Tag Archives: home decor

Mar15

Selling Your Space: Services You Need To Find A Buyer Faster

Posted on by
Standard
Selling Your Space: Services You Need To Find A Buyer Faster

There is much money to be made in the real estate industry. Buying from developers and selling to budding homeowners, when done with acute timing, can rake in a multi-million profit. However, this is one of those trades that sounds easier said than done. While it’s a lucrative business for the flipper, people will always be wary about where to spend their hard-earned cash on. Thus, you have to make your property as attractive as possible. How do you close that sale and make millions in a jiffy? Here are some services you can use:

It’s all about the angles:

Showcasing all of the best features of your property requires expertise. Make sure to hire both a professional photographer and an expert photo-editing company so that the ending photos look exquisite.

To make sure all of the shots present spick and span angles, clean the property from top to bottom a day before. Remove all clutter from the floor to clearly show open walking spaces. Rearrange furniture so that all rooms seem larger. Every wide shot should include at least half of the room or two adjacent walls and a clear view of the floor to ceiling. Let as much light in by turning on lights and opening windows. Accessorize flat elevated areas like dining tables and nightstands for added dimension.

Spruce up your space:

Once you get inquiries and viewing requests, it’s time to let them see the stylish side of the house. Within the industry, this is called “home staging” or remodeling a real estate property to look its best before being sold. It requires renovating the room without installing permanent or personal furnishings. For this, you might need a professional interior designer or an expert carpenter to do the job for you.

Create a theme for your home and find pieces and colors that adhere to the theme. This includes repainting the house and renovating significant and noticeable furnishings such as lighting fixtures, flooring, kitchen kits, bed components, bathroom vanities, and the like.

De-personalize the space. Remove rugs or carpets from your floor and keep all storage spaces bare.

Get your ears on the ground:

Sometimes, an expert set of eyes and ears is what you need to sell your home quicker. Make sure to scrutinize your potential agent’s background. As you take them around the property for sale, ask about their training, their license or certification, and how many years of experience they have had in selling homes. Ask about the last property they sold – how quick they did it and to whom they sold it to. Request a marketing plan and a comparable market analysis of your property to determine how best to sell it.

Don’t be afraid to assess multiple agents. This is so you can either test their listing prices or compare their proposed commissions.

Get more mileage with social media:

In this day and age, your potential client will probably see your property off social media. Thus, leverage your digital platforms.

If you’re clueless about the best practices, you can ask a seasoned social media manager for help. They can set up your own Facebook page, blog, or even a whole website and build a marketing strategy to drive organic traffic to these sites. Shoot a video tour and post it on YouTube or share it through every possible channel.

You can also join online marketplaces, niche groups, and online real estate listings to give your property more mileage.

Don’t work hard by doing all of this yourself; work smart and know the right kind of help you need. Do these things correctly, and you’re on your way to making money off of your property!

Mar9

Goodwill Amazing WTF Find

Posted on by
Standard
Goodwill Amazing WTF Find

Hello! One of my clients absolutely loves old school VHS movies and we end up frequenting one Goodwill or another weekly. From clothing to decor for my apartment, I usually end up finding a little something for myself or my boyfriend during these shopping trips, too. Thrifting is like a modern day treasure hunt and, I think I hit the mother load this past week, if I do say so myself. Lol, check it out:

FC6DC31D-24B1-4B35-90F8-76D4181447E42FD2DCA8-7256-4D5E-80B5-B3A9AD9D8AE3

While my friend browsed her preferred movie section, I perused through the records and ended up walking towards the wall art. I didn’t really plan on looking through it because I still have quite a few pictures that still need hung up in my apartment. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I just happened to see Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers franchise and said “Wait… what?”

Upon taking a closer look, I happened to see that the poster of Austin Powers In Goldmember was signed by Mike Myers, Seth Green, and Verne Troyer offering his “best wishes”. It was in that moment that I realized I had hit the jackpot. Goldmember just so happens to be my personal and my family’s favorite Austin Powers movie and I just knew everyone would be as excited about it as I was…

AND THEY WERE!!!

For four dollars, I purchased the most randomly wonderful come up I’ve ever had in my life. The entire time I was thinking “wtf?” to myself because no one in their right mind would be giving something so fantastic away. But, hey, one man’s trash and whatever.

I, for one, am THRILLED with this Goodwill find and it is definitely the best thing I’ve come across yet. You would have to pry this poster out of my cold dead hands so, although I can’t comprehend dropping something like this off at the local Goodwill, I am so glad someone did! 😀

Do you have any celebrity autographs? What has been your favorite “wtf” thrifting find? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar6

Lil Red’s Art Gallery: Accent Wall Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red’s Art Gallery: Accent Wall Edition

Hi! Ever since moving into my apartment this past year, I have wanted to do something with the wall alongside my staircase. I pictured a wonderful accent wall with artwork of all different shapes and sizes and decided to go for it… Several months later! Haha, when I first moved in, I bought tons of framed art pieces from Goodwill and a few other locations and they have since been laying in a pile underneath my staircase.

Whomp whomp.

But, thanks to a new record player in my apartment from my boyfriend (which all of you will see later), the under the stairs space needed cleared and it was about damn time to get some of those pictures hung. So, Johnny and I went to Walmart, purchased some Command strips, and I spent some of an afternoon off creating the following:

wallwall1

I am so pleased with how my art wall is starting to take form and there is still much work to be done because those aren’t all of the pictures that I have. However, I am not so pleased with the holding power of the Command strips because the embroidered peacock beneath my “Welcome” sign fell within one hour of hanging it.

And, to make matters worse, simply tapping my Welcome sign when trying to rehang the embroidery made that one fall, too! I was able to get that picture rehung but, sadly, the Command strips were already so worn out on the embroidery that I had to put it back in its nook under the stairs with a broken frame, no less.

Despite how happy I am with the outcome so far, I don’t think I would use the Command strips again to hang the rest of my pictures. I am also pretty nervous for the ones on the wall to fall and cause even more damage! We’ll see how the remaining pieces fair and if they can hold on for longer than a day but, I think I’ll be using the old fashioned way of a hammer and nails in the future. BOOOO.

Do you have an accent wall in your home? What is it like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb19

Cost Effective Home Styling In New Jersey

Posted on by
Standard
Cost Effective Home Styling In New Jersey

Drooling over some gorgeous Insta home photos but wondering whether you can afford the cost? Are you curious about cost-effective home styling? Well, no problem! You don’t have to max out your credit cards to recreate some of these beautiful and inviting spaces. You can still create a lovely and inviting home without compromising on the style factor, even on a shoestring budget.

This post will share with you some top hacks of how you can stretch your decorative dollar and turn your home into a designer space:

Achieve a minimal look:

With a limited budget, you have to be specific about what is necessary and what you don’t need in your space.

Rather than jamming your space with shelves full of books, ornaments, and portraits, think of investing in small quality pieces that are both stylish and timeless in design. Create a minimal look with a few classic items that will give your space a unique personality rather than a cluttered mess.

Take a look at this painting – simple enough to bring a unique quirky look to a minimal space:

nj1

Minimal effort, maximum style!

Create a little scene in each room:

If your rooms are very neutral with whites and greys, it’s a good opportunity to spice things up. Add one dramatic and bold feature which can capture all attention in the room. It can be a painting, a pillow, or a carving.

You can also focus on creating vignettes and shelves to avoid styling the entire room. Create a little vignette scene by having a sideboard and a mirror in your room, a reading nook, or even a small display shelf.

Focusing on a small space is quite cheaper than thinking of revamping the entire house. You also have the freedom of making changes easily when you need to re-style in the future.

nj2

So cool!

Bring in some leafy friends:

For a beautiful and lively look, clear your rooms of the unnecessary clutter and fill the space up with flowers and indoor plants. Bringing in flowers to every room is a simple way to breathe life and color into your house. Flowers and plants are also good at lifting up your mood and cleaning your air of pollutants.

Don’t have a green thumb? Then look for the hardy green plants such as peace lily or devils ivy. And, if indoor plants aren’t really your thing, there are some beautiful lifelike faux plants you can get from the stores.

nj3

Pixabay Image

DIY your own art wall:

Who said you have to pay thousands of dollars to have art on your walls? You can create your own cheap and unique art wall – no talent needed. All you need is to get a few brushes, paint, and a canvas frame. If you have no idea of what to paint, you can start with simple items such as trees, flowers, mountains, and geometric paint art. You can also do word art that has an uplifting message.

Still doubting your artistic skills? Then wrap a beautiful fabric around a piece of rectangular Styrofoam and staple at the top. Or even make a DIY photo frame and create a collage.

nj4

Creative cloth art

Brighten up your room in style:

Light up your home by buying good quality bulbs with low wattage and think of hanging a few pendant lights. Pendant lights, hung over a sculpture, art, or at the dining table draws the eye and adds on the visual effect of the items around. Choose lighting bulbs that are covered with porcelain ceramic or concrete for a more earthy look. These combined with a bright metallic finish at the bottom will bring a warm bright glow to your rooms.

nj5

Redesign your air conditioner:

Heating and air conditioning in New Jersey and many other parts of the country is almost a must-have necessity. However, these air conditioners and heating equipment are not one of the most attractive pieces of equipment to have in your home. They can easily become an eyesore, especially when they get old.

An easy way around them is choosing the right spot for them. Think of placing the equipment above your doorway or your windows. You can also camouflage them by painting them the color of your wall. This way you will prevent them from sticking out and cramping your style.

nj6

Pixabay Image

Achieving a great look in your home doesn’t have to cost you thousands. Follow these simple ideas to keep your home décor stylish and on trend without causing a dent in your bank account.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb15

Ready, Set, Spring Clean!

Posted on by
Standard
Ready, Set, Spring Clean!

Hi! Although the winter season in Ohio hasn’t been awful this year, things took a drastic turn into freezing rain and snow and it has me eagerly awaiting the warmer weather. Spring is (somewhat) just around the corner, which means that sunshine, flowers, and oh yeah – spring cleaning is near!

Is cleaning house the best part of the transition from winter to spring? Not by a long shot. But, it sure feels good once you’re all done! So, let’s go over some pro tips to get the process started:

Take Inventory:

Before you start your cleaning, take a look around your cupboards to see what you have and what you need to finish your task. You will totally lose all of the motivation you had to sweep the floors once you realize you would need to run to the store to grab more liquid for your Swiffer. Complete the chores you can do with the cleaning products you have and then set aside some time to restock your supplies as needed.

Take Your Time:

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean a whole day dedicated to scrubbing, dusting, and reorganizing. That’s just too much for anyone. Rather, go from one room or area at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Set aside an hour or two for each project until your whole home is spick and span and don’t forget to play some great tunes to get you grooving. I promise, it will make your deep clean go by so much quicker!

Decluttering Is Key:

In my apartment, there really isn’t much space where I can place all of my crap that I collected throughout the day. So, my kitchen table ends up being covered in paperwork, jewelry, and whatever else I didn’t feel like returning to its proper home. If this sounds familiar to you, then really try and focus on tidying up these spaces and keeping them as such. I know it’s hard but nothing feels better than not having to hunt for something you placed down weeks ago and a kitchen table to actually eat on doesn’t hurt, either. 😉

Decluttering Is STILL Key:

I find that it’s much easier to do chores once all of the unnecessary stuff has been removed. Take a look around your home and evaluate everything there. Is your Christmas decor still up? Maybe it’s time to clear that away to make room for the Easter Bunny. Is your mantle and the knick knacks on it coated in dust? Take the time to remove and clean them individually and see if there are any you could do without or replace with different decor to freshen things up.

Decluttering is essential whether it is with clearing up little odds and ends or bigger pieces of furniture, a closet clear out, or going through old storage. If you are clearing out larger items, make sure you schedule for rubbish removal cheltenham or your local area to haul everything away.

Keep Your Cool:

Cleaning sucks but it doesn’t need to be stressful. If you create a game plan and stick to it, your home will be spotless in no time. Delegate tasks if you have any helpers around and don’t take any breaks until the chore is complete. Because, believe me, once you watch just “one episode” of your favorite show, you’ll be posted up on the couch binge watching instantly!

Ready, Set, Spring Clean with the pro tips above!

When do you start your spring cleaning? Which part of your home needs some extra love during your cleaning sesh? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan14

Mean Muggin’ Pt. 2

Posted on by
Standard
Mean Muggin’ Pt. 2

Hello! A simple gift that I really love to receive are coffee mugs. I don’t know why, but I am always so tickled when I am presented with them and I have quite the collection from many years of exchanging during gift giving occasions with my BFF. I enjoy selecting from my mug shelf for the perfect cup to put my morning coffee in and every one reminds me of a special time or person in my life. It always starts my morning off with a smile and this new one will more than likely start my day with a laugh… If I’m not too hungover, that is. 😉 Check it out and you’ll see what I mean:

mugmug2

While shopping at Target with one of my girlfriends so she could spend some Christmas gift cards, I pointed my “hungover” mug out to her because I thought it was hilarious. It was the last one on the shelf and I told her that I loved it. Without even missing a beat, my friend plucked the mug from its spot and placed it in her cart. I was so taken aback, because it was such an unexpected but pleasant surprise and I had to double check with her like a million times to make sure she was okay with the extra purchase.

Not only do I get a kick out of the funny saying on the mug, but I think the pretty flowers against the stark white background are beautiful and the sentiment behind it makes it even better. There is nothing like a sweet and simple gift to turn your day around completely and I am so thankful to my friend for her generosity. I don’t think I’ll ever not feel a warmness in my heart every time I select this mug from the cabinet! ❤

What is a simple gift that you love to receive? What does your favorite coffee mug look like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec30

Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

Posted on by
Standard
Holiday Haul: Light Of My Life Edition

Hi! One of my clients that I work with is an older man with Down Syndrome and I always call him the “light of my life” because it’s the honest to god truth. This fellow has me wrapped around his little finger and everyone knows it! We have so much fun together and it really is nothing short of a delight to be his provider.

My friend has been looking forward to Christmas for months and months now. In fact, I think he started looking forward to this year’s Christmas the day after last year’s Christmas. In preparation for the big day, we decorated the tree and have played nonstop Christmas movies and music. It absolutely tickles me to see his love for this time of the year and he is the epitome of what the holiday season is all about.

During my last day of work before a holiday break, we had our gift exchange and I was surprised with all of the following:

prespres3pres1pres2pres4

^^^ Note that the bottle of wine was from his brother!

I had to have a silent laugh when I opened my presents because I’m pretty sure that my client just gives people stuff that’s in his room for Christmas. And, that’s what made it so unbelievably perfect. My friend knows that I have no holiday decorations at my home and I’m sure that’s why he gave me my little Precious Moments penguin that is seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

But, can we please talk about my caricature?! I am so excited to hang it up on my wall because I am all about having quirky things at chez moi and it just might be one of my favorite gifts that I’ve ever received. It was obvious how much thought he put into picking out his presents for me and they are going to be treasured for forever. ❤

What do you gift your work friends with? What was your favorite gift that you got this holiday season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec24

6 Ways To Improve The Appearance Of The Front Of Your Home

Posted on by
Standard
6 Ways To Improve The Appearance Of The Front Of Your Home

It’s relatively easy to stay on top of the interior of your home. That space, after all, is a place that you see again and again, and if something isn’t quite as good as it could be, then you’ll notice it pretty quickly. But the exterior of your home is a little different. While it’s a space that you see every day, we usually end up walking through the front door without looking around and inspecting whether it’s in as good of shape as it could be.

But there’s a lot of value in taking the time to ensure that this part of your house is in tip-top condition. Among other benefits, it can nudge your home’s value in the right direction. In fact, the home’s curb appeal is one of the first things that potential homeowners look for when searching for a house.

So if your home’s front isn’t quite as great as it could be, then what can you do? We take a look at a few tried and tested tips below:

Add Some Green:

Everything looks better with a little bit of color splashed on it, and that includes the front of your home. There aren’t too many spaces in the world where you’re able to add plants and flowers, so don’t waste the opportunity that your front yard presents. If you’re not an experienced gardener, then you can start small, perhaps by planting a couple of plants that are native to your area. A hanging flower basket over your front door will look especially good, and it’s easy enough to care for. There’s also a lot of studies that say plants can help boost your mood, so you might just be making your house a more joyful place in the process.

Upgraded Doors:

And speaking of your front door, it’s not just a hanging flower basket that can make it look better. You can change out the door itself, and improve the aesthetics of your house. They say that if you want to keep your home’s value intact, then you shouldn’t add too much of your personality to your property, but there are a couple of spaces where you’re able to add some sparkle – and that includes your front door. Look at switching it out to something new and improved; it will make the whole exterior of the house look better, especially if you choose a statement color.

Clean Windows:

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that windows are just windows, but this isn’t the case. While people tend to change them out for newer windows only when they have an obvious fault, such as when there’s a crack, it’s worth remembering that windows do need changing before it reaches this stage. If it has been some years since you’ve changed your windows, then look at upgrading them with a Window installation service in Frisco, TX or your local area. You will be surprised at just how much of a difference a bright and clear set of windows can make to your home.

Big Changes:

Just as with the windows, people seem to think that you should only make a change to the infrastructure of your home when there’s something obviously wrong with it. But it’s not the case, with the front of your house or the roofing. If your home is looking a little tired, then look at having it repainted by a professional company. It’ll make your home shine again. For your roof, you can work with a roofing company and get a replacement fitted. It’ll make your home look refreshed and modern.

Upgrading your roof is a big task to take on but it will pay off in spades. A refreshed roof is an instant face lift for your home, can boost curb appeal, and raise property value. With so many benefits at stake, you will want to plan, budget, and work extensively with a trusted team of experts. To begin researching the best company for you, simply enter a search for “Roofing Company In Mansfield, TX” (or your local area). This research stage can also be most helpful in finding an updated style that appeals to you.

Creating Privacy:

You’ll want your home to look good to your visitors, but that doesn’t mean that you should be showing off your house to the whole world, or at least making it easily accessible. A home with a front yard that’s too easily accessible loses something. So it’s worthwhile to look at making it more private. There are multiple ways to do this. You can make your home feel more cozy by adding a hedge or you can keep it on display, but not accessible, by adding a front gate.

Staying Symmetrical:

Finally, there’s one final rule that you should keep in mind no matter what you’re trying to do to your yard: keep things symmetrical. It’s a little trick that can make your house look a lot better. It’s one of those things that our eyes like to see, from people’s faces to buildings. Do we know why? No! But we like it!

Boost your home’s curb appeal by revamping its exterior – making it feel brand new again in no time!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec23

How To Make Your Home Feel Like Christmas

Posted on by
Standard
How To Make Your Home Feel Like Christmas

It’s winter, the days are shorter, and the feeling of wanting to stay inside and watch movies is getting stronger by the minute. Not to worry, most of us have had the winter blues at some point. Christmas is an excellent opportunity to get into the festive spirit, decorate your home, and invite friends and family over to enjoy the holidays with you. Here’s how to make your home feel like Christmas for your celebrations:

Make it smell nice:

Having Kindred Fires scented candles around the house can do wonders for getting you into the festive spirit. Feel free to change candles throughout the week, and try pine-scented candles as well as clove and cinnamon. Along with candles, if you have a real Christmas tree, the natural smell of pine will go beautifully with other Christmasy scents. Feel free to make your own candles if you’re feeling particularly adventurous!

Make warming recipes:

A delicious way to dine this Christmas is to create wholesome dishes that will keep you warm this winter. While you may want to save yourself for the big day, the Christmas period is a time for indulging so don’t feel bad for having a few extra treats. Recipes that taste particularly good when it’s cold include soups, stews, and roasted vegetables. Traditional recipes and comfort food can be enjoyed in abundance during this time. Try to cook this recipe for homemade chicken and drop dumplings, a delicious recipe that is both seasonal and harks back to grandma’s cooking.

Light it up:

Placing lights around your house will automatically give it a Christmas feeling. Keep the lighting warm and low, with soft lamps and candles rather than overhead lighting. Outdoor lights will go wonderfully in your backyard, especially when the sun has set and you look outside your window in the evening. There are many kinds of lights that you can go for, but consider using energy-saving lights, as the cost of lighting decorations and electric lights over Christmas can be very expensive.

Set up treats around your home:

Setting up bowls or jars around the house filled with Christmas goodies is a nice way to enjoy some sweet treats while also functioning as decoration. Cute ideas include filling these bowls or jars with candy canes, chocolate coins, and marshmallows. Having these treats on hand is great when you’re making hot chocolate, as you can grab a couple of marshmallows or chocolate pieces to add on top.

Blankets, throws, and cushions:

Staying cozy at home with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate or mulled cider automatically makes me feel Christmasy. Having blankets and throws on your couch adds a nice winter feel, especially if you are lucky enough to have a natural fire. Thick knit blankets and woolen cushion covers are both comfy and fashionable additions to your interior design.

Spending time with loved ones is the best way to enjoy Christmas. After all, that’s what the season is all about. How ever you choose to enjoy the winter period, keep it festive with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec20

3 Top Concerns When Renovating Your Bathroom

Posted on by
Standard
3 Top Concerns When Renovating Your Bathroom

When someone is keen to renovate a part of their home, the bathroom is often one of the first places they look to. There are many reasons for this, and one of the most important is that the bathroom is a small room, and therefore one that won’t take too long to renovate. As such, it can also act as a kind of practice for renovation more generally, or it might even be a chance to try and engage with a certain motif before using it in the rest of the home. Whatever your reason, you need to make sure that you are aware of the top concerns there are likely to be when you are renovating your bathroom. In this post, we will take a look at exactly that, so that you can be sure you are doing it right:

The Plumbing:

If anything should go wrong with the plumbing, it can mean that the whole project is a disaster. In the worst case scenario, you might even cause a considerable leak or flood in your home, or at the very least some kind of water damage. There are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to the plumbing. First, be sure to source good quality plumbing supplies from the likes of PlumbersStock. Second, hire a professional plumber to deal with that side of things as you renovate. This is not the time to test DIY skills as a bill for a plumber will be way cheaper than carrying out repairs for potential damage caused. To find a trusted professional, simply enter a search for “winnipeg plumbing services” (or your local area) to get the job done right the first time. Finally, ensure that you have this done first, so that you can then work around it, rather than the other way around, which is going to be much harder.

The Decor:

Your choice of decor is going to be especially important in a bathroom, as it is one of the smaller rooms in the home, and any decision will really be seen, and make a huge difference to the look of the bathroom overall. Make sure that you spend a long time on the decor, and that you know exactly what colors you are going to go for, for instance. It’s important that you like the colors, but also that they are going to work well together and as a whole, so make sure of that as best as you can as well. If you can manage that, the room has more of a chance of success.

br1Pexels Image

The Time:

You don’t want your bathroom to be out of order for any longer than necessary, so make sure that you are aware of that from the start too. This will be especially important if you only have one bathroom, of course, but even if you don’t it is still something to keep an eye on. It can take time to renovate even a small room, so look ahead, plan ahead, and you will be able to renovate your bathroom in style in no time, and to the look that you want for it.

Home renovations are a great goal to accomplish in 2020 so prepare your game plan, watch some HGTV, and get to it!

Featured Image By: Pexels