Beautiful Modern Contemporary House Elevation: Open House

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Six of My Favorite Home Staging Props

<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/P1090315.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/P1090315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>There are a few staging props that really earn their keep.  </i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Home staging that knocks the socks off buyers counts on many things: curb appeal, cleanliness, perceived value, move-in-readiness. <br /><br />But it’s often the details that make a home memorable.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s why I’ve compiled this list of the home decor accessories that ought to be in any home stager’s bag of tricks. Consider them your dependable details that make a difference. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sets of Books</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While a bunch of books on a bookshelf can look splotchy and distracting, a set of matched volumes looks rich, coordinated and deliberate. <br /><br />Generously-sized books are great, and leather bound ones are especially classy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/stage-your-home-with-books-heres-how.html#.UzRlZKI3Ndg" target="_blank">Books used as a staging accessory</a> let you convey a sense of who lives in the home – interesting, educated people. <br /><br />Buyers on home tours <i><b>do</b></i> browse book spines, so for this reason, stay away from controversial subjects or topics that aren’t mainstream (Chinese erotica, history of the occult…). Also avoid obviously dated sets like 1980’s World Book encyclopedias. But, don’t put out anything valuable or irreplaceable, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Best source or stage-worthy volumes is at a local library sale. I recently helped sort books at my library’s annual sale and was surprised at the quality and selection of books – all topics and colors, just what a stager needs.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b>Bowl of Lemons</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I love seeing a glass bowl of lemons on a kitchen countertop or island. Whether you use a ceramic platter, a wooden bowl or a wicker basket -- the pretty effect is the same. <br /><br />Think of lemons as the default dining room centerpiece, the perfect prop for completing a staged beverage bar of glassware, or the easiest way to dress up a foyer tabletop. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There are couple reasons why I rate lemons high for home staging. One is that nobody is tempted to try and eat them the way they would apples or pears. They’re clearly decorative. The other reason is that lemons represent freshness. They’re tangy and fragrant, and even if you’re staging with fake lemons, the message is the same: clean and fresh.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The only thing that adds more life to a room is plants. But I'm keeping my list to six!  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></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/P1090102-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1090102-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>All these lemons are fake. Who's to know? Yellow lemons seem to compliment any color scheme.</i></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>  </i></span> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Plush Towels</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">New towels are a must for dressing up a bath. Face it -- towels age and although they work just fine for everyday use, when you’re aiming for that luxurious, boutique hotel look, you want fat and fluffy new ones. I always suggest white ones unless the entire bathroom is white. White towels will always work in your next home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although not every stager will agree, I don’t have a problem with tying decorative ribbon or cording around a towel, to let people on a home tour know that they aren’t to be used, especially if it is open house day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Large Landscape Paintings</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This prop might be a tad more difficult to locate and afford, but the results are dynamic. A landscape painting literally opens up a room. The most economical sources are the usual second hand places we all love (eBay, thrift stores, garage sales), but you can also buy budget-friendly new artwork that works fine. Or you can create DIY art suitable for staging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Your landscape could be a beach, forest, city, mountain or rural scene. Make it match the mood of your home -- abstract watercolor you create yourself, one of your own photos blown up big and framed, a kitschy paint-by-numbers scene, a colorful travel poster, or a sophisticated black and white photograph. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Buy frugally and plan to spend more on the framing than on the art, because the framing is what puts art over the top. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/BonesteelTroutHalllivrm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/BonesteelTroutHalllivrm.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A landscape this large becomes the focal point of the room. Nothing wrong with that!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Your landscape needn't be complicated, detailed, professionally done, expensive, or even </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">include images of land. Seascapes are "landscapes."</span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">Photo: Bonesteel Taylor Hall.</span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Matched Table Lamps</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/TwolampsTobiFarley-1.png" 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/TwolampsTobiFarley-1.png" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This beautiful bedroom by Tobi Farley demonstrates</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">how important a set of tables lamps are for a balanced look.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>If you tour showhouses and study photos of professionally designed rooms, you’ll notice how often the savvy decorators who plan these rooms use pairs of lamps. <br /><br />Anytime a pair of anything is used as a decorating prop, there’s a sense of order and quality. Rooms done on a shoestring from castoffs lack the cohesiveness that twosomes add to a space.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Although you might be home staging on a shoestring, the last thing you want is to look like money’s a problem. That's an important point to remember! Buyers' perceptions of your financial<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> situation will influence the purchase price they offer you. Write that down! </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Look wealthy. Look generous. Look comfortable. Don't look needy or you'll attract "bottom feeders." <br /><br />A pair of table lamps in the bedroom or living room will help you pull off mismatched nightstands or side tables. <br /><br />Don’t approximate this look by using two lamps that resemble each other; they must be identical twins. <br /><br />The lamps should be placed close enough so that they are both visible in a glance, such as on either side of a couch or bed. Their shades should match, and they should both be on the same level. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Walk through your home to make sure you haven’t separated a matched pair of lamps, and then reunite them for staging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Plump Pillows</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span id="goog_1751948721"></span><span id="goog_1751948722"></span><span id="goog_572043644"></span><span id="goog_572043645"></span><span id="goog_1396375958"></span><span id="goog_1396375959"></span><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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/LaurenLiesslivrm.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/LaurenLiesslivrm.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This lovely arrangement by Laura Liess shows how having</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"> matched pillows puts a finishing touch on the grouping. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Pillows are one of the absolute best ways to add another layer to a room’s decor. <br /><br />I recommend pillows in colors that flow seamlessly with the color scheme of the room rather than oft-touted pops of color. <br /><br />You can still have fun with geometrics, textural fabrics, dressmaker details, and animal prints. <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What to avoid: Cute sayings on pillows, pillows flattened by age, stiff pillows that don’t look comfortable, and an excess of pillows on any bed, sofa or chair. <br /><br />Pillows add the custom details that give a room some interest and make a room look finished. They also suggest hominess and comfort. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Takeaway</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How does your staged home rate for having these essential decorating props? None of them are break-the-bank investments, yet they will all add value to your home and make it more inviting to people shopping for a new home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you like these tips, check out my<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html#.UzRkSqI3Ndg" target="_blank"> home staging eBooks.</a> They’re written to help you get a better price for your home on the market. At $5, they’re great investments. Guaranteed!<br /><br /></div>

Six of My Favorite Home Staging Props

There are a few staging props that really earn their keep. Home staging that knocks the socks off buyers counts on many things: curb appeal...

7:17 AM

Why Hasn't My Home Sold?

<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/gingerbread-house-detail-3_zps82e8aa47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/gingerbread-house-detail-3_zps82e8aa47.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Delicious house, but no one's biting? </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Are you getting antsy to move? Has your home been on the market and not getting the showings or offers you expected?<br /><br />If so, here are some questions you can ask yourself to test possible reasons. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Money, Honey</span></b></o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">"Is my price fair?" </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unrealistic expectations or an over-zealous listing agent can cause poor pricing. Work with your realtor to list your home’s assets and liabilities, then do the comps to see if your price is on target. An inflated price is usually the cause of a home that sits too long.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Your Point Person</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">"Do I have the wrong listing agent?" </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Re-examine your realtor. If FSBO, consider calling a real estate company and discussing the commission and other conditions.<br /><br />Look closely at the way your home is being marketed. The online listing should be tempting and accurate. The <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-not-to-photograph-your-home.html" target="_blank">MLS photos</a> should be clear and complete without being repetitive. Today’s homes need to be marketed in a variety of ways – the front yard sign, yes, but also flyers, Internet sites, open house showings, email blitzes, communications with other realtors.<br /><br /><span id="goog_412716634"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html" target="_blank">Choosing a realtor</a><span id="goog_412716635"></span> is an important decision. Choose one with whom you have good rapport. Your listing agent has to be well-connected with other agents, not a loner or someone unpopular in the industry. If you have qualms about your agent, talk to the firm’s broker or owner. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Problem Attitude</span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">"Am I being cooperative enough? "</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Make sure your home is easy to show. There should be a lock box on your property to make showing easy for all area agents. If your realtor has to give unrealistic advance notice to show your property, because you have pets or medical problems, or the house isn’t always tidy enough, then find a way around the problem.<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/purpledoor_zps16f5b51c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/purpledoor_zps16f5b51c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A lock box won't ruin your curb appeal when your entrance is this pretty.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Have a frank talk with your realtor and ask for feedback. You could also solicit advice from a friend with good decorating sense or a home stager. Double check <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-you-reason-your-home-isnt-selling.html" target="_blank">your motivation and reasons for selling</a>. Are you a foot-dragging, reluctant seller? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Quirkiness</span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">"Is there something off-putting about my home?" </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Does it have too much personality, or problems that are a turn-off? Does it smell of untended litter boxes? I’ve seen homes with <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-choose-paint-color-easy-way.html" target="_blank">paint colors</a> only an aging hippie could love and a back yard that only a pack of dogs could love. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When people see a group of homes, yours may be remembered as the one with poor lighting or the pool with stagnant green water or low ceilings or 1970’s shag carpeting. Find solutions to these problems or expect low ball offers or no offers. People want homes ready to move into. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you decide to make major changes to your property, remove it from the market, do the repairs, cleaning and staging, and then relist. New listings get attention.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;">No Temptations</span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">"Have I done what I can to make the house desirable?"</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Buyers should feel like they are entering a boutique hotel suite when they enter your home. If you haven’t been able to deep clean the house, consider hiring a cleaning service. A house can’t be too clean! Make sure all small and distracting décor items have been replaced with open space or attractive accessories.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><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/100556269jpgrenditionlargest1_zps4f63798b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/100556269jpgrenditionlargest1_zps4f63798b.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Clean, functional and luxurious -- that's what buyers want in a bath. Photo: BHG</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If necessary, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/the-trends-that-can-update-your-home.html" target="_blank">update</a>some of the fixtures like lights, faucets, shower heads, window treatments. Study <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/barbarapilcher/" target="_blank">my Pinterest boards </a>to see what décor trends make sense for home staging.</div><div class="MsoNormal">                                                                                       </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Economy</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">"Is my market too sluggish?" </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Major metropolitan areas are bouncing back from the recession. Other areas, not so much. If your area has way too many homes for sale and not enough buyers, your response might be patience. wait for a better season ahead. You can always <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-pros-and-cons-of-renting-your-home.html" target="_blank">rent your home</a> until the market improves. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you just want to move on, lower your price to counteract the cold market. Calculate the costs of staying put -- your taxes, mortgage interest, maintenance, and utilities, then factor them into your price considerations. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Buyers often won’t mention price as an obstacle to making an offer because they don’t want to appear cheap, rude or unappreciative. Instead they will say, “The bedrooms are too small,” or “I didn’t like the neighborhood,” something that can’t be changed. A low price compensates for all kinds of things, including obstacles like dated appliances, ugly flooring, poor curb appeal, or a bad view. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, make your home irresistible. You can encourage buyers to make an offer by helping with closing costs, owner financing part of the price, or letting things like window treatments, big televisions, outdoor furniture, and laundry appliances convey with the sale.<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/content_writing_up_an_offer1_zps0dacdf4e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/content_writing_up_an_offer1_zps0dacdf4e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Motivated buyers will find a way to justify your asking price. Photo: reddoor-re.com</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Looking Ahead</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s an introspective time of year, a time when most of us review the hits and misses of the past 365 days and sets some goals for the year ahead. So, it’s a natural time to examine why your house hasn’t sold. Here’s to a prosperous 2014, when your home will sell and you’ll find another home that your love.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Be sure to 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>I've helped hundreds of people stage their own homes to make them sell faster. My book tells you how<i> </i>to ready your home for a quick and profitable sale, no matter where you live or what kind of home you have.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>Top Photo: <a href="http://www.theredheadbaker.com/">http://www.theredheadbaker.com</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

Why Hasn't My Home Sold?

Delicious house, but no one's biting? Are you getting antsy to move? Has your home been on the market and not getting the showings or o...

2:00 AM

Make This Simple Outdoor Fountain

Make This Simple Outdoor Fountain

The pleasant sounds of water splashing is one fine way to introduce buyers to your home for sale. I was hypnotized once. Really. By a train...

2:00 AM

Checklist: A Dozen Must-Have Cleaning Tools

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040688_zps76d21b51.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-P1040688_zps76d21b51.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">You’re staged to sell. Are you cleaned to sell?<br /><br />Clean houses sell faster than less-than-sparkling ones, because buyers love a property that looks like the professional cleaning crew just left. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I know that deep cleaning is hard work. Keeping the essential tools and equipment at hand makes the tasks easier, faster, and more thorough.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s a run-down of cleaning tools that will help you sell your home. I compiled this list based on my own experience and the advice I’ve researched from professionals and other neat-freaks. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Caddy.</span></b> An equipment caddy is like your purse. Get one you like to look at, and stock it with your favorite cleaning solutions. Keep it clean, organized, and handy.<br /><br />Some people like to store a caddy on each floor of the home, or in each bathroom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Microfiber cloths.</span></b> Who isn’t a fan! These miracle cloths are so effective at capturing and holding dust and dirt that they make harsh cleaning products unnecessary for many of your ordinary cleaning jobs. For wiping down doors and trim, give me a bucket of plain water and a microfiber cloth, and let the games begin! Easy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For big, reusable microfiber cloths at the best price, look in the automotive section of Wal-Mart.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rags.</span></b> I use rags for spot cleaning carpets, sopping up major spills, and tackling nasty jobs like wiping down porch railings or the undersides of a range hood. Disposable paper towels are temptingly easy but can get very expensive.<br /><br />Did you know that paper towels can actually scratch some surfaces, like Plexiglas and other plastics? And paper towels are no friend of the environment. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Got orphan socks? Cut them in half lengthwise, and use them for cleaning. They’re soft, absorbent, and reusable. Old T-shirts, diapers, and towels make good cleaning rags, too. Recycling feels good! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plastic Buckets.</span></b> My preference is a roomy one for floor mopping jobs, plus a couple of smaller ones to soak items or dilute solutions. Spray cleaners can build up after time, so once in a while a cleaning with clear water, rinsing as you go, calls for a handled bucket.  </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/1-P1040712_zps27c8cbcb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040712_zps27c8cbcb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">          I like equipment that I can wash and disinfect, like my little dustpan and broom.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brooms.</span></b> Many homeowners have tossed their brooms in favor of Swiffer-style sweepers, but nothing matches what a broom can do for floor corners, edges of carpeted rooms, exterior doors and steps, and other places where most vacuum cleaners won’t pick up.<br /><br />Soft, synthetic bristle brooms are easier to use and grab dust better than stiff brooms. For garage floors, driveways and sidewalks, a stiff push broom is best.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />A broom's kissing cousin is the dust broom, and a dust pan. They're a necessity unless you're sweeping debris under a rug, and I know you wouldn't! Well, maybe if your realtor is knocking at the door with clients in tow.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Mops.</span></b> A mop’s essential for a thorough cleaning on washable flooring. A large-headed wet mop with a swivel base and removable microcloth takes care of maintenance cleaning. For deeper cleaning, use a traditional sponge mop, one with a sturdy replaceable head that will squeeze out excess water and lets you rinse floors as well as wash. The more money you spend, the better the mop. Read the reviews and pick your weapon.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Brushes.</span></b> They’re indispensable for embedded dirt, textured surfaces, and hard to reach places. I prefer a brush or a cloth to a sponge, which starts out looking all perky and then gets stinky if you don’t disinfect it regularly and then dry it quickly.<br /><br />I like Oxo brushes because they are designed well and last a long time. My dentist has forgotten that he recommended a Sonic toothbrush, so when I get free toothbrushes with each visit, they become part of my cleaning arsenal, perfect for getting into those tough spots. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" 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-P1040701_zps7f98cd2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040701_zps7f98cd2f.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This little, long handled, low-tech carpet sweeper could be your answer <br />to those short notice showings when your carpets need a quick once over.   </span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="font-size: large;">Magic Erasers.</span></b> Like any addict, I make sure I never run out of these. They are the only approach for some otherwise unsolvable cleaning problems. We’re talking glass shower doors, fiberglass shower stalls, stoves, porcelain and stainless sinks, and stains on vinyl and laminates. The post I wrote about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/the-truth-about-magic-erasers-are-they.html" target="_blank">how Magic Erasers work their magic</a> is one of my most popular posts.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Vacuum Cleaner. </span></b>Nothing sexy about it, but people have love/hate relationships with their vacuums. I love my Rainbow. I’ll never go back to using a vacuum that blows air over dirt and then out its exhaust. My Rainbow is a little heavy and a little awkward, but I don’t care. It makes the whole house smell great because I can scent the water that cleans the air. I don’t get paid to say these things.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A vac is your most important tool. If you’re in an unfulfilling relationship with yours, now’s a good time to invest in your future. Whether you prefer an upright or a canister type, I urge you to spend a little more money and get one that you can stay married to for a long time.<br /><br />Or does your present vac just need a thorough overhaul and cleaning? <br /><br />It's not a vacuum cleaner, but it's the ancestor of vacs -- the humble carpet sweeper. It could be included on this dirty dozen tool list as #13. Compact, lightweight, inexpensive, quiet, it will perform your hurry-up-tidy-ups between regular vacuuming dates.     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Long Handled Duster.</span></b> A microfiber duster on an extendable handle is the way to handle ceilings and walls on a maintenance schedule. Swooshing over these surfaces regularly gets rid of dust and cobwebs before they become visible.<br /><br />The telescoping handle is your friend if you have high ceilings. Use your handled duster for ceiling fans because they are a magnet for whatever is in the air. Knock the dirt down before you vacuum.</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/1-P1040704_zps5d643691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040704_zps5d643691.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">My favorite scents. If you've read my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">home staging eBook</a>, you know that I like to avoid </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">   strong chemical scents, and prefer essential oils for adding fragrance to a room.   </span></i><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">You can download the book now and and learn all my tips to clean like a pro.</span></i> </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Plastic Watering Can.</span></b> A real time-saver. If you have to use caustic solutions, like Lime-A-Way or CLR, to clean shower walls and doors, use a small plastic watering can with a spout to rinse them away. Tuck it away in the vanity.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Nitrile Gloves.</span></b> Protect your hands and your health. Slip on some pretty gloves for all your wet cleaning tasks. Even pure water dries your skin, and cleaners in solution are absorbed by your skin. If you won't drink it, don't put it on your skin.     </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/1-P1040720_zpsd30173b7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1040720_zpsd30173b7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">What? A girl can't have too many pairs of gloves. I have other glove collections <br />for painting and gardening. This is the watering can I use for rinsing shower walls.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Depending on your home, you’ll have favorites to add to this list --  a steamer, roller to remove pet hair, carpet shampooer, robot cleaner, hand-held rechargeable vac, pumice stone, special dry mop, a squeegee, your favorite dance music. What do you do to make the most of your housecleaning time?  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Getting your home to shine is one of the most important ways you stage your home. When a person buys a home, she envisions herself starting fresh, and moving up in the world. Cleanliness is part of that picture, part of what sells homes. You can't clean your home on the market too much, but you deserve the tools that let you do a better job, faster and easier. </div>

Checklist: A Dozen Must-Have Cleaning Tools

You’re staged to sell. Are you cleaned to sell? Clean houses sell faster than less-than-sparkling ones, because buyers love a property that ...

2:00 AM

Making a Greenery Wreath for Christmas

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020467.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-P1020467.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">If your home is for sale, a holiday wreath is one terrific way to boost your curb appeal. In fact, a wreath on the front door is pretty much a necessity if you want to get buyers curious about what's behind "door number one." </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make your own evergreen wreath, and you’ll save money, create one that’s unique, and have some fun. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s the secret to turning out a beautiful wreath that doesn't look homemade? Actually, there are three secrets. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One: Fullness Matters</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A novice makes a skimpy wreath. A professional makes a lush one. A full base of greenery is more important than what decorates it. If you aren’t able to gather or purchase all the greenery, you can buy a plain evergreen wreath as a start.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Two: Embellishments Count</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For a professional-looking wreath, choose striking ornaments. Choose ones with color or shine, ones that tell a story or make people smile, ones that might even be…how can I say this…gaudy. They need to be dramatic to stand out. No wallflowers if you want some noticeable curb appeal. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Three: The Focal Point's the Thing</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A wreath isn’t finished until it has a singular statement piece. It’s usually the bow, but it can also be a super-sized ornament like a doll or other figurine like a feathery angel or a sparkly snowman. It could be an over-the-top silk flower arrangement, a printed banner, or a vintage toy. Without the focal point, the greenery wreath is nothing special. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When your home is for sale, your wreath can be part of your selling team. Have it emphasize what’s unique to your home. It might capitalize on what’s special about your town or your part of the country. It might reflect the carefully chosen color scheme you’ve decorated your exterior or interior with. It might mimic the style of your home, such as classy traditional, hip mid century modern, charming cottage, or edgy urban. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Start with the Base </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><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/P1020443-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020443-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Your wreath makings can be simple or an assortment. Just make sure there's enough to <br />pack it tight. If your wreath will be seen from both sides, you'll need enough to make it round.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My favorite wreath form is the straw wreath. Besides being the most economical (Have you seen the prices of foam wreaths lately?), it’s easy to work with, versatile, and sturdy – a great start for creating the full look. I wrapped the entire wreath form in florist’s tape because I didn't want any straw showing.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Did you know that as you apply florists tape, you need to stretch it to about twice it length? Stretching activates the wax that makes it sticky. Just stretch as you go, and place where you want it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether you have a collection of various greens or a stash of one variety, get it all together and discard or trim damaged foliage. If you plan to use your wreath indoors, you can prolong its life by soaking the foliage stems in water overnight after cutting them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ideally, you’ll have free or low cost sources for the base of the wreath, possibly trimmings from your yard or from a fresh Christmas tree you buy. Along with traditional coniferous greenery like juniper, pine, and false cypress (hemlock and spruce will shed), I like to mix in shrubbery and broadleaved evergreens like boxwood, mountain laurel, pittosporum, nandina, English ivy, holly, magnolia leaves, eucalyptus, or whatever else I can collect. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020446.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The first cluster gets wired on. I used 26 gauge wire. Alternate your<br /> clusters of greenery so that the entire form is covered, including the sides. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">Use medium gauge wire or heavy twine to attach greens to the wreath form. To start, wrap it once around the wreath and secure it. Then, cluster a handful of greens, lay it on the wreath with one hand, and wrap the wire over the stems and around the wreath two to three times with the other hand.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Continue all around the wreath form, staggering the clusters of green so that one cluster hides the stems of the previous cluster. I prefer using wire because it’s easier to keep it tight, and that’s important as you continue around the wreath form. When you’ve come full circle, twist the wire or tie the twine, and make a loop for hanging. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020452.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Make a wire or twine loop at the top of your wreath. If you are unsure of where you want <br />the top,  you can save this step for later, but it's easier to add it earlier than later. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">If the greens look crooked or untidy, you can trim stray greenery with scissors or pruners. A common mistake beginners make is to have a shaggy wreath, but I like a bit of that loose look.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Pick in Your Ornaments</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ornamentation is either wired on, picked in, or glued onto a wreath. When the wreath base is made of wire, you’ll need to wire the ornaments onto it. On a foam or straw base, you’ll either glue on or pick in the ornaments. Picking lets you put ornaments exactly where you want them so they will stay there until you take them off. Glued ornaments aren’t easily removable. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re on a budget, use thrifted, recycled or natural items for ornaments. After-Christmas sales are an ideal time to score on some wreath-making ornaments for next December. If free, natural objects like nuts, shells, seed heads, twigs, and pinecones look too ordinary, give them a hit of silver or gold spray paint.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s how to make a pick, the way a floral designer showed me, the “load and lock” way. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1030497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1030497.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is how a pick should be fastened to make it wiggle-free, <br />with a wire that loops back between the stem and the pick. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Picks come in different sizes. Lay the pick large enough to accommodate your cluster next to the stems.  Make one turn around the stems with the wire that’s attached to the pick. Then, make a figure eight of the wire between the stems and the pick. Keep the wire tight, and continue to wrap it around the stems and the pick. This figure eight locks the cluster so it stays in place instead of swiveling or going nutsy on you when you add it to the wreath.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Add the Star of the Show</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Craft stores and craft departments are full of items to put that all-important exclamation point on your wreath. If there is one place I’ll splurge a little, it’s on the one statement ornament. But you'd be surprised how some spray glitter or spray snow on a thrift store find can deliver glam results!   </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/1-P1020470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020470.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Rather than a bow, I chose an ornament from<br />my stash to be the centerpiece of this wreath. <br />The pewter bells on a silk cord are designed <br />to announce visitors arriving! </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If a multiple-loop bow is your focal point, I have five tips for making it a winner: Use wired ribbon, don’t skimp the number of loops (10 on each side of the center is about right), use florists wire to tie the center, keep it tight in the center, and fluff it up! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want a more <a href="http://inmyownstyle.com/2011/12/how-to-make-ribbon-bow-the-easy-way.html" target="_blank">romantic bow</a>, here is a tutorial from Diane at In My Own Style.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you want a <a href="http://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-tie-a-perfect-bow.html" target="_blank">simple, tied bow that stays straight </a>instead of going all crooked on you, Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating can show you how. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Some of my tips for wreath making don’t apply to novelty wreaths. If you’re crafting a wreath of felt flowers or buttons or<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/09/diy-tutorial-how-to-make-pine-cone.html" target="_blank"> pine cones</a>, you may not need a focal point.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re building on a wire or foam wreath, you might tie ornaments on with lengths of florist wire or chenille ties instead of wooden picks.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re making a wreath of coffee filters or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/need-some-curb-appeal-dress-up-your.html" target="_blank">rags</a> or feathers or driftwood, the wreath itself is the statement and whatever you add to it depends on personal style. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But if you’re turning out a wintry evergreen wreath, my tips will help you make it look polished and complete.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/open-house-checklist-ready-set-go.html" target="_blank">Open House</a> is to lure buyers for your home on the market, or to share holiday cookies with your neighbors, or host your annual New Years Day bash, a wreath on the front door welcomes in style whoever knocks on your door. If you make it yourself, you can make it special. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And to help you lure those buyers, 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>, for tips and tricks the pros use to stage homes that sell. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></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>

Making a Greenery Wreath for Christmas

If your home is for sale, a holiday wreath is one terrific way to boost your curb appeal. In fact, a wreath on the front door is pretty much...

2:00 AM

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>

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