. The tables and pillows are </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>pairs as well. A matched set of prints on the wall reinforces the idea of a cohesive, </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>planned design, rather than just a collection of furniture in one room. Photo: BHG  </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Mix in Some Stuff That Shines</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Every room needs a shot of shine. Mirrors and glass fill the bill. These reflective surfaces bring to any staged room more light, more space, and more upscale glamour. Since mirrors bounce back whatever is before them, they create the illusion of larger, more open areas. Make sure they're reflecting something pretty!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/tables-with-glass-tops-home-stagers.html" target="_blank">Glass topped tables</a> show more of the floor, so a room appears bigger. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Do a walk-through and check your home for furnishings that add some gloss, some glimmer. It could be mirrored picture frames, mercury glass on the mantel, a glitzy chandelier, or a Lucite table. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/10/101517316.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/10/101517316.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>A grouping of small mirrors in wooden frames was all it took to add some sparkle to this </i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>dining area. The mirrors act like windows to create the sense of openness. Photo: BHG  </i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Make Those Window Look Tall and Wide</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although the simplest way to hang curtains and draperies is to place a tension rod inside a window casing, that’s not always the most flattering treatment. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Professional stagers know the bigger the windows, the more interesting and generous a home feels. So, mount your hardware high on the wall and away from the sides of the window. Screwing hardware to the window trim makes holes that are difficult to fix with putty and paint. Holes in the wall are way easier to repair.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t want to mess up your walls? Then, consider the nifty brackets <a href="http://www.readyhang.com/home" target="_blank">Ready Hang</a> sells. They clamp onto the window trim, and elevate the rod above the window opening without putting any holes in the wall. So clever!<br /><br />Exceptions to the rule? Historic homes where you want to show off architectural details around a window. Or ultra modern spaces where you want the minimalist look of unadorned glass. Or a small room with a small window where small is part of the charm and large window treatments would dwarf the space.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/10/101398512.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2011/10/101398512.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Big, beautiful windows become the room's focal point when dressed like this -- </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>with plenty of fabric surrounding them. Imagine this room with skimpier draperies,</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>and you'll see how important <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html" target="_blank">window treatments </a>are. Photo: BHG  </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Freshen Up With Greenery and Blooms</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Real ones or silk ones, the debate goes on. But one thing’s for certain: plants add a certain <i>je-ne-sais-quoi.</i> Ya just gotta have ‘em! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I lean towards silk plants as long as they are good quality and not cheap cemetery-style blossoms.  Other stagers swear by orchids. I don’t like clients to have to care for plants. There are <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/seven-secrets-to-making-silk-plants-and.html" target="_blank">ways to make silk plants look like real plants.</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And I think that, except for Open House Day, cut flowers just don’t make any sense in a staged home. They require too much attention and don’t last long enough for me. If you have an unlimited floral budget or an abundant cutting garden of your own, maybe it’s possible. Otherwise, silks to the rescue!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2010/11/101345335.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2010/11/101345335.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="575" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>There's always room for some greenery or flowers. At least, there should be! </i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>Silk plants and flowers are easy to care for, look terrific, don't offend the scent-sensitive,</i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><i>and you can take them with you when you move. Photo here and at top: BHG </i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><i>  </i></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Wrap:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once you’ve decluttered and cleaned, take some time to run down this list of five steps the pros know. These are the methods decorators and stagers use daily to get homes sold! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to stage your home. Tricks like these and my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast For Top Dollar</i>, will make it easy to stage a home that buyers want. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Five Tricks Professional Stagers Use

Plants are one of the most important props that a stager needs.  Selling your home can be stressful.  It's one of the big transitions in...

Read more »

Handy Formulas That Make DIY Home Staging Easy

<div style="text-align: left;"></div><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/Tradhomeblue-whitelivrm_zps096ada32.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/Tradhomeblue-whitelivrm_zps096ada32.jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>How you arrange furniture can make or break how a room looks. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Wondering if your living room coffee table is too tall?<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Curious about the how many chairs will fit around your dining table? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t know how high to hang that framed print? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now you can grab your tape measure to double check whether your intuition was right about what goes where. Here are my favorite guidelines for <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">furniture arrangement</a>. They're sure to make easy work of your home staging .</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Go by the Numbers</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Passage.</b> Anywhere you expect people to walk needs to measure at least 18 inches wide. You want home buyers to be able to move about the room.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Traffic.</b>The main traffic pattern through a room needs to be at least 24 inches wide. You want home buyers to see clearly which way they should go next. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Breathing room.</b> Furniture placed against a wall should be 2 inches away from the wall. Any room feels less cramped when furnishings have space around them.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Different chairs.</b> The height of assorted seating around a room should not vary by more than 5 inches. This will make the room look cozy and more intentional.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><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://img4.myhomeideas.com/i/2010/07/68992-cottage-dining-r-x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://img4.myhomeideas.com/i/2010/07/68992-cottage-dining-r-x.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Ask yourself if people can easily get in and out of dining room chairs. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">This bench looks like it could be a problem.<br />Photo: Southern Living</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Arm's length.</b> The space between a coffee table and a couch should measure at least 14 inches but no more than 18 inches. In other words, you should be able to reach it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>How high? </b>A coffee table between 16 and 18 inches tall looks best and functions best.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Back up room.</b> When dining chairs are pulled up to the table, there should be at least 36 inches between any chair and the wall behind it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Elbow room.</b> There should be at least 4 inches between dining room chairs.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Reachable.</b> End tables should be no more than 2 ½ inches above or below the arms of the chairs or couches they sit next to. Not only is the look more seamless, but the tables are more functional.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Usable.</b> Got seating at the foot of your bed? Make it almost as wide as the bed, and almost as tall. If it's a desk or table, it needn't be that wide, but a short bench looks skimpy when you want home buyers to see a luxurious bedroom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>No fumbling.</b> Bedside tables should be approximately the height of the bed. Otherwise, they are awkward to use and look like an afterthought.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What Goes on Walls and Where</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/bhgbedroom_zps1405fdc7.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/bhgbedroom_zps1405fdc7.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">There's room for making the bed and moving around. <br />The sidetable is the perfect height. BHG photo.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Hanging pictures.</b> The space between two <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-get-hang-of-picture-hanging.html" target="_blank">framed items on the wall </a>should be no more than 3 inches.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Head room.</b> Keep 9 inches between the top of a chair, headboard, or couch and the bottom of any wall hanging (artwork, sculpture, curtains).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Best view.</b> Find the center of a framed piece of art, and position the center 63 inches above the floor. This is average viewing height for most people.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Television.</b> Best height for a flat screen television is at eye level when you’re seated. The screen should not be the focal point of the room.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Size matters.</b> Keep artwork larger than 12 inches square, and usually, the bigger the better. You can make small prints look important by framing them with wide mats.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Blank space.</b> If a wall space is less than 36 inches wide, leave it unadorned. Buyers need a place to rest their eyes and get a sense of open space. Resist the temptation to decorate every wall. When in doubt, a mirror could be the best space filler, especially if it reflects a selling feature of your home.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sizing When Accessorizing</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2009/03/25/0ebfeae24ae3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2009/03/25/0ebfeae24ae3.jpg" width="412" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">These shades are just the right size for the lamps. <br />And the draperies hit the carpet gracefully. Photo: Decorpad. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Nothing tiny. </b>Make all decorator pillows 16 x 16 inches or larger. It's better to have one large pillow than a collection of small ones. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>No high water hems</b>. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html" target="_blank">Draperies</a> should touch the floor, and if they break (like pants over your shoe), the break should be at least 1 ½ inches, or it looks like a mistake. Sometimes you can adjust the length of the drapery at the top by re-positioning the hooks or clips.<br /><br /><b>Lamp proportions. </b>The shade on a table lamp looks best when it is 1/2 the height of the lamp base. It should cover the neck of the lamp, but not disguise the shape of the lamp.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>For safety sake.</b> Never use an accessory in a staged home that is so small someone could easily slip it in a pocket. Small items are distracting to the eye, and can easily be stolen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>I have found</b> these formulas helpful when I’m shopping for furniture, hanging art, moving furnishing around a room, and in all kinds of other home staging decisions. They reduce guesswork and mistakes. I hope these numbers and proportions will be useful to you when you’re just not sure if your eye is telling you the truth about what looks best when you’re staging your home for sale. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For more advice on how to make your home the one that buyers want, get 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 To Dollar.  </i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Top photo: Traditional Home </i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Handy Formulas That Make DIY Home Staging Easy

How you arrange furniture can make or break how a room looks.  Wondering if your living room coffee table is too tall? Curious about the how...

Read more »

Slipcovering 101: Learn From My Mistakes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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/homestaging/IMG_2936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_2936.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">New fabric revived my old chairs. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Home on the market, and upholstery looking old? It's time to bring fabric to the rescue.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">My two wicker chairs</span></b> desperately needed updating. I was tired of their dreary, stiff, brownish-red slipcovers and uncomfortable seats.<br /><br />I wanted something light and lively, and I already owned the perfect fabric. It was the same yardage I used in my <span id="goog_538565877"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/faking-bedroom-part-2-diy-bedskirt.html">tutorial to construct a fake bed and bedskirt for bedroom staging.</a><span id="goog_538565878"></span><span id="goog_2005535085"></span><span id="goog_2005535086"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a><br /><br />I'm not adverse to making mistakes, as long as I can learn from them. What I learned when I sewed these slips was "Think ahead," and, "Take your time."<br /><br />You would think I already knew these rules! What can I say except, "Impatience took over my mind."<br /><br />The cushions look okay, but they could look better. Specifically, here's what I did wrong.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mistake One</span></b>. Since each seat cushion was square, I cut out two squares of fabric for each, sewed these together, then squared off the corners.  I didn't realize that the front seam on the seat didn't have to be a seam at all. I could have simply wrapped the yardage around the front of the foam cushion, and sewn three seams.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The best upholstery and slipcovers have matched patterns where seams join. I could have had this seamless, custom look, but I blew it by not thinking ahead.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mistake Number Two</span></b>. By cutting out just two panels of fabric and placing the seam midway on the sides of the cushion instead of on the edges, my slips look like they might have been purchased  ready-made instead of custom-fitted. Had I cut side pieces, the look would have been classier.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mistake Number Three.</span></b> Another oops I made was to not wrap the foam cushion in a layer of synthetic batting. Batting softens the hard edge look of a square of foam. I've used this method before to make cushions that look both more professional and more comfortable.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBMimG79fAjyh56Fhhfeg_-ti2kRgOjlGa8uf5fdW4d_IRhkFqVhSP9-ZjTAGD8zWU9ClV87dLrlX7ZfhLRUzRPK3ggGJfAVQnXT5eBjAzpqAVdf-cB6gp6Qqkgf9hlBqr2T0wm932l5J/s640/IMG_5029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBMimG79fAjyh56Fhhfeg_-ti2kRgOjlGa8uf5fdW4d_IRhkFqVhSP9-ZjTAGD8zWU9ClV87dLrlX7ZfhLRUzRPK3ggGJfAVQnXT5eBjAzpqAVdf-cB6gp6Qqkgf9hlBqr2T0wm932l5J/s640/IMG_5029.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mistake Number Four.</span></b> Rushing also meant that I did not take time to add piping. Skipping the steps that would require me to buy or make piping and sew it into the seams meant forgoing a custom look.<br /><br />Whether it matches or contrasts, piping always makes any slipcover, pillow, cushion, or upholstery look crisp, finished, and high end.<br /><br />The beautiful chair pictured on the left was expertly and lovingly upholstered by Little Miss Penny Wenny, and she <a href="http://littlemisspennywenny.blogspot.com/2011/04/chevron-chair.html">blogged about it</a> on her site last April.<br /><br />Notice that the chevron pattern matches as it rolls over the upholstery. Notice that she's incorporated self-piping along the seam lines, some of it double. Miss Penny Wenny really knows her stuff!<br /><br />Although this chair is upholstered, not slipcovered, the same rules apply. Attention to details make a difference. Follow her example, not mine.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Takeaway:</span></b> I hope next time I sew slipcovers, I'll take my time and think ahead. Meanwhile, I still like the new look my wicker chairs have. And, hey, it takes humility to admit your mistakes in blogland. To my credit, I did replace the worn-out fiberfill stuffing with new foam cushions. Much more comfortable!<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/homestaging/wickerchairafter-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/wickerchairafter-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The red fabric had lived its best days, but I love my orange swirly fabric.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Need help sewing slipcovers? Download my friend Kristi's <a href="http://www.pinkandpolkadot.net/p/lazy-girls-guide-to-custom-slipcovers.html">Lazy Girl's Guide to Custom Slipcovers</a> at her blog, Pink and Polk Dot, where he tagline reads, "Confessions of a Slipaholic."<br /><br />Need help staging your home on the market? I can help you decide what to spruce up, what to clean, how to get organized, what to get rid of, how to update and refresh what you own, and so much more. Download my <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 /><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://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5424788835_54f8e5b8e7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5424788835_54f8e5b8e7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Here's an example of the transformations Kristi creates. Notice the self piping and cute pleats.</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><center><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a></center>

Slipcovering 101: Learn From My Mistakes

New fabric revived my old chairs.  Home on the market, and upholstery looking old? It's time to bring fabric to the rescue. My two wicke...

Read more »