Home Staging

Home Trends for 2019
December 18, 2018

10 Hot Home Trends for 2019 (and 2 that are OUT!)

Each fall, decorators begin to share the interior design trends we can expect to see in the new year. Looking ahead to 2019, bold colors, metallics, and statement ceilings take center stage.

If you’re planning to put your place on the market and want it to appear like the freshest spot on the block, you need to know what’s hot and what’s not.

1. Wallpaper stages a comeback

Put down that paint brush! If you’re looking to add a splash of color or geometric flair to your rooms, wallpaper is a fashionable alternative that adds instant personality to any area. But if you’re picturing your Great Aunt Polly’s overwhelming floral patterns or you’ve heard horror stories about wallpaper removal, those days are over. Easy-to-remove papers come in an array of colors and designs that range from subtle to seriously jaw-dropping. Prepare to see plenty of wallpaper in 2019.

2. Making the most of the ceiling

Ceilings are often considered a room’s fifth wall, so why not capitalize on that blank canvas? Whether you choose to add an accent paint color, wallpaper, or decorative beams, enhancing the ceiling draws the eye upward and can make a room appear larger — not to mention more interesting.

3. The color of the year…

If you still can’t get behind the idea of papering your walls, give them a bold, up-to-date look with a fresh coat of paint. Which hue is a modern standout? Behr’s 2019 color of the year is Blueprint (S470-5). Pair it with gray or other neutral tones and you’ve got a vibrant new feel.

4. Kitchen hoods slim down

For a while, kitchen hoods have been working overtime. Not only do they ventilate the room, removing odors and smoke, they also add a decorative flourish. From copper to brick and beyond, some nearly swallowed the space with their oversized appeal. Well, in 2019, hoods are going on a diet. Expect to see rounded, more slimmed-down designs.

5. Colorful kitchens are on the menu

Neutral, all-white kitchens are out as darker, more dramatic designs are finding favor with homeowners who are looking to spice up the heart of the home. Expect to see islands, cabinetry, and fixtures get an exciting, decidedly darker makeover in the new year.

6. Appliances go for gold

Remember when rose gold was having a moment? Well, it’s over, and plain old gold is reclaiming the top spot. From faucets to fridges, decorators are imploring homeowners to go for the gold and give stainless steel the year off.

7. Metallic sinks make splash

Hammered metallics are the hottest thing in sinks according to designers. These fun and funky alternatives to your white farmhouse sinks often have a vintage vibe. Popular in kitchens, they’re expected to make a big impact in the powder room as well.

8. Keeping it interesting with colored tile

Kitchens aren’t the only rooms that are saying goodbye to neutral tones. Bathrooms are striving to be just as eye-catching thanks to bold tile colors. This trend might not appeal to everyone, but it definitely makes a trip to the loo more memorable.

9. Curvy furniture exudes comfort

Furniture with rounded edges beckons you to sit a while. Warmer and more inviting than couches and chairs with sharp lines, these comfy seating designs feel like a welcome throwback to a more casual time. Rectangular tables are out, and ovals are in. They’re safer for households with young children, making them a popular pick for families.

10. Invite the outdoors in

Some say plants are like tattoos: You get one and you’ll just end up wanting another. Greens give off oxygen at the same time that they add a nice pop of color, doubling their appeal. Tired of your artwork? Replace it with plants. Living walls will be all the rage in 2019. But if your green thumb isn’t ready for a full-scale indoor garden, start with a few easy-to-maintain plants on shelves.

Trends That Are Out

1. Accent walls

“Dramatic-colored or wallpapered accent walls are no longer the focal point of interiors. Single-colored walls are making a much bigger impact by creating a balanced backdrop for furnishings and decor.” — Kesha Franklin of Halden Interiors (via Elle Decor)

2. Cherry Cabinets

“Warmth in the kitchen is no longer achieved with this traditional go-to finish. Painted cabinets in deep blues, grays and black are dominating both modern and traditional kitchen designs.” — Kesha Franklin of Halden Interiors (via Elle Decor)

We want to hear your thoughts. Do you agree or disagree on what’s coming in and what’s trending out?

By The Property Geeks
Tips for Holiday Decorating
November 28, 2017

Top 5 Holiday Decorating Tips When Your House Is For Sale

We get asked this question a lot… “Should I still decorate my house if it’s for sale over the holidays?”

The short answer is yes, of course. Your home may be for sale, but you’re still living in it and should be able to celebrate whichever holidays your family holds dear. But… we do have some advice to offer if you don’t want to put off a potential buyer who doesn’t quite embrace your level of Ho-Ho-Ho. Here are our top 5 tips:

1 – Whether you’re going all out with a huge tree, snowglobes on every surface or just putting a few things up around the house, try to coordinate colors and themes if at all possible. In a perfect world you’d have color-coordinated ornaments, a tree full of sparkling clear lights and stockings to match. Think the best of Seasonal Concepts. But… the ornaments the kids painted in Kindergarten and the stocking your daughter crocheted when she was eight are some of your favorite items. We get it. The goal is to be festive without being too cluttered or too personal.

via GIPHY

2 – Watch the breakables. This might not be the year to set our your great-grandma’s heirloom nativity set. Families may be coming through with small children. If you have to put family treasures out, make sure you put them out of reach of small hands.

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3 – For outdoor decor, you’re not going for a Griswold family Christmas. No friendly competition with the neighbors or contests to see who can fit the most reindeer on the roof or inflatables in the front yard. White lights are best, but even if your family tradition calls for the multi-colored ones, just keep it simple. And keep the extension cords to a minimum. You don’t want a prospective buyer tripping over something you’ve strung across the sidewalk.

via GIPHY

4 – Make sure your home looks, smells and feels welcoming. During these colder months, the sun can dip behind the horizon well before dinnertime. Keep things cozy by shoveling the driveway, salting the walk and turning the thermostat up so buyers don’t enter a cold home. And nothing says home for the holidays better than the smell of something fresh out of the oven. Fake a fresh-baked apple pie by simmering some apple cider with cinnamon in a slow cooker on low.

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5 – A little effort can go a long way when showing your house over the holidays. Leave bottles of water, Christmas cookies or a bowl of candy canes on the counter when you know someone is coming through. The buyers will appreciate the thoughtfulness and special touch.

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If you need help deciding if you’ve got too much holiday spirit showing, ask a neighbor or your realtor to take a look. Often times their first impression will differ from yours, providing some much needed perspective on your level of holiday cheer.

With a little extra effort and a lot less decor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy the season, even when you’ve got your house on the market.

Happy Holidays!

 

By The Property Geeks
Home Staging Kitchen
November 14, 2017

15 Before & After Photos that Prove the Power of Home Staging

There’s no denying it: Homes that receive effective home staging definitely stand out. Not only does the right amount of decluttering, organizing and accessorizing make your home more attractive, it can actually increase its value.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report, 32 percent of buyers’ agents believe their clients are willing to offer one percent to five percent more for staged homes. What’s more, 81 percent of agents said home staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home.

If that’s not enough to convince you, take a look at these before-and-after photos to really illustrate how powerful home staging can be.

1. Cool kitchen

Attractive barstools and place settings make you want to sit right down for lunch! The hardware upgrade on the cabinets makes a big difference too.

2. Dining room do-over

A fresh coat of paint and right-sized furniture create an appetizing room that’s welcoming without being over-the-top. (Removing that potty chair from the picture was a wise move as well.)

3. Room with a view

This living room went from sad to sophisticated with the help of the right furnishings and accessories. Who could focus on that stunning view with those flimsy outdoor chairs in the way?

4. The personal touch

Homeowners are often advised to keep their rooms neutral and remove many of their personal effects. But by adding a few well-placed items to the countertops, this kitchen just became a lot more enticing.

5. The beauty of decluttered space

Organizing and decluttering go hand-in-hand with home staging. It’s a shame to bury a fireplace behind so much stuff.

6. Updated decor

Many consumers have a hard time envisioning themselves in a space if the decor is too distinctive or distracting. Keeping items current and appealing to all is a way to attract as many buyers as possible.

7. Bedrooms don’t need to be bold

While you may love the idea of an extreme shade, not everyone wants to wake up to dramatic hues. In addition to lightening the wall color, moving the bed away from the window enhances the view.

8. Brighter bathroom

Nothing makes a bathroom sparkle like clean, cream-colored walls. Fresh-flowers, white hand towels, and an elegant soap dispenser take this bathroom from drab to eye-catching without any remodeling required..

9. Gorgeous guest room

This stunning space was packed with potential but failed to live up to it. In addition to new chairs, the right lighting and taking the photo from a better angle transformed this room.

10. Wall art adds a wow factor

The right wall hangings can take a room from comfortable to curated with minimal effort.

11. Less is more

Home stagers will often suggest placing some of your items in a storage unit to make your rooms appear more open and spacious. This photo illustrates why that’s such a smart idea.

12. Accent on color

The walls can stay neutral but adding a pop of color through accent pieces like throw pillows and well-placed chairs pull a room together.

13. Let there be light.

This attic bedroom went to dim and dreary to quaint and cozy with the addition of a nightstand and table lamp. The complementary geometric patterns bring interest to the small space without overwhelming it.

14. Empty just isn’t as appealing

Even if an empty room looks great on its own, showing buyers how to show off the space is inspiring.

15. Every detail counts

In case you needed any additional convincing that home staging makes an enormous difference, this montage of makeovers should do the trick.

We hope you agree that staging can take a home from okay to awesome! And if you have questions about selling or staging your home, feel free to give us a call or tune in to Grill the Geeks every Thursday at 12pm CT on our Facebook page.

By The Property Geeks
Home Staging Musts
June 20, 2017

5 Home Staging “Musts”

The Property Geeks spoke to Melissa Evans of Trend Staging for a recent episode of Grill the Geeks. Here are our top five “Home Staging Musts” we feel sellers need to do in order to maximize the value of their home:

Declutter

1) Declutter. You can’t show off your home’s best features if you have piles of paperwork on every horizontal surface and closets bursting with clothes your kids outgrew two years ago. Not that any of us are guilty of that… 😉 Use this time to purge, purge, purge. Your home will show better and you’ll have less to pack and move. It’s a win-win!

Depersonalize

2) Depersonalize. Buyers need to be able to visualize themselves living in your home. Take down personal items like the wall of family photos, the shelves of Little League trophies and the Hummel collection you inherited from grandma. The fewer distractions that remind them that they’re walking through someone else’s home, the easier it will be for them to picture themselves in the space.

Deep Clean

3) Deep clean and freshen up. Yes, buyers will actually look in your bathroom cabinets, under your sink and sometimes even behind your refrigerator. Show some love to the things you haven’t thought about in years… the air vents, the dust-caked blades on the ceiling fans, each slat on the mini blinds. Move the furniture, wash the walls. It matters. When you’re done cleaning, neutralize your space with a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color. That gorgeous shade of tangerine you painted the kitchen might go great with your teal Fiestaware, but bold colors will most likely be a turn off for a buyer.

Clarify Your Space

4) Clarify your space. If you have rooms doing double duty like a spare room that doubles as an office and a workout area, you have to make a choice. Buyers have a hard time making sense of rooms without a clear purpose. Make the function of your rooms obvious, especially if you have odd nooks or spaces that might give a prospective buyer trouble trying to figure out how to use that unusual space.

Staged Home

5) Don’t try to sell an empty home. Already moved out? You can rent furniture or pay a professional stager to come in and set your space. Houses show better when they have furniture in them. If you can’t afford to stage the entire home, focus on the most important areas like the main living space, dining area and master bedroom. You can still stage certain rooms even if you’re still living in the house. Put your waterbed in storage and bring in an updated bedroom set. In our experience, buyers that stage their homes well will recoup more than the cost of the staging.

If you need help getting your home ready to sell, give us a call. We’re always happy to do a walk-through for our clients and highlight the areas that need special attention. And if you’d like to watch the original interview, check out this episode of Grill The Geeks on The Property Geeks’ You Tube channel. You can also catch upcoming episodes every Thursday at 12pm central on our Facebook page. We talk about buying, selling, and everything else real estate related we’ve been geeking out about!

By The Property Geeks