I’ve walked through a lot of homes! Some as a home buyer, and many as a professional home stager (yes, I love my job!).
It’s so easy for a look to get outdated, but here are a 7 quick tips to spruce up your style without spending a lot of money (whether you’re moving or not!):
- Take down any borders! They make the ceiling feel lower, and they’re soooo 80’s. Consider adding crown molding instead. Much nicer!
- Create crisp lines. It may be as simple as painting your baseboards and trim glossy white (or, if you’re adventurous, a complementary color). It freshens a room like magic! (Hint…keep your wet paint brush in a zip lock if you can only get to a little at a time).
- Update lighting fixtures liberally! I’m amazed at how many homes have lighting that came from the initial builder. There are so many stylish options out there that are not very expensive. Express yourself!
- Bare all (or at least more)! I see a lot of heavy window treatments that darken rooms and collect dust. You may just need to remove a layer, or the whole thing. Whenever possible, let your windows take center stage and enjoy the view! Just make sure you wash your windows inside and out!
- Replace worn out towels with bright white (think spa). While you’re at it, check the condition of the rugs in your bathroom. They have a shorter life span than you might think!
- Pitch dried floral arrangements. They get dusty very quickly, and represent death in some cultures. (Bad Feng Shui). Real is where it’s at. I once worked with a woman who brought herself new flowers to work every Monday because they made her happy. Make it part of your routine!
- A few big accessories works better than a lot of small ones because it’s easier for your eye to know where to focus, and it eliminates hidden stress in a room. Easier to dust as well!
There you have it…7 ways to love your home even more! And with a long weekend ahead, what a great time to be a weekend warrior! (No excuses!)
So what’s your next project?
1. Hi Susan — Great tips! So you’re a home stager. I watch HGTV Home Staging & wish it were as easy & inexpensive as they show. I live in suburban Chicago (Elgin) in a townhouse & would love to hire a stager (not selling) if its not exorbitantly expensive. Could you give me any idea what the cost might be or who/what organization to call for rates.
At one time I was fairly good at decorating but in my old age it’s just another asset I’ve lost.
Thanks,
Rachel
by Rachel 5/28/09 at 5:45 pm #
2. Hi Susan, I also watch HGTV and very interested in knowing, how do I get someone to help with decorating w/a home stager? We just moved from a 2000 sq foot 2 story to a 4200 sq foot single story, and totally lost, please help… Thank You ,Carmel in Southern California
by carmel 6/7/09 at 10:30 pm #