Home Staging Tips

Rain rain go away...well maybe some of us are loving the rain we are getting while others are not. But I want to talk about how rain can help your landscaping and talk about rainscapes. Have you heard that term? Another new one for me too! So let's dive into rainscapes, what they are, and how you can make your plants happy in this episode. Mentioned in this episode:How to Design a Rainwater Harvesting SystemRain barrel by Amazon Willow Brook Printable https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowBrookPrintable

I've heard of hipsters and historic homes but never have I heard of this term...hipstoric homes until recently. I love how words can be mashed up together in the English language and this is another mashup...which is kind of what this is when it comes to decorating a home. A mashup of decorating styles called hipstoric homes. And what is this style? Well, listen in because we are about to unveil hipstoric homes which is an emerging decorating style on Pinterest. Mentioned in this episode: My new Etsy shop! Willow Brook Printable https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowBrookPrintable

A home office was a big thing during COVID. You could not go into the office building anymore so you carved out a niche in your home. Some were lucky where you actually had a separate room for a home office. Others had to carve out a space in an open living room (like me). Let's talk about home office ideas to make your space your own. In this episode I discuss: Reusing existing space to create a home office Dedicated home office space Carving out a small space in an open area Mentioned in this podcast: Rainy Days by Magnolia Home https://magnolia.com/shop/product/4767570052/rainy-days/ 22 easy home office updates https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/how-to/22-easy-home-office-updates/ Home staging Starter Kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

It is officially spring real estate market season because I see so many for sale signs popping up here. Looking for your dream house can take some time and buyers can be picky. But if you are getting your house ready to sell, there are a few things that will turn off buyers and hinder the sale of your home. Some of you may think that the real estate market is as hot as it was last year, but it's not quite the same anymore. There are a few things that you need to do to woo those buyers. And if you don't do them, these home staging mistakes can cost you time and money. Let me share 5 home staging mistakes that hinder the sale of your home. Mentioned in this episode: Home staging consultation: https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/services-2/

I love using IKEA pieces because while yes they are budget friendly, they also help those of you who are limited on space. I have several IKEA pieces in my house mixed with other non-IKEA things. I even had clients who outfitted their beach condo with IKEA items. So let me share my favorite IKEA pieces and how you can use them in your home. Mentioned in this episode: This little bathroom got a major makeover https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/home-decor/little-bathroom-major-makeover/ TORNVIKEN kitchen island https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/tornviken-kitchen-island-off-white-oak-40391657/ IDANAS sideboard https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/idanaes-sideboard-dark-brown-stained-80509626/ KALLAX shelving units https://www.ikea.com/us/en/cat/kallax-shelving-units-58285/ GODMORGON sink unit https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/godmorgon-sink-cabinet-with-2-drawers-white-00281104/ ODENSVIK double sink https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/odensvik-double-bowl-sink-30148321/ IKEA Marketplace https://www.ikea.com/us/en/campaigns/shop-

If you have a large house and a bonus room that you don't quite know how to use, I would love to share some ideas! Bonus rooms can be tricky if you have too many things going on but it can be a wonderful space if planned correctly. So let's get into some bonus room ideas on how you can best use it in your home. We never had a bonus room in our first home because it was a 1600 sq ft house. We had 3 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and an eat-in kitchen. There was no extra space for anything else. But in our home in New Mexico, it was over 2000 square feet and we had the same setup but it was an open floor plan all one level. There was a room that was across from the dining room and living room that had no "designation" so we had to think about how to use it. We eventually turned it into a playroom but it wasn't ideal because it was literally across from the formal dining room which was nice and neat and then you had an open room (no doors or walls) to the potentially me

With the pandemic behind us, homeowners are looking to change things up, especially in the bathroom. I want to share some 2023 bathroom trends that are coming up that you may want to consider if you are remodeling. You can start off with just a few changes or rip it all out and start over anew. In this episode we talk about: Bathroom trends seen in the local area in North Carolina BHG bathroom trends nationwide and how they compare to the local area Mentioned in this episode: Home Staging Starter Kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

A living room can be a great place to relax, watch TV and hang out with friends. But if you have an awkward layout with a corner fireplace and you aren't sure how to set up your furniture, it may be a source of stress for you. Let me share some ideas on how you can ideally set up your awkward living room with a corner fireplace. Mentioned in this episode: Home staging starter kit: bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

Trends come and go but I know some of you are wondering what's the next biggest thing when it comes to kitchen cabinet colors. I will share what some experts say and also talk with Maggie Dutton of Cabinetry of Pinehurst to get a local perspective on cabinet colors here in Moore County, NC. In this episode we cover: 2021 Color trends 2022 kitchen cabinet colors trends 2023 kitchen cabinet color trends and examples of colors so you can visually see them Plus, I have expert Maggie Dutton from Cabinetry of Pinehurst who shared her insights into what her clients are asking for in Moore County, NC and see if they are aligning with what the rest of the US is doing. Mentioned in this episode: Home staging starter kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit Omega Cabinetry omegacabinetry.com Maggie Dutton at Cabinetry of Pinehurst cabinetryofpinehurst.com

You may have lived in your home for 10, 20 even 30 years. But now you are selling it and you are told by a real estate agent you need to change a few things. They may even recommend meeting with a home stager. As a senior, you may not realize houses need to look their best and not look outdated in order to appeal to buyers. Let me share 5 tips for seniors selling their homes so that you can sell it faster. In this episode, we talk about outdated items you may find in an older adult's home and how to remedy and update them to appeal to buyers. You may not realize that certain things are outdated and do not realize that it turns off buyers. Maybe your parent's home is the one being sold and they need some inspiration to make a few changes. Share this episode with them to get them started on a few things they can do to get their home ready to sell. Mentioned in this episode: Home Staging Starter Kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

Master bedrooms may now be not politically correct to say. Real estate agents are now calling them primary bedrooms or primary suite. Regardless of what you call it, these bedrooms are the main bedroom in the house and the largest. We talked about updating them where I gave you a few ideas (episode #234 Four easy master bedroom updates under $150) but today I want to talk about giving you master bedroom ideas on the decor and layout. Mentioned in this episode: Home staging consultation  https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/ Episode #234 Four easy master bedroom updates under $150

If you are getting your house ready to sell, chances are you are looking up some home selling tips. There are many home selling tips out there that you can easily do yourself but some of you will say, ok but I don't have the same creative genius as you. How do I know if what I am doing is right? That is why I am taking the time to share some home selling tips you can use today to get started. Mentioned in this episode: Home Staging Starter Kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit Episode #207 10 reasons empty homes take longer to sell Episode #200 Should you move out to sell your home

It's a new year and some new changes to my business aren't being taken lightly. If you're part of my newsletter, you already know some of this news, but there are other changes to my business that will affect how I can help you the homeowner. Listen in to hear what changes I will implement or will implement soon and how that impacts you. In this episode we talk about: 1. Changing social media 2. Using search engine optimization 3. Taking care of my referrals 4. Vacant house staging Mentioned in this episode: Meg Casebolt - Love at First Search https://loveatfirstsearch.com/ Stacey Brown Randall - Growth by Referral https://www.staceybrownrandall.com/

If your kitchen seems kind of dark and dreary, the problem may be the kitchen lighting. I used to see the fluorescent light bars in the kitchen (which is mostly gone) but there are other ways to bring in some lighting and make your kitchen feel fabulous and warm. It's important to consider the different types of kitchen lighting you can use which is what we will discuss in today's episode. Overall lighting Pendant lights Undercabinet lights Mentioned in this episode: Home staging consultation https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/

Have you watched a movie trailer and expect one thing but then when you are watching the movie, it is TOTALLY not what you expected? I did that with The Bullet Train with Brad Pitt. I thought it would be funny, not the gory bloody movie that it started off as. I didn't even finish the movie! I only got through 20 minutes of it hoping it would get better. This is the same thing that I need to work on as a home stager when it comes to staging your home. I am working on a current project with a vacant home and realized I didn't set all the expectations I should have in the beginning. This is important because then we don't have to dance around issues and wonder why someone is unhappy. And I hate it when clients are unhappy. That is why I think setting expectations with my clients when staging their home is important. They may have ideas of what you do, when in actuality, you do something else. Mentioned in this episode: #225 Do home stagers have their own furniture Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bluedi

Not all of can afford a house with a GREAT room that can seat 10 people. Some of us are lucky to fit our small family of 3-4 people in the living room. So how do you make the living room feel big when it's really not? Let me share some living room decorating ideas you can use in your small living room. Living rooms are the hub of a house next to the kitchen. We watch TV in there, take naps, play with the kids etc but sometimes it can feel small. A lot of time the furniture can play a big part in making the room feel smaller than it is. I've seen those huge sectionals or matching couch and love seat, but not all houses can fit them in comfortably. What's a girl to do? let me share some ideas on how you can make your small living room feel bigger. Living room furniture Small side tables Rug size matters Coffee table/ottoman Artwork size in the living room TV stand Mentioned in this episode: Home staging consult https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/

I know it's the last part of the year, but I want to leave you with one piece of advice when it comes time to sell your home. There are so many things to do and you end up prioritizing what REALLY needs to be done to cut down your list. That is why when it comes time to selling a home, homeowners forego staging their home for several reasons. And if you fall into using one of these excuses, you only make it easier for OTHER homes to be sold faster. Stay tuned for this episode on 3 reasons why home sellers don't stage their homes. Mentioned in this episode Home staging consultation https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/ Episode #198 How much money do I need to stage my home Episode #200 Should you move out to sell your home

Out of all the home staging tips, I know there are some great lessons to be learned. We all learn something new about our jobs and home staging is no different. From handling phone calls to the process we use to stage a home, we all learn some kind of lesson. Let me share the best home staging lesson I learned this year that you can learn from as well! There are many great lessons to be had when staging a home. Each year, I learn something new about myself or how people think when it comes time to sell a home. In my first year as a home stager, I learned I had to measure entrances. That was a doozy of a lesson when a couch would not fit through any door such as the front door or the sliding door. Who knew that not all doors are 36 inches wide! Back in 2007, that was my lesson learned. Other home staging lessons learned include things like, not knowing what home staging is, or that homeowners had to use rental furniture when staging their home (which is not true!). I also learned that realtors thought they hav

Biophilic design is a way to incorporate nature into your home. Some of us crave to bring the outdoors inside. But how do you do this? Where can you do this? In this week's episode we will talk about biophilic design and how you can use it in your home. >> What is biophilic design? >> Where you can start small in your home >>  What are some biophilic inspirations? >> How natural light can work  >> Mimicking the natural world and how you can use it in biophilic design Mentioned in this podcast: Home Staging Consultation: https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/

We may think that we spend most of our time in the living room or kitchen, but that's not true. In fact we spend 1/3 of our lifetime sleeping in the bedroom! So it's safe to say that we should spend more of our decorating dollars towards the master bedroom but that's not the case. If you feel like you need an update in your master bedroom but don't have a large budget, let me help you out there. In today's episode we will talk about spending $150 to update your master bedroom in 4 different ways. Change out the bedsheets in the master bedroom (listen to episode #185) Master bedroom wall color (listen to episode #202) Remove frilly curtains Add artwork in the master bedroom BONUS TIP - change out the light fixture Mentioned in this episode: Home decorating playlist  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5nD0pfDVNUqKOSqpBuX3II Home staging consultation https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/ Bed in a bag episode #185 https://open.spotify.com/episode/2gXylaFsNG2sKbOerbuPSn Interior