Ten Ways Window Treatments Help Sell Your Home

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/grenwhitemoreinterestingTobiFarley-1.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/grenwhitemoreinterestingTobiFarley-1.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br />Admit it, your house has problems. Every house does. Even if you love your home, buyers will find things to criticize.<br /><br />As a seller, you want that list of problems to be very short. Like, no-deal-breakers short.<br /><br />Here's where window treatments can  be your ally. Draperies, curtains, shades, blinds and shutters are some of a home stager's most dependable problem solvers.<br /><br />I'm counting ten different ways they can remedy a look or situation that most buyers don't like.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Make Windows Look Larger.</b></span> Buyers love big windows. Big windows admit more light, look modern, make the rooms fell more spacious, and create views.     <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/greybdromhighdrapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/greybdromhighdrapes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The way windows get dressed makes them look big and important, or not.</span></i> <br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">These windows look terrific because the draperies don't cover any of </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">the window opening. They are hung high and wide. Take note.</span></i>   </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Make Rooms Look Larger.</b></span> Dressing a window in materials that don't interrupt the movement of the eye around the room will create the illusion of a bigger, seamless space.<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/twinbedscurtainswallsamecolorBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/twinbedscurtainswallsamecolorBHG.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">When curtains and drapes like these creamy white ones are a color similar </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">to the wall color, they help the room read big. The horizontal lines of the </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">blinds, the rug and the drapery rod also widen the space.  </span></i> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Soften Hard Edges. </b></span>While rooms like kitchen, baths and laundry areas have little in the way of upholstered pieces, that softness of window treatment fabrics will make the room feel friendlier and more approachable</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.  </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/kitchenromshadehunghighBHG-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/kitchenromshadehunghighBHG-2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The fabric of this roman shade softens the look of the kitchen, and does so </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">without using much material, a money saver.</span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;">Notice that the shade is hung almost </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">completely above the window frame, suggesting a larger opening.</span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Emphasize a Color Scheme. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2014/02/questions-about-faucet-choices-paint.html" target="_blank">Color choices</a> are important to successful home staging. Any interior decorator will confirm that draperies are one of the most important color elements in a room. </span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div></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/rusticbedroomromanshadeBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/rusticbedroomromanshadeBHG.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a bedroom that's managed to combine both rustic and refined vibes. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The warm brown tones create a </span><span style="font-size: small;"> soothing palette echoed by the window shade. </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Screen a View.</b></span> <span style="font-size: small;">Almost any kind of window treatment can be used to hide a less than prefect view, depending on the view and the opening. Shielding a view won't eliminate it, but can still reassure buyers that it's a manageable situation.  </span></div></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/porchdrapeshideviewBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/porchdrapeshideviewBHG.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Curtains like these are perfect solutions to a problem view. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">A roll-up shade or </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">shutters would also work on a porch or balcony that overlooks ugliness.</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/sheersindinrmgoldstripeshideviewBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/sheersindinrmgoldstripeshideviewBHG.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Sheer panels are an easy way to minimize the impact of a view you'd</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"> rather forget. These are dressed with ribbon to make them look </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">custom. I like that the drapery rods repeat the gold ribbon color.  </span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Give Privacy.</b></span> A bath is one place we all prefer privacy, yet we want good lighting as well.The right window treatment will deliver both.</span></div></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/kitchenromshadehunghighBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/kitchenromshadehunghighBHG.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Choose adjustable blinds when privacy and light control are an issue.  </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Wide ones like these deliver some upscale style, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">but don't shy away from ordinary<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/11/questions-and-answers-about-how-to-stage.html" target="_blank"> mini blinds </a>either. </span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. Match Two Mismatched Windows. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;">The right treatments can coordinate design elements that lack the symmetry or orderliness that smart home stagers strive for. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/bdrmstencilfloorBHGsheers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/bdrmstencilfloorBHGsheers.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">The windows in this bedroom resemble the sliding glass door because</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> they are all dressed with white sheers on black rods. To echo to the motif, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">the bed canopy has similar black rods.</span></i><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Emphasize an Architectural Feature. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;">Just the way window dressings can disguise a home's flaws, they can call attention to what you want to show off. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/windowbenchlilacBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/windowbenchlilacBHG.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: small;">Lilac drapes frame this large multi-paned window that could be </span></i></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">the room's focal point and a selling feature. It even appears that the </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">fabric color matches the flowers blooming outside! </span></i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. Set the Mood of the Room. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;">Lined draperies of luxurious fabrics beneath upholstered cornices say, "I'm formal and fancy," but gingham cafe curtains announce a casual, laid-back tone. When you stage your home, it's best to adhere to a style throughout that expresses the home's architecture and setting. </span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><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/diningrmwvalanceBHG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/diningrmwvalanceBHG.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The valance of shirred natural burlap adds a little color and some </span></i></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">texture, and supports the informality of this dining nook.</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. Make an Ordinary Room Special. </b></span><span style="font-size: small;">Some stylish curtains or drapes could be the wow factor every home needs. If you are<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/02/strategies-for-staging-vacant-house.html" target="_blank"> staging a vacant property</a>, full window treatments with some personality can carry a room that's sparsely or economically furnished.<i> </i>Imagine what the room that <a href="http://tobifairley.com/portfolio/" target="_blank">Tobi Fairley</a> designed, shown in the top photo, would be without the standout green and white toile textile.  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><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/livrmwviewBHGnocurtains.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/livrmwviewBHGnocurtains.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Contemporary and industrial spaces can often get away with no window treatments. </span></i></span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This is especially true when t</span></i>he view is important. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving the windows unadorned makes a statement.  </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">All photos Better Homes and Gardens except where noted. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If You Are Staging Your Home </b></span><span style="font-size: small;">you'll want window treatments that show your home in its best light. My <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 eBook, No-Sew Curtains and Draperies to Stage Your Home</a> can be your new best friend. It will show you how to dress your windows DIY style even if you have no sewing skills or equipment. There are 15 illustrated tutorials for unique treatments, each with variations and each one designed especially for home staging. Whether you are leaving your window treatments behind when you move, or taking them with you, this book is a must.</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/nosewebookcovershadow-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/nosewebookcovershadow-1.png" width="303" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_1644-1.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/IMG_1644-1.jpg" width="531" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>

Ten Ways Window Treatments Help Sell Your Home

Admit it, your house has problems. Every house does. Even if you love your home, buyers will find things to criticize. As a seller, you want...

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Questions and Answers About How to Stage

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060752_zps2b012a22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060752_zps2b012a22.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> I’m trying to stage an empty house. I have enough furniture and it’s looking good. My question is what do I do in the closets?<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I would leave closets empty because they look bigger. But not entirely empty. I would add a few props to dress them up and give a little personality.<br /><br />In a bedroom closet I would place some pretty boxes on the shelves. In a linen closet I would stack a few fluffy towels, and perhaps a folded blanket. In a coat closet, I would add some wooden or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/make-your-closets-memorable-to-buyers.html" target="_blank">padded hangers.</a>     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">These little things will help buyers on tour remember your house as the one with attractive closets, where people (that's you!) live clean, enviable lives. Buyers buy the lifestyle when they buy the house, and women particularly are interested in closets. So, stage them to look gal-friendly. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember to clean any light fixtures in the closets and to maximize the wattage.      </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> We’re planning to sell our home in a year. I know there are things I should be doing now, but I don’t know where to start. Any advice?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> Start by getting rid of things you don’t love or need. Second, it’s not too early to get a home inspection so you’ll know what needs repairs. Then, educate yourself about the local real estate market and maybe interview some realtors. You should also get current about about <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-to-make-your-home-look-new.html" target="_blank">decorating trends</a> and what not to do so when you’re ready to stage you’ll be up-to-date.<br /><br /><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-P1060749_zpsc91a6cb0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1060749_zpsc91a6cb0.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Yes or no to mini blinds? When you don't want to spring for the <br />the pricier versions, how can you make them work for staging?    </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q:</span></b> Should I leave mini blinds in my windows when staging? I know they aren’t super-stylish, but I still like them for light control and privacy.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A:</span></b> I’m with you on the mini blinds, because they are inexpensive and functional. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">You could leave them up but layer a window treatment over them, one that lets you cover them to soften the look. Just sheers might look good, or draperies that you open every day when you want sunlight entering the room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember that buyers respond well to bright rooms, so make sure both the blinds and any draperies are open wide when you expect a showing.<br /><br />And if your mini blinds are showing signs of age, replace them with new ones. <br /><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>The rooms on one side of my home are dark, even though they have enough windows. What can I do to make these rooms look brighter? I’ve already done what I can with lamps and overhead lights.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>If the walls aren’t a light color, can you repaint them? Can you add a large mirror to each room? Can you remove lower limbs from trees that might be creating too much shade? Can you make your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html" target="_blank">window treatments</a> cover less of the window opening? Can you remove or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/06/painting-furniture-dont-make-these.html" target="_blank">paint any dark pieces of furniture</a> that might be soaking up light?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-ancestraloilpainting_zps3edbc068.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-ancestraloilpainting_zps3edbc068.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Make a portrait part of the room's decor instead of its <br />focal point. In this photo by Jeffrey Hirsch, costume designer <br />William Ivey Long, clustered attractive props and furniture near <br />the framed art instead of isolating it on a blank wall.   </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Q: </span></b>I have your eBook so I know that when staging you suggest avoiding artwork with faces in favor of landscapes, abstracts, and still lifes. I have a large painting of my great, great grandmother. I think it looks cool. Should I store it away when I list my house? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A: </span></b>I agree, ancestral portraits <b><i>are</i></b> cool! Even ones that aren’t your own relatives add a certain dignity or importance to a room. I’d definitely leave it in place, as long as it isn’t the focal point of the room. How about somewhere unexpected, like in a hallway, bedroom, or on a stairwell?<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">That said, some old portraits look a little creepy or just too engaging to be used in a staged room. If your ancestor appears sad, mad, or stares out of the canvas in such a way that makes visitors talk about the art rather than your house, store the painting. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope your great, great grandmother brings you good luck selling your home!  </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Any Questions?</span></b> Do you have any problems about your DIY home staging? If my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBooks</a> don't solve them, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">email me your question</a> and I'll try to solve your home staging dilemma.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div></div><a href="http://www.cubesmart.com/blog/weekly-roundup-best-content-on-the-web-3/"><img src="http://www.cubesmart.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BestOf_Nov2013_horiz.png" /></a>

Questions and Answers About How to Stage

Q: I’m trying to stage an empty house. I have enough furniture and it’s looking good. My question is what do I do in the closets? A: I woul...

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Five Tricks Professional Stagers Use

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

Five Tricks Professional Stagers Use

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

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Listen Up: It's Easy to Make No-Sew Curtains

<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/homestaging/curtains/IMG_0202.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/homestaging/curtains/IMG_0202.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Curtains make the difference between an ordinary room and a pretty one. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>If you do nothing else to stage a home on the market, whether it's occupied or vacant, please dress your windows.<br /><br />Bare, naked windows make any room look sterile and feel uninviting -- not the look and feel that makes a buyer fall in love your home.<br /><br /><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html">Window treatments</a> can be pricey, even if you make them yourself. I know, because I've sewn many curtains and draperies. But if you don't want to spend much time or money, and you don't want to even sew -- there's still a way you can dress windows.<br /><br />Actually, there are 15 ways. And you can learn each of them in my new <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>No-Sew Curtains and Draperies to Stage Your Home.</i><br /><br />Did you know that burlap, felt, and fleece make handsome draperies that hang beautifully and and require no sewing?<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/curtains/IMG_0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/curtains/IMG_0224.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The trickiest part of most window treatments is how to hem, seam or trim the edges. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Or that ordinary white glue is perfect for hemming curtains for staging, curtains that won't be laundered?<br /><br />Or that duct tape can be used for hemming curtains?<br /><br />Or that $1 shower curtain rings are a handy stand-in for expensive drapery rings?<br /><br />There are at least seven no-sew techniques to hem draperies, and I demonstrate them all.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/curtains/curtaininMirsbath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/curtains/curtaininMirsbath.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The style of drapery that staging requires is different from ordinary window treatments.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I also list the secrets to success and some possible variations at the finish to each tutorial to help you use the tutorials to their fullest.<br /><br />These are some of the valuable methods, tips and tricks you'll learn in the step-by-step tutorials.<br /><br />You can download the ebook now, and start turning your windows into selling points.<br /><br />Your cost is just $5 and it comes with my money back guarantee.<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://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/buy-now.html"> <img src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/nosewebookcovershadow.png" width="243" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html" target="_blank">Buy now for just $5.00.</a></span></em></td></tr></tbody></table><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />

Listen Up: It's Easy to Make No-Sew Curtains

Curtains make the difference between an ordinary room and a pretty one.  If you do nothing else to stage a home on the market, whether it...

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No-Sew Window Treatments - Why Stitch When You Can Glue?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_0756.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>There’s window treatments, and then there’s window treatments for staging your home. The difference? <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Privacy is out the window.</b></span><br />For one thing, curtains for staging need to let in plenty of light, because buyers want big, clean rooms, and light makes rooms look bigger and cleaner. You’re dressing windows for buyers, not necessarily for privacy.      <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Frugality trumps personality. </b></span><br />Secondly, if you’re selling your home, you don’t want to waste money decorating your home in a style perfect for staging, but a style that may not match your personal preferences. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>No-sew is the default method. </b></span><br />Third, window treatments in a staged home don’t need to be constructed to last forever. They’re props, not heirlooms, so shortcuts are okay. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You can look generous. </b></span><br />Fourth, buyers often assume window treatments stay with the property. With thrifty curtains and draperies, you can use window treatments as a negotiating chip, or as an amenity to sweeten the purchase. The right window treatments will help buyers feel warm and fuzzy about you and your home.<br /><br />Because home stagers and homeowners prepping a home for the market have special requirements for dressing windows, I wanted to write a book on the subject. I've worked on this book for the past nine months and am delighted to say, its birthday is finally here! You can download it right now.<br /><br />I want to tell you today what you get in my latest <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>No-Sew Curtains and Draperies to Stage Your Home. </i><br /><i><br /></i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Unique Approach to Window Dressing.</b></span><br />You'll learn how to make draperies and curtains especially designed for staging – the tips and tricks you won’t see on decorating and other DIY sites, because most decor magazines, books, and blogs are geared for homeowners who are decorating for themselves, not for prospective buyers.  <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/whitefeltandbackpocketvariation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/whitefeltandbackpocketvariation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Two extra-easy ways to get a contemporary look, fast!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Details to Guarantee Success.</b></span><br />I've written and photographed step by step tutorials that explain how to make 15 different no-sew window treatments. Each tutorial includes variations so you can adapt the style to your home, your needs, and your budget. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/glueguntute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/glueguntute.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I give you the close-ups you need to make the job go smoothly.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thrifty Tips</b></span>.You'll discover how to convert frugal fabrics into draperies that look expensive. I've done for legwork of scouting all the best sources for textiles that don't cost much, but make beautiful window treatments.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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/grassmatscurtains.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/grassmatscurtains.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Who knew that beach mats and felt could make thrifty window dressings?</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div>  <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Look for Less.</b></span><br />Yes, you can hack the most chic styles even if you’ve never made window treatments before. Here are the shortcuts, the advice, and the products that deliver a high end look without the expense or the sewing experience.   <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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/PinchMePleats-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/PinchMePleats-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Can you say duct tape? And fusible webbing? And clip-on drapery rings? </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Insider Secrets.</b></span><br />You'll save money by substituting economical -- and I mean <i>really</i> economical -- alternatives to pricey drapery hardware. Often it's the rods, brackets, rings and hooks that make draperies look like custom window treatments, and that add big time to the cost. They don't have to break the bank if you know what I know.     <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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/showerringspainted.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/showerringspainted.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I</i><span style="font-size: small;"><i>s it plastic or metal?  Are they pleater hooks or safety pins? </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Fresh Look at Materials.</b></span><br />Ingenuity is key when you stage your windows to make your home look bigger and better. I'll point you towards unusual supplies that you may not have thought of as ways to upgrade your home’s look. On a shoestring.  <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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/finishedcloseupsmulti.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/finishedcloseupsmulti.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You'll shop discount stores and home improvement centers.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ways to Recycle and Up-cycle.</b></span><br />Now you can use what you already own to make your home buyer-friendly. These clever techniques will help you redecorate on a shoestring. Cheap mini blinds? Old-style tab top curtains? No problem! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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/Miniblindmakeover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/Miniblindmakeover.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>What you need may already be in your home. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>All the Alternatives to Sewing.</b></span><br />There's more than just a couple of approaches to make curtains without sewing. Learn the newest products, plus some old tricks to join fabrics, hem fabrics, and to avoid joining and hemming altogether. <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><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/GluedhemEDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/GluedhemEDIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The method you use depends on the fabric, and whether you'll wash it. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Even if your home is not for sale. </b></span><br />There’s plenty of tips and ideas in this 60-page eBook to help you make beautiful draperies and curtains easily, all with no-sew methods, whether you're planning to sell your home soon or not.<br />  <br />And if your home is on the market, and the windows are bare, or dressed in dark or outdated styles, it’s time for window wardrobe makeover. A well-staged home needs warmth – that friendly, casual, homey vibe that makes a home buyer go weak in the knees. That’s the vibe the right window dressings help create.<br /><br />Download my new<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank"> no-sew window treatments eBook</a>, and learn how to make the windows in your home add value to your home.<br /><br /><br />

No-Sew Window Treatments - Why Stitch When You Can Glue?

There’s window treatments, and then there’s window treatments for staging your home. The difference? Privacy is out the window. For one thin...

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DIY No-Sew Cafe Curtains

<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/finibestclosed.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/homestaging/finibestclosed.jpg" width="355" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Every home stager wants to get as much natural light into rooms as she can.<br /><br />That means no heavy draperies or sun-blocking shades. There are plenty of possibilities – from lightweight curtains and sheer drapes to pull-backs and Roman shades.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But what’s a stager to do </b></span>when there’s a view from the window that doesn’t exactly help sell the property? Neighbors with ugly yards, a factory, the back of an apartment building, a busy road, or a construction site are all common problems. <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">No one can make these things disappear, but a clever stager can minimize the impact by helping buyers forget the problem. Enter curtains that let in light but hide the view. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here is my spin </b></span>on café curtains that are DIY-friendly, even to someone with no sewing skills. The lower portion can be kept closed to conceal some outdoor unsightliness, and the top can be kept open, hopefully revealing blue skies, mature trees, or a distant view.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">What I like about these cafe curtains is that they are reminiscent of a natural sisal rug bound in black, or a traditional woven reed tatami mat used for flooring in Japan. The way I see it, anything classic in a staged home is a bonus. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The mats I chose to work with can be purchased dirt cheap in summer by the beach. Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dependable-Straw-Beach-Mat/dp/B0013QT0YW/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1291578395&sr=8-11">sells them </a>all year long for about $6 each. They are called beach mats, picnic mats or yoga mats, and they measure about 3 feet by 6 feet.  </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What You Need</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">2 straw beach mats </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Yardstick</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Pencil</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Scissors</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Grosgrain ribbon to edge the mats, 7/8 inch wide, about 6 yards for each mat used</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Grosgrain ribbon to make loops, 3/8 inch wide, about 2 yards for each mat used</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Hot glue gun and glue sticks</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dressmakers straight pins or masking tape</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dressmakers marking pencil or chalk</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Having a table large enough to accommodate the length of the curtain helps. It doesn’t need to be big enough to lay out the whole mat, because the mat folds over easily. Protect your work surface from hot glue drips if necessary. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Install hardware.</b></span> If you do not have curtain rods installed, do that first. I used spring tension rods that sit inside the window frame. I chose black because I liked the way it looked with the black ribbon loops. The curtain rods, top and bottom should match. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Measure for the curtain.</b> </span>Measure the distance from the top of the curtain rod to where you want the curtain to end. The lower curtain should end at the window sill. The upper curtain should end just below the lower curtain rod. That figure minus one inch is your curtain length. If your window has an upper and lower sash, both curtains will probably be the same length because the rod will fall in the middle.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Cut the mat.</span> </b>First you'll divide the mat in two. Heat up your glue gun because you’ll need it as soon as you cut the mat in half. If there are cloth ties on the end to tie the mat as a roll, cut them off. Fold the mat in half crosswise. With scissors, cut on the fold. The mat will want to unravel, so run a bead of glue down the edge to seal the stitches that have come loose. Don't worry if you lose a long reed or two. You may have to scrunch some of the reeds back in place and stick them down with glue. The ribbon will cover your glue repair.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Glue the edge to prevent unraveling.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If your upper and lower curtains are different lengths, decide if you are making the upper or lower first. With a pencil, measure and then mark the length on one of your grass mat panels. Draw a line across the width of the panel to the correct length, and with scissors cut on this line. Going in this direction, across the reeds, the mat does not unravel. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Measure the right curtain length and draw a line.</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/homestaging/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cut on the line to shorten the curtain.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Attach ribbon.</b></span> Lay the mat right side up (both sides are probably the same, but one side may look better) on your work table. Lay a length of 7/8-inch ribbon along the edge that will be the length of the curtain. Cut the ribbon the length of the curtain, plus an inch on each end. You might as well cut the ribbon for the other edge at the same time. My curtain panels were 25 ½ inches long. So I cut two lengths of ribbon 27 1/2 inches long. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Cut ribbon longer than the curtain.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Glue ribbon onto edges.</span> </b>Secure one end of ribbon by placing a dab of glue in the outermost corner of mat. Both sides of grosgrain ribbon are the same, so there's no right or wrong side. Align your ribbon by placing the center of it directly over the glue dab, so that the ribbon is centered over the edge of the mat, allowing the extra inch to overhang the end. Press on top of the ribbon so it sticks well to the glue. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Add a dab of glue to the corner of the mat.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Press end of ribbon into glue, leaving 1 inch overhang</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Add an 8- to 10-inch line of glue along the edge of the mat. Pull the ribbon straight, lay it down on the hot glue, and press it flat with your fingers. You can feel where the edge of the mat is, so you can line up the middle of the ribbon with the edge of the mat as you go. The ribbon should look like a perfectly a straight line. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lay a line of glue 8 to 10 inches long.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lay ribbon in glue, feeling the edge of the mat underneath it.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Pull back the ribbon after each 8- to 10-inch run, so that you begin the next line of glue where the last line of glue stopped. This will prevent any gaps where the ribbon is not affixed. You should have a 1-inch overhang of ribbon at the end. Trim the ribbon to a ½- inch overhang. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Glue ends of ribbon to back of curtain.</b> </span>Let glue cool for a minute. Turn mat over. Lay a thin line of glue along the cut end of the ribbon. Quickly wrap the ribbon around the edge of the mat and press it down onto the back of the mat. It’s neater if you put the glue on the ribbon because you know it will be hidden behind ribbon.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Lay a thin line of glue along the cut end of ribbon.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Press the glued ribbon down on the back of the mat.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Repeat on other edges of curtain.</b></span> Glue the ribbon along the edge of the opposite end, first making sure you have right side up. Measure and cut ribbon for top and bottom edges as before, adding two extra inches. Glue ribbon to top and bottom edges. Wrap the ends around to the back of the mat just as you did to the first two edges. You should have all 4 edges trimmed in ribbon. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Turn mat over and glue end of ribbon to corner of mat.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Glue ribbon to top and bottom edges. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/15.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This what the back of the curtain looks like at one corner.  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b></b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Cut the ribbon loops.</b> </span>Calculate how long the loops should be by wrapping a piece of ribbon around your curtain or drapery rod. Add an extra inch. I wanted a 1 ½ inch long loop to show, so I needed 3 inches for each loop, plus another inch for gluing and slack. I cut my ribbon into 4-inch lengths. Cut your ribbon into the lengths you need, for example, longer than 4 inches for a fatter curtain rod. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/measuretab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/measuretab.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Calculate how long to make loops by wrapping ribbon around the rod. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">To figure how many loops you need, fold mat in half, right sides together. Using a dressmakers straight pin or a piece of tape, mark where the fold is on the back side of the mat. Open the mat, and working on the back side, mark where ribbon loops will go.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">My curtain width was 34 inches. I placed a pin on the fold, in the center, 17 inches in from each edge. Using a yardstick I measured and marked with pins points at 8 ½ inches in, and then at every 4 ¼ inches. In other words, divide, then divide in half again to determine points that are equally spaced. Or eye ball the placement, and mark with pins, figuring one loop at each end, one in the middle and the rest spaced equidistant. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Use pins or tape to mark where the loops will go.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Attach ribbon loops</b>.</span> Dab two small dots of glue on one end of each cut ribbon, then fold and press to make a loop. So that all the tabs will be the same length once they are glued on, mark with a dressmakers pencil a line 1/2 inch in from the cut end of each ribbon.<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/18-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/18-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Mark 1/2 inch in from cut end of the ribbon loops.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>With your little mark facing up, align each ribbon loop with a pin or piece of tape, whichever you used to mark where loops should go.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Align each loop with a pin, and with the edge of the mat.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Be sure your mat is wrong side up. Align the little mark on the ribbon with the edge of the straw mat, and with the pin or tape you used to mark where loops should go. Place a dab on glue on the curtain, and press ribbon loop onto glue. Glue down all the loops, keeping them perfectly aligned, equally spaced, and at right angles to the top edge of the curtain. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hang your curtains.</b></span> When the glue has cooled thoroughly, remove one end cap or filial from each of the curtain rods. Thread the loops through the rods, and and replace the end caps. Hang the upper and lower rods, each with two curtain panels.<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/closeup1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/closeup1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The grass mat filters the sunlight and adds texture to a room. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Space the loops along the rod, and adjust the folds of the curtains so they hang evenly. It's true that some of the original cotton fabric trim will show on the reverse side. Unless you hang your curtain in a window that faces a porch where people sit close to the house, no one will notice. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />My cafe curtains for a 31- by 54-inch window cost me about $21.00 including the two tension rods at $2.60 apiece, and two mats at $2.50 each. If I had to buy mats from Amazon, my cost would have increased by only $7.        </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><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/tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/tag.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Typical price for a beachmat, in season.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I paid $10.05 for all my ribbon, but you could pay less if you <a href="http://www.ribbonfactory.com/html/solid.html">shop online</a>. Purchased online, you can buy 20 yards of 3/8 inch solid color ribbon for only $2.65, or the same amount of 7/8 inch  ribbon for $3.90. <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/finisclosed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/finisclosed2.jpg" width="380" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My straw mat curtain lets in light but gives me privacy. I love it. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>My <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">eBook </a><i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>, gives you loads of thrifty decorating ideas for making your home attractive to buyers, including how to arrange furniture you already own, how to choose paint colors that work for you, what to buy second hand, and how to use mismatched or out-of-date furniture. </div>

DIY No-Sew Cafe Curtains

Every home stager wants to get as much natural light into rooms as she can. That means no heavy draperies or sun-blocking shades. There are ...

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