Decorating Your Home to Dwell or to Sell
Using what you already have to update, decorate, or sell.
By Susan Atwell as published in The Somers Record
Can a home be decorated to either dwell or sell in just a day using only what already exists there? How do you stage or redesign a home when there is little-to-no budget? The answer is, start with what you already have. A deep clean, defining each space, removing distractions, and creating a warm and inviting environment are the keys to achieving a faster sale or satisfying transformation.
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Even though this is a home staging project, it is the perfect example of how existing furniture, art, and accessories can be used to redesign a space for $0. Distractions, often referred to as clutter, are removed, and the new layout provides for a cozy conversation area while still emphasizing the room’s main features—a fireplace, built-in bookcases, and sliding glass doors that lead to a private deck. With a little rearranging of furniture and reorganizing of this homeowner’s accessories, the room lives up to its potential, becoming both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
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This is another example of how existing furniture can be used to rearrange and reorganize a space for better balance, flow, and function. A little spring cleaning reveals this beautiful slate floor—in pristine condition—hidden below scattered pieces of furniture and toys. A quick rearrangement of the furniture successfully transforms this porch into an inviting and relaxing room to be enjoyed all summer long. It’s amazing how much space can be created when furniture is placed strategically.
Redesign and Staging are all about making small, budget-friendly changes to your home. By themselves, these may seem trivial or inconsequential, but when these changes are brought together, they lead to a fabulous new look.
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This bedroom is clearly crying out for an updated look and new configuration. The floral-print curtains are removed, and the print bedding is replaced with a plain, neutral spread and shams for a more elegant appearance. Again, maximizing the space with a better furniture arrangement improves the flow, function, and aesthetic appeal. To further enhance the new neutral color palette, the blue carpet is replaced with an earth-tone carpet. All this was done with only a minor increase in the makeover budget, but it resulted in a major impact.
Paint jobs
Paint is one of the most dramatic and cost-effective updates you can make when selling or redesigning your home. And it’s not a bad Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project if you enjoy painting and you have the time, like these homeowners did.
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A fresh coat of paint goes a long way in updating the look and feel of this room. The green walls made the room feel smaller and the ceilings appear lower than they really are. Creamy taupe paint, along with a minor investment in new pillows, a throw, and an area rug, keep this transformation simple and converts this living room into an inviting, airy space.
With a Little Help from a Pro…
Has this ever happened to you? You thought your home-decorating project would be simple and straightforward, but somehow, once you dove in, you felt as if you were in over your head. Or you weren’t sure of your choices. And once it was done, it didn’t turn out quite the way you’d hoped it would.
As a home stager, my favorite thing to do is to collaborate with homeowners who want to do their own redecorating but appreciate the design guidance of an expert. It’s so much easier and a lot more fun when you have a decorating partner to share ideas with, to shop with, or to help you hire the perfect contractor.
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When my client first contacted me, she wanted to update what she affectionately referred to as her “airplane bathroom.” Being petite myself, I knew that size should not be a limitation with her master bath update.
This Heritage Hills condo is larger than most but has surprisingly small bathrooms, a design compromise that instead gives the homeowner a uniquely large and open living space.
The bathroom is only a few years old, but it’s builder grade. This client wants something more. The neutral white tub, wall tile, and medicine cabinet are retained. Everything else—lighting, toilet, tile floor, crown molding, wallpaper, vanity, and granite—is new and improved!
These projects show that it’s rarely one large change that improves a space, but rather it’s a series of minor changes that add up to make major differences. This is called “redesign,” using what you already have as the starting point and foundation for decorating to dwell or sell. Keeping what works and fixing what doesn’t are what make for quick, cost-effective transformations that update, decorate, or sell homes fast.
What amazing transformations that clearly show what a huge difference staging makes in preparing your home for a fast, profitable home sale. And, if you are not selling, what a difference a trained professional can make in the beauty and functionality of your home using what you already have!
Thank you Mary Ann…well said!