Home Styling Hints 'n' Tips
-
Buyers
Potential buyers make up their minds within the first 30 seconds of a viewing! Buyers are looking for light and space - pack away all but a few select photographs, ornaments and books. But BEWARE your home must still feel warm and friendly to all who enter so:
STEP BACK
RE-EVALUATE
BE OBJECTIVE -
Stains on Furniture
If your furniture is looking stained and shabby it will put off visitors and it will certainly put off prospective buyers.
Most fabric stains can be removed easily if caught early enough but if they are old stains more care is needed. There are lots of products on the market that will do the job it's a case of careful selection on your part to make sure you pick the right one for the job.
Did you know that hairspray is great at removing ink stains from leather furniture? Simply spray a little on a cloth and gently rub the stain, keep applying the hairspray in this way until the stain has gone then wipe over with a damp cloth to take away any sticky residue. Now give the piece of furniture a good clean with a good specialist leather cleaner and it will look (and smell) like new. -
Floors
First impressions count and a grubby carpet with spot stains is not a pretty sight!
It may not be necessary to replace carpets but whether you are selling your home or refurbishing your flooring needs to look its best. it's a good idea to have carpets steam cleaned and wood flooring resurfaced if it is badly scuffed or polished to bring out dulled beauty.. Either way consider getting in a professional for advice or for carpets that are lightly stained you can hire a Rug Doctor machine at reasonable cost. -
Work With What You Have
Use throws, quilts, slipcovers or sheets to create an updated look at little cost. The colours for this spring and summer are the fresh, clean naturals of nature. Check out charity shops for some great bargain finds. Add a few great textures to your cushions to catch the eye, buttons, felt or lace and bingo! a new look for next to nothing.
-
Decluttering
Keep clutter to an absolute minimum, every room in the home, including the garage, should be absolutely clean and tidy. A little decluttering every day will take less time than having to do it all in one go. Email me to request my FREE How To Declutter booklet
-
Lighting
Lighting plays an important part in creating ambience, it's good lighting provision that makes a room feel comfortable and warm. Effective lighting creates a bright, airy, spacious room - just what buyers are looking for.
-
Furnishings
Always, always check that your furniture is the correct size for the room it is going in. An oversized sofa and chairs in a small room will make it appear even more cramped. Make sure that the room is defined correctly - so if your estate agent describes your house as having three bedrooms ensure that you are not showing it to buyers as a two bedroom with study.
-
Colour and Pattern
Neutral does not mean boring! Remember if you are selling your house you are selling a life style and you need to create the kind of colour palette that appeals to the widest selection of buyers possible but beware it is all too easy to create bland rooms.
-
Accessories
Accessories are a great way to bring a look together and are the quickest way to transform and update a room. Remember just as in fashion, you should consider the main colour scheme and don't be afraid to mix textures.
-
Outside areas
Don't forget the kerb appeal of your property - first impressions count and if a buyer does not like the outside they may not even bother to come inside. Bite the bullet and get rid of flaky paintwork, rusty gates, and dead or dying plants. Rejuvenate old metal gates with a coat of Hammerite, paint wooden or stain natural wood gates/fences, create perfect walls and dig up those dead plants and either replace with new or if funds are tight dig the boarder over to make it look fresh and clear of weeds.