How to Use Today's Trendy Grey and Yellow Palette

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/bedbhg_zpsc68c355c.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/bedbhg_zpsc68c355c.jpg" width="480" /></a>Looking for a crowd-pleasing color combo that looks clean and contemporary to make your home attractive to buyers? I vote for grey and yellow.<br /><br />I'll admit that when -- just a couple years ago -- I started seeing greys in photo spreads and hearing greys talked about as the new neutral, I was all, no way! <br /><br />Now, I see what a workhorse greys can be. I thought greys would be depressing, dark and dinghy. Not so. They are chic and soothing. They have many variations, from cool and clear, to muddy and warm, and everything in between. They're easy to combine with all kinds of other colors, but do well on their own.<br /><br />Grey is the up-to-the-moment decorating darling color now, and bound to hold that position for a years to come. Yellow is the current companion that makes it look new. Yellow is always in <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/01/five-simple-ways-to-add-style-to-your.html" target="_blank">style</a>.<br /><br />In other words, you can't go wrong with this twosome as long as --<br /><ul><li>You keep the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/03/pastel-colors-good-or-bad-for-staging.html" target="_blank">colors on the lighter side</a>. </li><li>The colors in one room flow with the colors in adjoining rooms.</li><li>There are no jarring accent colors.</li><li>The greys you choose are all in the same <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-choose-paint-color-easy-way.html" target="_blank">color family</a>. The same for the yellows. </li></ul><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Trick to Choosing a Great Grey: Undertones</span></b></div><div><br /></div><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/chairwtwopatterns_zps8e7fbbc1.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/chairwtwopatterns_zps8e7fbbc1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Shopping for fabrics, drapes, linens, upholstered <br />pieces, lamps, or pillows? You'll have plenty of <br />grey and yellow options this season. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>One advantage to painting with greys is that they cover well. That's why many primers are tinted grey.<br /><br />Whereas some colors, particularly yellows and reds, often require two coats to completely mask a previous paint color, greys absorb light and so they mask well.<br /><br />Whether you're <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">painting furniture</a> or walls, you can save time and money by going with grey. But how do you determine the right grey when you're starting from scratch?  </div><div><br /></div><div>To help you decide, look at the darkest version of any grey on the color strip at the paint store. It will help you see what the undertones are.<br /><br />For example, Sherwin Williams "Wallflower" is almost lilac, but you might not notice that unless you look at the other end of the same strip and see the saturated maroon chip. Their "Silver Strand" has olive brown undertones, which is apparent when you look at the dark end of the color strip. If you're looking for a bluish grey, you'll find it at on the strip that has navy colors on the dark side, and greys named "Icy," and "Solitude" on the same strip. </div><div><br /></div><div>Once you have a color grey you want to use, whether you are painting with it or just using it to match something like fabric, previously <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/painted-furniture-home-stagings-friend.html" target="_blank">painted furniture</a>, carpeting or tile, carry the paint chip with you as a sample when you are making your home staging decorating decisions. The other greys in the room needn't match, but they should share the same undertone.  </div><div><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/hgtvbath_zps3f006d65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/hgtvbath_zps3f006d65.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If you have some existing fixtures that are grey, whether it's tiles, carpeting, appliances,<br />or upholstered pieces, finding the right shade of yellow will update them. Photo: hgtv.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/livrmluckypinkelephants_zps0b29e323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/livrmluckypinkelephants_zps0b29e323.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A soft grey like this is an ideal color choice for home staging.</span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;">The </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">yellow accents here add texture and warmth. Photo: Luckypinkelephants.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/mcmlivrmplummersfurniture_zpse3df7d9a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/mcmlivrmplummersfurniture_zpse3df7d9a.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If you don't have new grey and yellow upholstered pieces like these, you do know that<br />you can slipcover or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-beautify-ugly-microfiber-chair.html" target="_blank">paint upholstered pieces</a>, right? Photo: Plummers Furniture. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Blog-GreyandyellowBHGbdrm_zps923ac255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Blog-GreyandyellowBHGbdrm_zps923ac255.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Black and white are perfect foils for a grey and yellow room. They add<br />a certain crispness to the space. This photo and top two photos: bhg. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><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/livrmhomesdirect_zps415f58a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/livrmhomesdirect_zps415f58a9.jpg" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If you don't want to commit to an all-over gray and yellow color palette, <br />you can limit your yellow to frugal or dispensable accessories. The grey<br />furnishings will be your neutral pieces in the future. Photo: DirectHomes.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>The colors you choose for decorating your home can make or break your home staging  Greys mixed with yellows give you a safe route that's on trend and versatile. <br /><br />For much more advice on colors, accessories, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-to-arrange-furniture-most-common.html" target="_blank">furniture arrangement</a>, cleaning, decluttering, landscaping, and other projects for staging your own home, 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 for  Top Dollar. </i>It comes with my money back guarantee. </div>

How to Use Today's Trendy Grey and Yellow Palette

Looking for a crowd-pleasing color combo that looks clean and contemporary to make your home attractive to buyers? I vote for grey and yello...

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How to Make Patterns Work for Your Home Staging

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></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/P1060363_zps322fb8da.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/P1060363_zps322fb8da.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pattern mixing 101: Keep it simple.<br />This place setting is just squiggles and stripes, <br />done in members of the blue family </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Every staged home runs the risk of looking plain vanilla ho hum ordinary.<br /><br />But with the clever injection of some texture and pattern, your DIY staging will hit the mark and win the hearts of buyers.<br /><br />Texture mixing is pretty simple. Just incorporate a variety of surface treatments and material -- shiny metals, rusted metals, nubby fabrics, silky fabrics, furry fabrics, smooth woods, distressed woods...You really can't overload textural interest unless you're overloading colors as well.<br /><br />But <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/decorating-with-patterns-101.html" target="_blank">pattern mixing</a> is a little trickier. You <i><b>can </b></i>overload patterns.<br /><br />Also, when you combine patterns for home staging, it's not the same as mixing patterns for personal decorating. <br /><br />I'm here to help. Here are a few simple guidelines specifically geared to home staging.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Color Counts </span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Keep the color palette of your textile prints simple. Limit yourself to two or three colors per room. The trend now is towards more colorful rooms, more saturated colors, more unusual colors. Don't go there. Play it safe with colors that any home buyer could relate to. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1060357_zps934fb109.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/P1060357_zps934fb109.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A bed-in-a-bag and a beagle. She loves to<br />make a nest in my co-ordinated <br />Waverly fabrics purchased 10 years ago.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Choose neutrals and pastels that are not distractions on a home tour. Your pattern colors should pick up some of the neutral colors in the room. Choose either clear hues or muddy hues. Choose either intense colors or muted <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/03/pastel-colors-good-or-bad-for-staging.html" target="_blank">pastels</a>, not both.<br /><br />Determine the undertones in whatever colors you use. Do they tend toward yellows or pinks or greens or greys? When in doubt, match your colors to a paint chip and ask at the paint store what the undertones are. They have the formula and know the pigments that make up the color, so they can identify the undertones for you. They'll do this even if you are not buying paint.<br /><br />One goof-proof way to mix patterns is to buy fabrics bundled by a professional decorator. Bed-in-a-bag is an example. Retail outlets and manufacturers deliberately coordinate things like table linens, bath towels, and kitchen textiles to make it easy for you and to sell you more of their stuff. Buy their sets or just imitate the catalog and store displays.<br /><br />Another way to be sure your patterns talk to each other and don't take over the room is to base your patterns on a single color. For example, I'm picturing a room with creamy draperies edged in pale yellow, yellow floral and chevron stripped pillows, and a yellow gingham upholstered chair.   <br /><br />One of my Pinterest Boards shows <a href="http://pinterest.com/barbarapilcher/colors-for-a-staged-home/" target="_blank">color schemes appropriate for a staged home</a>. Visit there for inspiration and ideas when you're choosing colors.<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/hgtvbedrm_zps18b29c25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/hgtvbedrm_zps18b29c25.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Repetition holds this assortment of fabric patterns together. We see a rich red and <br />a faded red. The chain motif trimming the pillows repeats the curves of the <br />paisley pillows. The polka dot pillow imitates the tufted chenille bedspread.<br />And the gold in the pillows repeats the gold of the brass bed.  Photo: BHG.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/pillows_zps15bffb91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/pillows_zps15bffb91.jpg" width="556" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A charming, contemporary toile in teal and a mandala-like design <br />in orange compliment each other beautifully. These draperies don't strike me <br />as too matchy at all!  Photo: Woman's Day.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/livingrm_zpsb82999f5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/livingrm_zpsb82999f5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">You can't go wrong with the classic combo of floral (carpeting), plaid or check (chairs) <br />and a stripe (draperies). Photo: Myhomeideas.com, by Erica Georges Dines.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Scale is All About Size, Style, and Placement</span></b><br /><br />Mix large patterns with small patterns and something in between. This kind of mixing creates a finished, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/01/five-simple-ways-to-add-style-to-your.html" target="_blank">stylish</a>, interesting look. Mix angular geometrics with curvy florals. Mix ombre, ikat, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/ten-ways-to-rock-global-look.html" target="_blank">ethnic,</a> and batik prints and with crisp modern designs. These kinds of juxtapositions delight the eye and bring a room to life. <br /><br />Spread your patterned pieces around the room, as well. If all your patterns are on <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/easy-way-to-make-your-own-decorator.html" target="_blank">pillows</a> clustered on one couch and the rest of the room is showing solid colors, there's an imbalance. Pattern placement keeps the eye moving, and that's what you want. <br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/blogMixingprints_zps522efcd7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/blogMixingprints_zps522efcd7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A lovely collection of subdued blues. The bedspread is <br /> a <a href="http://apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-a-b-138526" target="_blank">block print using a rubber welcome mat</a>.  Photo: Leah Moss</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Carry swatches of fabric and paint chips with you when you are staging your home. The mind does not remember colors the way it does numbers and facts. Fabrics really need to be seen in 3-D next to each other for you to judge their likeability.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Restraint Rules the Day</span></b><br /><br />Limit your pattern selections and color choices to three. Sounds boring? Sure. Looks boring? Not necessarily! An uncluttered home looks <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-make-your-home-look-new.html" target="_blank">new</a> and clean.<br /><br />Remember that you can repeat the patterns in more than one place. A striped panel in the draperies can be repeated on a tablerunner. That's not matchy-matchy. That's just cross pollination.<br /><br />One strategy to make a room look more intentionally designed than thrown together is to use similar or identical trims on upholstered pieces, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/03/listen-up-its-easy-to-make-no-sew.html" target="_blank">window treatments</a>, lamp shades, pillows, and other accessories. Your trim could be something like white cording, a fuzzy fringe, colorful rick rack, gold braiding or patterned ribbon.   <br /><br />Tone down the size of bold contrast patterns. This one trick will help keep your rooms looking comfortable and tasteful. If you're staging a really large room, you'll need some large textile designs, but they can be composed of subtle color variations.<br /><br />So, don't be afraid of printed textiles. They can help you sell your house! There's plenty of solid color in most rooms to balance a selection of prints and patterns. Just jump in, and follow my guidelines for mixing and matching prints for home staging.<br /><br />If you want more tips to stage your own home, be sure to order my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook,</a> <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i> It will teach you to stage like a pro!<br /><br />

How to Make Patterns Work for Your Home Staging

Pattern mixing 101: Keep it simple. This place setting is just squiggles and stripes, done in members of the blue family  Every staged home ...

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Best Tips for Staging Your Porch

<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/2011/04/101067972.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/2011/04/101067972.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A porch is always an added attraction. BHG photo</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal">When I was three and my father was 30, he built a summer home so our family could spend vacations by the ocean. That’s where we went as soon as school was over, until the day before school started. I loved it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A few years after he built the little two-bedroom home, he added what he called a sun porch onto the south side of the house. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It was only big enough to accommodate the four-piece rattan furniture set my parents bought for it. Three walls were windows, it was bright in there all day long, and we could watch cars and people go by. I loved it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A few years later, he built an open porch off the sun porch, stretching the house east, and expanding the living space by the size of an average bedroom. We could watch sailboats glide by, and from our back porch in <st1:state w:st="on">Connecticut</st1:state> we could see on the horizon another state – <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state>! I loved it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A few more years went by, and he continued to clear the lot around the house of rocks and boulders common to seaside property. Eventually, all these broken rocks became the foundation and the walls for a terrace. He built it all himself. It stretched across the entire back of the house, and it transformed that little bungalow into what seemed like an estate. This is where we enjoyed clambakes and birthday parties for many years. I loved it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Like most people, I have only happy memories of porches.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">What’s your porch story? </span></b><br /><br />Does your home for sale have a porch? If so, lucky you!  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whether it’s in the front, at the side, or behind a house, a porch makes any structure appear larger, more welcoming, and more connected to the out-of-doors.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A porch can create memories (or fantasies) of times when life was leisurely, when neighbors visited just to “sit a spell.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-CentsGirloutdoor-room-_zpsb001da3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="546" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-CentsGirloutdoor-room-_zpsb001da3f.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2013/05/one-day-outdoor-room-makeover/" target="_blank">Centsational Girl </a>recently created this colorful patio for a friend and blogged about it .</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Or a porch can telegraph buyers that once they buy your home, they’ll have a special place where they can enjoy private time to relax and unwind – everyone’s dream!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To other buyers, a porch is a place to entertain. Even a small balcony makes people envision inviting friends over for drinks and conversation, or a meal in the open air.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If your home has a porch and you don’t stage it, you’re missing a chance to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/seduce-home-buyers-with-springtime.html" target="_blank">woo buyers</a>.  Here are my favorite porch-prettying pointers.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Color Counts</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Even though I recommend neutrals inside a staged home, outdoors is a place to punch it up. With brighter natural lighting and less defined boundaries, saturated colors will get the attention you want, making househunters take notice of this amenity. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Purchased outdoor furniture gets brighter each year, so you have no excuse for drab curb appeal. If you own older furniture and want to refresh it, spray paint’s probably your best option. I like Krylon's Fushion paint for plastics. If you're painting furniture with a brush, follow the steps I wrote about here: <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">painting furniture</a>.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Of course, neutral color, black, or white furniture is timeless, so don't think you need to go crazy with neon spray paint. Your color choices can align with the style of your home and the likely demographics of your typical buyer.     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>  </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">View or No View</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></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://img4-2.coastalliving.timeinc.net/i/2009/07/tbh-porch-9-l.jpg?400:400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img4-2.coastalliving.timeinc.net/i/2009/07/tbh-porch-9-l.jpg?400:400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Shutters like these create an intimate room, and <br />could disguise a poor view. Photo: Coastal Living.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>If there’s a pleasant view either near or far, make sure buyers notice. Don’t obstruct it with large plants, curtains, or furniture.<br /><br />Position seats so they face the view, because it is not uncommon for realtors and clients to take a seat and look around, even to linger and discuss the home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If the view from your porch is the battered work van in your neighbor’s driveway, or the brick wall of the building next door, find a way to block it or distract.<br /><br />You can install shutters, blinds, draperies, or add large potted palms. Even if the entire view isn’t totally obscured, you can still make it easy to forget what’s there.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Flowers and Plants</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This one’s a must. From early spring until late autumn, and year round in some parts of the country, flowering plants on a porch are a classic. They are the finishing, colorful touches that say a home is loved. You don’t need a horticultural degree to keep most <span id="goog_725460096"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-container-plantings-can-help-you.html" target="_blank">container plants</a><span id="goog_725460097"></span> looking good. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If the home you are selling is vacant, you get a pass to substitute good quality silk ferns or artificial flowers as long as they don’t look like something from the cemetery. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Seating’s Essential </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></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://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2012/05/101555467.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/2012/05/101555467.jpg.rendition.largest.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Porch seating takes many forms -- chaise lounges, rockers, stools, <br />benches, or an old fashioned, cushioned swing like this. Photo: BHG. </span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table>Whether you have room for just one chair by the door, or for a number of conversation groupings, seats on the porch complete the picture.<br /><br />Make sure there is room to maneuver around them.<br /><br />Face them towards each other or clustered around a table, not in a line as though on display in a furniture store. <br /><br /><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/you-can-make-outdoor-cushions.html" target="_blank">Cushions<span id="goog_371079333"></span> </a>and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/easy-way-to-make-your-own-decorator.html" target="_blank">pillows</a> are the easy way to add comfort and color to your porch. If your porch is protected, or you live where it doesn’t rain all summer, you have all kinds of fabric choices. The rest of us need quick-dry, outdoor fabrics that lessen the likelihood that a buyer will sit down and then leave with a wet bottom and sour mood.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Porch Stand-Ins</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></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://img4-2.coastalliving.timeinc.net/i/2004/05/patios-trellace-l.jpg?400:400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img4-2.coastalliving.timeinc.net/i/2004/05/patios-trellace-l.jpg?400:400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A porch, especially a back porch should link your interior <br />to your exterior worlds. Photo: Coastal Living. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>No porch? Patios and decks fall into the same category. Even seating groups in the garden can be considered “porches.” Use the reminders above to make any outdoor space inviting to buyers. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In fact, even the steps of an inner city brownstone or the small entranceway to a suburban townhouse is an opportunity to add the kinds of touches that make a buyer optimistic about your home’s interior. <br /><br />Because potted plants, all-weather carpeting, paint, fabric, and outdoor furniture are available economically everywhere, you’ve no excuse to not maximize your porch’s potential.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now is the time of year to make your porch a statement area of your home. Make your porch tell a story. Stage it to capture the imagination and hearts of buyers, and you’ll be that much closer to a purchase offer.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For more help staging your home, order my $5 <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar.</i> I know you'll be pleased. I guarantee it. I'll give you your money back if you're not totally satisfied with what you learn about staging your own home.     </div>

Best Tips for Staging Your Porch

A porch is always an added attraction. BHG photo When I was three and my father was 30, he built a summer home so our family could spend vac...

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Make the Bed that Sells the Bedroom

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-blogbedbhgpatterns_zps61014402.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-blogbedbhgpatterns_zps61014402.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The bed is almost always the focal point of the bedroom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make the most of it by staging it to impress buyers and capture their imaginations. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make it easy for them to picture themselves retreating and relaxing there, especially if it is the master bedroom. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Layer it.</span></b> The staged bed should look layered and interesting. It should look large and accommodating, even if it is just a twin bed. Here are some ways to get that look. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Soften it.</span></b> The bed should look comfortable. That means no sharp corners or edges. I often see MLS photos of beds that look like plywood draped with a bedspread and topped with two sad pillows. A duvet will soften those edges and give that illusion of ultra-comfort.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1070994_zps3db2e2aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1070994_zps3db2e2aa.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Study color.</b></span> The bedding should coordinate with the room’s color scheme. Although it’s the focal point, it needn’t shout. Pick up the colors you see elsewhere in the room – in the window treatments, wall color, carpeting, rugs, artwork, or furniture pieces. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Location, location.</span></b> Unless the room is L-shaped, the bed should be visible as one enters the room. The bed grounds the room, and the other elements “spin” off it. Buyers need to immediately connect with the function of the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Formula bedding.</span></b> If you’re decorating-challenged, bedding comes in sets so that creating a beautifully made bed is as simple as making one purchase that includes the duvet, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/faking-bedroom-part-2-diy-bedskirt.html" target="_blank">bed skirt</a>, pillow shams, sheets, and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/easy-way-to-make-your-own-decorator.html" target="_blank">decorator pillows</a>.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Neatness counts. </span></b>Even though you want the look of a fluffy bed, it can’t look messy. Synthetic comforters are more likely to be smooth, while down comforters can look lumpy and a little too casual. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">This looks silly.</span></b> Avoid too many pillows. Counting the actual sleeping pillows, three is minimum, and seven is maximum number of pillows. People don’t like overly staged homes and a bed full of fancy pillows screams “staged to impress!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Crowning glory.</span></b> Always have a headboard. It should be visible. If you can’t see the headboard or you are missing one, there is no shortage of <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-can-make-headboards-from-recycled.html" target="_blank">headboard styles</a> and DIY <a href="http://pinterest.com/barbarapilcher/diy-headboards/" target="_blank">headboard ideas</a>. I can show you <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-make-padded-headboard-to-stage.html" target="_blank">how to make an inexpensive headboard here.</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Finishing touches. </span></b>A bedskirt will let you hide storage boxes under the bed, and gives the bed a finished look. I like a tailored skirt that always looks neat, instead of a dust ruffle that tends to be too feminine and cute for home staging.   </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-BedJenniferAdamsBHG_zps5d3da2a9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-BedJenniferAdamsBHG_zps5d3da2a9.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A seamless color scheme of neutrals with dashes of black <br />makes this bedroom calm and sophisticated. Photo: BHG</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-blogbedrealsimple_zps885010b1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-blogbedrealsimple_zps885010b1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Letting coordinated linens like sheets and sleeping pillows peek<br />from under the covers is a fresh and honest look. Photo:Real Simple.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-blogbedhsebeaut_zps5c31734d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-blogbedhsebeaut_zps5c31734d.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Repeating a pattern and certain colors is one simple way to make the bed <br />look designed rather than thrown together. Photo: House Beautiful.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bedbhgwhite_zpsbdac3fc6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bedbhgwhite_zpsbdac3fc6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">White is always right. A smooth and simple cover, six pillows, a generous <br />headboard, a two-color palette -- What's not to love?  Photo: BHG.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Every Bedroom Needs </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What’s essential for a bedroom that wins the hearts of buyers? </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>A sense of luxury</li><li>A combination of coziness and spaciousness</li><li>Orderliness</li><li>Privacy </li></ul>At center stage, beds can convey all of these qualities if you give them the attention they deserve.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I wrote about bedrooms and how to <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-stage-bedroom.html" target="_blank">appeal to what buyers want</a> in a previous blog post and in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">staging eBook.</a> Be sure you’re not missing the opportunity to win buyers by <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-your-bedroom-says-about-you.html" target="_blank">dressing your bedrooms</a> to address the senses.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top Photo: BHG</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">            </div>

Make the Bed that Sells the Bedroom

The bed is almost always the focal point of the bedroom.  Make the most of it by staging it to impress buyers and capture their imaginations...

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A Simple Way to Make Any Room More Inviting

<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-P1050245_zps54ef5beb.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-P1050245_zps54ef5beb.jpg" width="402" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Are elephants warm and fuzzy? In a certain way, yes!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Friendly.<br /><br />Lovable.<br /><br />Approachable.<br /><br />These are qualities that attract us to other people. So, it’s no surprise that the same qualities make a house attractive to home buyers. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the best ways I know to make a room friendlier is to add reminders of nature.<br /><br />Here are three ways to do just that:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/thrifty-decor-how-to-give-rooms-fresh.html" target="_blank">Plants</a>, real or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/seven-secrets-to-making-silk-plants-and.html" target="_blank">silk</a>.</li><li>A window with a garden view.</li><li>Natural <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/02/lighting-secrets-to-help-sell-your-home_4.html" target="_blank">lighting</a>. </li></ul></div><div class="MsoNormal">And there’s another way to use nature to breathe life into a room: Animals, but not your house pets!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are some prime examples of how animal décor can make your home more interesting and lovable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-foxpictureselledecor_zps2e86fbce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-foxpictureselledecor_zps2e86fbce.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This sparsely furnished bedroom is the perfect setting for <br />some framed prints of English hunting scenes. Via Elle Decor</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-horsepicmidwestliving_zpsa2bf2b01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="534" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-horsepicmidwestliving_zpsa2bf2b01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I'm partial to oil paintings of horses at rest. This traditionally designed living room<br />gets an extra shot of class from the painting. Midwest Magazine.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-birdphoptotodhuntertraditionalhome_zpseebc8052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-birdphoptotodhuntertraditionalhome_zpseebc8052.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Audubon bird prints have their place, but a contemporary photo<br />of a bird makes for handsome framed art as well. Tod Hunter, Traditional Home</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-RabbitpictureBehr_zps7542421e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-RabbitpictureBehr_zps7542421e.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">DIY art using animal graphics is easy to do, and can fill <br />wall space in a budget-staged home. Behr paints.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-elephantviaorangebeautiful_zps21e46984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="390" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-elephantviaorangebeautiful_zps21e46984.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">An elephant side table is timeless and crosses all decor styles. They come in all sizes <br />and designs. I especially like this glossy white one. Orange Beautiful. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-foodogshadesoflight_zps2485bdfc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-foodogshadesoflight_zps2485bdfc.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Another classic is foo dog ceramic ware.  Feng Shui teaches that foo dogs offer<br />protection. This one stands guard  and lights the way. Shades of Light.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-frogvase_zps6531a45f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-frogvase_zps6531a45f.jpg" width="389" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Who could resist smiling at these three hugging frogs? Accessories<br />like this can help stage <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/06/stage-your-home-with-books-heres-how.html" target="_blank">bookcases</a> and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/ins-and-outs-of-staging-fireplace-mantel.html" target="_blank">mantels</a> with a sense of humor. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-monkeybookendsapttherapy_zps0b2ac0a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-monkeybookendsapttherapy_zps0b2ac0a5.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Jungle animals and animals that people feel a special kinship with are especially<br />good allies for staging your home. Example: Monkey bookends. Apartment Therapy.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Blog-animalprints_zpsa2735372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Blog-animalprints_zpsa2735372.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Almost any style of animal imaging -- if it's original -- works for home staging. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Aren't t</span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">hese </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">abstract cat pillows from Laurel Burch charming?    </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-AnimalprintLonnyMagazine_zps0a2ffc5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-AnimalprintLonnyMagazine_zps0a2ffc5c.jpg" width="508" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps the most popular animal prints are the leopard (above) and the zebra stripe. <br />One animal print per room is the usual rule, but you can make your own rules! </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-birdcurtainspotterybarn_zps6aa90fbe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="359" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-birdcurtainspotterybarn_zps6aa90fbe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">These Pottery Barn drapery panels feature gorgeous bird designs, <br />always an attractive motif for home decor.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-furchairnester_zps5cbb4bec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-furchairnester_zps5cbb4bec.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Nester blogged about how she made this <a href="http://www.thenester.com/2011/03/fur-chair-no-sew-reupholstery.html" target="_blank">no-sew, faux fur-covered chair.</a><br />I think it's fabulous. It's fake, but it looks like mink -- so Hollywood!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1050214_zpsbeb18cfd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1050214_zpsbeb18cfd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Don't forget your outdoor spaces. This fish fountain sits on my back porch. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">It was easy to </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">make, and adds a soothing sound to the backyard. .  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">While researching images for this post, I stumbled on some unwise choices, like glowing turtle lamps, owl placemats, and neon flamingos. So, beware the kitchy, overused, animal accents, and instead look for either lovable or exotic motifs. Stay away from less likable animals like snakes.<br /><br />No unicorns, please. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pigs and chickens are iffy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Out of doors, be on guard against <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/make-your-home-gnome-free-zone.html" target="_blank">“slob art.”</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One more caveat: don’t use real fur. If it’s fabric you’re after, velvet animal prints and faux furs are what you want. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sometimes staged rooms become too sterile. Using wildlife images and imitations can give rooms some animal magnetism and whimsy if you do it with <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/01/five-simple-ways-to-add-style-to-your.html" target="_blank">style</a>.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you need more inspiration and advice on staging your home so you can sell it, 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>. Let me be your guide while you get your home ready for market.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/photowtextanimals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/photowtextanimals.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /></div>

A Simple Way to Make Any Room More Inviting

Are elephants warm and fuzzy? In a certain way, yes! Friendly. Lovable. Approachable. These are qualities that attract us to other people. S...

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Real Estate Words You Never Heard Before

<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/2012/12/03/ae53cf7e5c66.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.decorpad.com/photos/2012/12/03/ae53cf7e5c66.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is the kind of freeting every home needs. <br />What's a freeting? Read on!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal">When you're a home seller, you soon learn that the English language fails you.<br /><br />You meet people, run into situations, and even DO things that demand a new word. Like these I have coined:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Blowbed</span> – Inflatible mattress dressed to look like a regular bed. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Bubble Bath </span>– A grandiose master bath built at the height of the housing market. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Cougar</span> – Older home that looks good. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Dishcount</span> – A price reduction because the home was cluttered with too many cute plates on the walls.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Drive-by Shooting</span> – When a home buyer drives neighborhoods snapping photos on a cell phone to send a significant other for immediate feedback.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Flip Flop</span> – Home renovated to sell, but done poorly.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Freeting</span> – First impression the<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/a-staged-foyer-helps-sell-your-house.html" target="_blank"> foyer</a> of your home gives to those arriving.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></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;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8721_zps79b287bc.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/IMG_8721_zps79b287bc.jpg" width="304" /></a></div></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Not all Scotchems are hidden. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">My </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">No-Sew Window Treatments eBook</a> shows </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"> you how to make decorative hems, </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">like this pink polka dot one. </span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">FSBCP</span> – For sale by crazy person, a phrase used to describe a home overpriced because the seller thinks he doesn’t have to pay a realtor.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Galcave</span> – Craft room</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Half Baked</span> – Kitchen not staged.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Hext</span> – A text message that the people coming to view your home (that you spent all weekend cleaning) bought another home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Lady</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">Ga</st1:state></st1:place> Ga </span>– A married couple tours your home and only the wife falls in love with it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Magish </span>– When you SO desperately want a room in your house to look like a <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/11/yes-you-can-learn-to-stage-your-home.html" target="_blank">photo in a magazine</a>, it actually happens!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Sho-wells</span> –Towels exclusively reserved for when people are coming to view your home.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Targetize </span>– When a home seller buys all the staging accessories in one trip to Target.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">NFH</span> – Neighbor from hell. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Pillowize</span> – Efforts made to cover couch stains with large, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/easy-way-to-make-your-own-decorator.html" target="_blank">decorator pillows</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Scotchem</span> – Shortening draperies and curtains by using masking tape or duct tape</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">WTF </span>– White thrifted finds. All the furniture you bought second hand, and then <span id="goog_1167602258"></span><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-all-white-color-palette-is-it.html" target="_blank">painted white</a><span id="goog_1167602259"></span> to stage your home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Zirconia</span> – Artificial wow factor, such as an avocado refrigerator painted with <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/09/add-some-big-deal-drama-to-your-home.html" target="_blank">stainless steel paint</a>.<br /><br />If you want some serious help staging your home, 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>. You can begin now to DIY your way to a sold home!<br /><br /><i>Top photo: Meg Broff Interiors</i></div>

Real Estate Words You Never Heard Before

This is the kind of freeting every home needs. What's a freeting? Read on! When you're a home seller, you soon learn that the Englis...

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The Easy Way to Make Your Own Decorator Pillows

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>You say you want sassy-looking pillows? But you don't want to invest much money in them? As always, DIY is the answer.<br /><br />You're smart to include pillows in your arsenal of props if you're home staging. Pillows can give a bland room some texture, color and personality. Pillows add the finishing touch that bumps a room's  style quota up a few notches. Plump and pretty pillows can soften the look of a room, making it feel comfortable and welcoming –- important goals when you stage a home.<br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000771.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Jumbo rick rack gives this easy-to-stitch toss pillow some pizazz.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For pillows to have impact, they need to be large. I like pillows for staging to measure at least 18 x 18 inches. I like the covers to be removable for washing or replacing with a different cover. I like them to look as luscious as the versions I see on designer's online portfolios, and in the shelter magazines. And I like them to be easy to make so I can whip them up on a whim.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">But I don’t want to shell out much moolah for them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, here is how I make pillows for staging.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000651.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">To Save Money </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Make the pillow insert yourself from re-cycled fabrics, like pillow cases, sheets, or towels. Bed pillows that have gone flat can be washed, taken apart, and the stuffing used to make new throw pillows. Free.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For the pillow itself, you can buy gorgeous remnants and upholstery samples at discount prices in most fabric stores. Another source of cheap fabric is second hand stores, including the blankets, curtains, and even shirts and dresses sold there. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you have enough fabric to cover the front of the pillow, save money by using something less expensive for the back.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">If you’re an experienced sewer, you can piece together scraps of fabrics to make patchwork pillows that look stylish. Patchwork doesn’t always mean looking like grandma’s quilts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And, my favorite money-saver is to stuff the pillow insert with junk mail or old tax returns that you’ve run through your paper shredder. This free filling holds up well, has a good loft and weight, and has no off-odors. Trust me; my dog even sleeps on a bed I made that’s stuffed with shredded paper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Today's Lesson</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve chosen to demonstrate the flanged pillow case with an envelope back, because it fits all my criteria. It’s easy to make, and the flange gives it some style without the hassle of stitching piping into your seams. Besides, flanged pillows are on-trend right now.  </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/homestaging/1-P1000745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="508" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000745.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>All three of these pillows started with a simple insert, filled with shredded paper.<br />The two back pillows are made from white burlap, surprisingly easy to sew.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Make the insert:</b> Decide how large your pillow will be. Make the insert a few inches smaller, because for a flanged pillow, the insert fills only the center, plump part of the pillow, the part inside the flange. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">How wide the flange will be depends on the size of the pillow and the weight of the fabric. The smaller the pillow and the floppier the fabric, the narrower the flange should be, from ½ inch to 1 inch. For a large pillow or a stiff upholstery fabric, the flange can be wider, up to 3 inches. I decided on a ½-inch flange for this pillow.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Cut the fabric:</b> For a pillow insert that measures 19 x 19 inches once finished, cut two squares 20 x 20 inches, to allow for ½ inch seams all around.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Since I was recycling an old bath towel, I just folded it in half crosswise, and trimmed it so that once the seams were sewn, it would measure 19 x 19.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Once three side seams are stitched, fill the insert with shredded paper. When you think you have stuffed it enough, add some more stuffing for good measure. Then hand stitch that last side seam. </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/homestaging/P1000668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000668.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">It took almost one whole grocery bag of <br />shredded paper to fill my 19 x 19-inch insert.  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000673.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Use a slip stitch to seam the fourth side of the insert.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Make the Pillow Cover</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Cut the pillow covering.</b> Before cutting any of your good fabric, study the fabric. Some forethought and attention to detail at the start of your project will give your pillows that custom look instead of that discount store look. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">A well-made, store-bought, high end pillow will match the design at the seams. A flanged pillow is more forgiving because the flange can hide the fact that your pattern doesn’t line up on all four sides. But, do take note if your fabric has one large design. Center this design. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Cut out the front:</b> Cut the front piece of your pillow the size as your pillow insert cover, plus whatever measurement you want for a surrounding flange, and an allowance for seams. I made my front piece 21 x 21 inches because my insert measured 19 x 19 inches, and I wanted a 1 ½ inch flange and ½ inch for seam allowance.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The back of the pillow will be in two pieces, with an overlap in the center so that removal is easy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I like the overlap to look centered, not off to one side of the pillow’s back. So, I make one of the two back pieces larger than the other, so it can slide under the shorter piece. <br /><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/homestaging/P1000628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000628.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">When you center the hemmed envelope edge, even the <br />back of your pillow is presentable, like this blue denim pillow.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I usually figure an overlap of at least four inches. There will be times when your pillow gets viewed from behind, so both sides need to look presentable. You don’t want the appearance of a pillow that has gained weight and is still wearing the same old clothes, underwear peaking out from overstretched openings. So, four inches of overlap for an average sized pillow, and even more overlap for larger pillows. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Cut out the back:</b> First cut the shorter back piece. Make it as long as the front piece (21 inches in my example). But make it only half the width of the front piece, plus two inches for a center hem. My first back piece measured 21 x 12 ½  inches. </div><div class="MsoNormal">  </div><div class="MsoNormal">Cut the longer back piece. Make it as long as the front piece (21 inches). But make it half the width of the front piece, plus 2 inches for a center hem and 4 inches for overlapping. My second back piece measured 21 x  16 ½ inches. <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/homestaging/P1000693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000693.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is what your three pieces of fabric will look like. The front piece is <br />facing up, and the two back pieces are facing down. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Hem the back pieces: </b>Hem the edges of both back pieces that will form the opening. In my example, that would be one of the edges that measures 21inches. On each of the two back pieces, I turned one edge over 1/4 inch, stitched it, then turned it again 1 3/4 inches and top stitched that. A hem this wide will lie nice and flat. Alternately, you can zig zag or serge the first turn of the hem. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Attach Front to Back</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">With good sides together, stitch the smaller of the two back pieces to the front piece, with the hemmed edge of the back piece towards the center. Then, stitch the larger of the two back pieces to the front, overlapping the other back piece.<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/homestaging/1-P1000709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000709.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Joining the shorter piece to the front first means the hemmed edge will be centered. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000708.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">If your fabric has a loose weave, zig zag the raw edges to prevent unraveling with use. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Trim the corners so they will be crisp and square when you turn your pillow cover right side out. Turn the cover, and press the seams flat. Finally, top stitch around the edge to make your flange. I always pin first, so I’m sure the flange will lay flat and there will be no surprise puckers when I’m machine stitching. If the flange is wider than ½ inch, marking the stitch line with a quilters pencil makes it easy to stitch straight and even all around. On a narrow flange, you can usually eyeball as you stitch.<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/homestaging/1-P1000712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000712.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Press the fabric at each step of the assembling for a more finished look.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000717-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000717-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">To make it easy to stuff the insert into the case, flip one side of the<br />envelope back, push the insert into one side, and then the other.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000724.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Some people believe pillows should be under-stuffed for a more casual or natural<br />look. It's up to you which style you like. Both look good with a flanged border </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000731.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 an under-stuffed pillow. A novelty print makes a fun pillow! </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Variations: Shake it Up</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Stitch Something Sweet: </b>Top stitch your flange by hand for a dressmaker touch. If you are a quilter, this should be a piece of cake. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Add an Accent:</b> Top stitch your flange with a contrasting thread.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Decorate with Trim:</b> Sew ribbon, rick rack, ball fringe, or other decorative edging into the edge of the flange. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Give it High Style: </b>Add buttons to the four inside corners on the front of the pillow. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Have Fun:</b> Make oblong, and even round pillows, with flanges.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Be Versatile:</b> Choose one fabric for the front and another for the back of a pillow. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Go No Sew:</b> Substitute fusible webbing or fabric glue for stitching.<br /><br /><b>Hack the Big Guys:</b> Paint an image on the front of your plain pillow case, copying from something you've fallen in love with online.   <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/homestaging/1-P1000799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000799.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">All you need is one yard of fabric to change a regular bed pillow into a decorative<br />accent pillow like this. The striped pillows are made from scraps of fabric.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/P1000681.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Getting ready for The Fourth, I made this red, white and blue pillow cover from two <br />"fat quarters," about 1/2 yard. For outdoor pillows, you'll need foam instead of paper.   </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><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/homestaging/1-P1000788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-P1000788.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Yes it's a bandanna. In fact, it's three of them. What could be more cute? <br />Can you see this pillow in a red bandanna with white rick rack? I can! </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><b>If your home is for sale,</b> count on pillows to be part of on your selling team. I hope these instructions encourage you to make your own frugal decorator pillows. <br /><br /><b>Got Windows?</b> My <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>No Sew Curtains and Draperies to Stage Your Home</i> is just $5, and is packed with illustrated tutorials for 15 different window treatments, especially designed for staging.</div><center></center>

The Easy Way to Make Your Own Decorator Pillows

You say you want sassy-looking pillows? But you don't want to invest much money in them? As always, DIY is the answer. You're smart ...

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