Get A Goode Start Decorating

Now that the summer is over and school is back in session (for most of us at least), it’s time to think about the dreaded homework scenario for your kids. Since doing homework is a vital part of their education, I think it’s really important to have a dedicated area in your home for the kids – of all ages -- to do their homework. This is especially important to teens. Although the usual spot for studying may have been the kitchen table, teens need another area of the home that can be quiet for studying and provide a decent amount of space to “spread out.” If the space in your home is limited, then a folding screen or divider, even a bookcase, can offer some privacy or divide the space between the other areas of the room and the study space. Here are some ideas when you’re designing your kid’s study area: A computer desk is essential these days – and, if possible a good-sized one so that they can spread out their books, folders and other homework materials. Of course, a desk...

The summer is almost over so I wanted to share a few more ideas on outdoor decorating. If you use your outdoor room a lot, lighting can be very important – especially if you want to enjoy your outdoor space at twilight and after dark.  The lighting aspect of your outdoor room can also be taken care of in an affordable yet stylish manner. Use candles or torches for that elegant and peaceful atmosphere and if you are worried about safety you can go for solar lamps, although they basically only give ambient light. For parties - if you want to create a festive mood, hang some holiday lights over the porch beam or on a nearby tree. You can even make luminaries by dropping a candle in a punched recycled can. My personal preferences are inexpensive, decorative paper lanterns with battery-powered lights that are sold at stores like Pier One. They add a calming, relaxing ambiance.   I’m also seeing more and more lamps that can withstand outdoor use – both floor lamps and t...

Summer is here at last and hope you had a wonderful 4th of July!! Time for outdoor parties  and spending more and more time outdoors. If you love relaxing on your deck or porch like I do, here are some ideas for decorating your outdoor space. Since outdoor rooms are very popular now, there are many more options to the homeowner. Your outdoor room can be an extension of your home and you can personalize it with some exterior decorating ideas. Selecting outdoor furniture which suits your personal taste and style may be challenging. Prices range from the inexpensive (resin or aluminum) to the more expensive (wrought iron or wooden) – for example. You can choose from many different styles and colors to meet your needs. And there are many bright new colored accessories (pillows, cushions, umbrellas) featured this year! If you’re on a budget, discount stores usually have less expensive outdoor furniture available or you can pick up a white Adirondack resin chair for a very reasonable ...

It's the time of year that is supposed to be "best" for selling your home. And, if you're in the process of looking for a new home, you and your real estate agent probably do "drive bys," you've probably eliminated a few properties based on their exterior appearance - including broken railings, children's toys in the yard or an unmowed lawn. Curb appeal is so important to the prospective homebuyer. It could mean the difference between a "sale" and "no sale." If you are the home seller, here are some recommendations to keep your home in pristine condition and appeal to the prospective homebuyer's "drive by":  1. Make sure that your lawn is freshly cut and that leaves in your lawn are raked. If winter has set in, please make sure that the snow has been shoveled in the driveway and on walk-ways and sidewalks. 2. Your home's entryway should be attractive and welcoming. Consider a potted plant by the entrance, ...

Now that Spring is here - and the flowers are in bloom - why not take advantage of this in your decorating? The flowers in the Spring are some of the most colorful and pretty.  Cut them from your garden or buy them in the store or  nursery and display them in your home.  They will add life and color! Bring "Spring" inside by cutting branches and flowers and displaying them in different sized, clear vases - which are very popular this Spring!  They make a great centerpiece, or display them on top of your furniture or mantel. Create your own tablescape for spring by using colorful plates, glassware, placemats and napkins in decor appropriate for the time of year (or holiday, special occasion or the season of the year).  Or use  neutral colored plates, such as white or cream.  You can add personality to your table with accessories, such as flowers, candles, napkins or napkin rings. Have fun decorating for spring!  If you have any questions, pleas...

Spring is finally here after a brutal winter :-)  Whether you are thinking about putting your home on the market or if you are just itching to do a little spring cleaning, where do you begin?  Well, if  you have some stubborn areas that need attention, here are a few tips that you may be able to do quickly and easily to be ready for spring: -Grimy bathroom walls? If you have surface mold on your bathroom walls, mix a spray bottle with one part water and one part bleach. Spray it on the wall and watch the mold disappear. Wipe down the walls and you’ll see the color of the paint again! Of course, if you want to make your bathroom feel even more refreshed, repaint the walls for a new look. -Don't replace a yucky shower door. Try this instead. Glass shower doors can show dirt and grime quickly. Instead of replacing the door, take the door off the track so that you can clean if more easily. Then, scrub it with steel wool and a mixture of one part muriatic acid and about...

Spring is only a few weeks away (I hope!), so I wanted to share the new spring colors with you! In decorating this spring, the color palette is filled with apple green, sunny yellow and bright coral. Also included in the spring color selection are aqua blue, tomato red and radiant orchid (the 2014 Pantone Color of the Year). And all of these colors really pop when used with white, black, grey!  If you’re ready to make a few changes to your color scheme this spring – consider one or more of the beautiful colors I mentioned above. If you’re not ready to make a huge decorating change, try adding these beautiful colors in accessorizing your home, maybe your bathroom or kitchen; or add a couple of pillows to your sofa (as long as it doesn’t clash with your décor :-). They’ll give you a LIFT for spring! As always, Happy Decorating everyone!

Even though the Groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhogs Day, spring will be here before you know it!  If you plan to put your home on the market, you may be considering whether or not to hire a home stager.  Statistics posted by the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) show that staged properties sell 50% faster and for 6-10% more money than other properties.  When you decide to hire a home stager to decorate your property, you need to make sure you’re investing in the right person.  After all, you’re trusting someone with the sale of your largest asset – your home – so you have to be careful. First, you should make sure that the home stager has been professionally trained.  However, a common mistake is to look for “credentials,” since none exist in the home staging field.  Second, what kind of success record has the home stager had with their staged properties.   You may want to look at their website or portfolio, a...

When selling a house, many homeowners are willing to go the extra mile to make their properties stand out from the competition.  While sprucing up the kitchen and bathrooms certainly helps a house sell faster, the garage is important too, especially if you’re trying to appeal to male homebuyers. While most people would agree that the wife is the principal decision maker in a home purchase, it’s important to impress the husband too.  Many home sellers mistakenly store all their extra junk in the garage, close the garage door and put their house on the market, assuming that no one will ask to see the garage. But garages are an important selling feature for homes.  Many people are looking for a garage in their home search, so it’s important for the garage to “show” well.  Here are some tips that may help you: 1.         Make sure your garage is at least organized and clean – declutter it as much as possible.  Rent a ‘POD’ t...