Do you suffer from color phobia?

Image via Wikipedia

For some slapping a coat of paint on a wall is a funky adventure and an expression of style and color.

For others, paint colors, types and choices are a terrifying commitment to change that they are just not willing to undertake. These are lovingly referred to as the “color phobes.” There are also those that take their phobia to the extremes, no color on the walls and certainly very little color in the overall décor. As an Interior decorator, I am always shocked at how little people are willing to do to break away from their comfort zone.

So how do we correct this condition? Taking the mystery out of paint is key to at least getting a color phobe out of their shell and to tap into their creative side. Paints basically come in a few finishes, glossy, semi gloss, satin, and flat/matte. Which should be used for what? Glossy is durable and can stand up to moisture, can be washed, has a longer drying time and is great for cabinets and furniture. Semi gloss is seen often in kitchens and bathrooms for resistance to moisture and easy to wipe clean. Satin has a sheen as well and is also seen in kitchens, kids rooms and bathrooms. Flat and matte, great for walls that have imperfections. Due to the low reflective quality of flat paint, marred and damages walls will not be highlighted with flat paint. Now that dealt with the different finishes, in part so we have taken some of the mystery out of paint finishes at least, right?

The other problem is society screams that one should not dare paint any wall a color other than beige. Daring not to be neutral is scary, but can it be done? Should it be done and when should you do it? All good questions a color phobe may be pondering. When should you try a color that is on the wild side? Well that is up to you, if you aren't planning on selling your home there are a few risk free places to give color a go. Closet interiors, children's rooms and hall ways come to mind. Look around your home for some inspiration. Breaking free from color phobias requires baby steps, so try small spaces first.

Should bold colors be done at all in your home? Well again, if you aren't planning on selling, why not? Worse case scenario, you have to repaint, but at least you gave it a go, and that is important when you are afraid to take color risks. Perhaps your phobia should be toned down to colors in décor first. Bold sofa pillows, drapes or an area rug may help coax you out of your fears of using color. It may also tap into a creat at is in your home and just address the colors in or on it. Use that as your inspiration. Sometimes you discover your artistic side and that starts off a chain of events that frees up your mind, and your heart. Removable décor that has bold color statements are easy ways to break out of dull lifeless schemes and a safe way to address the problem.

Painting is only a cosmetic change, it's not a life time commitment. No more than changing your hair color is, which to some is equally daunting. Truth is, it's only color people. If painting is too scary, try the other suggestions mentioned here and see if there's a sleeping artist inside, chances are there is.

Interior décor an investment in your home's value

Image via Wikipedia

Interior decorating has come a long way. No more are the days where simply placing an item that caught your eye in a shop on a shelf was enough to make for a well decorated and designed space. Decorating today is a fine science where strategy, composition, balance and scale all come into play. Today the modern home owner is privy to tools and ideas that not only make their home stylish, but a vessel for profit as well.

Years ago, selling a home simply meant giving it a good clean, and hoping a prospective buyer liked what they saw. Today, there is a true strategy with much depending on how well versed the home owner is on décor, design, and marketing their homes best assets. Your chances of making a profit or scoring big in a soft market is hard, but it all depends on one's definition on what big is. A big score to some may be acquiring enough over their home's pay off to put ten percent down on the next home, while to others it may be recouping your improvement costs and then some.

So where do we go from here? Especially in a sluggish economy and with limited funds? Consider updating your décor if nothing else. A home painted in contemporary neutrals and polished off with a clever mix of well placed and balanced décor can go a long way. This may mean replacing drapes, removing items that are not functional nor decorative, and painting as well.

Image via WikipediaOne thing that can not be ignored today is that home buyers today are well schooled in décor and design compared to their parents and grand parents. Not to mention they are deluged with oodles of inventory to pick from right now. Young home buyers are less interested in a home's “potential” and more interested in things like updates, location, and room to grow.

Standard is no longer desirable, above and beyond the competition is what will get your contract signed. So if you find yourself needing to sell your home remember a well decorated interior is a minimal investment, but an investment nonetheless. Sometimes, it is not the amount of money you spend, it is what you spend it on that makes
it pay off.

 

 

 Related articles

• Color trends that date a home
• Interior Designer Vern Yip to introduce Vern Yip Home Collection on HSN
• Pier 1 Imports store offering 25 percent off
• Removing "popcorn" ceilings
• The importance of balance in home decor
• Vintage accessories for your kitchen design

Color trends that date a home

Image by MPR529 via Flickr

 

We all love color in our rooms, some more than others but if you aren't careful, your color choices could be a loud red flag that says your room has not been updated in a while. Color trends of eras gone by can hurt you if you are currently in the market to sell your home so paying close attention to what those colors and finishes are can help you figure out if your home has a chance of getting sold.

The Earthy 70's

The seventies was all about wood tones and earth tones. If you doubt me take a trip through time and look at old home photographs. See a lot of wood paneling? How about on the floor? Is that shag carpet rust colored? Or perhaps you had green carpeting? Lets talk about the kitchen, remember the Avocado green appliances? Or was it Brown, or Harvest Gold? Flooring was usually a wild pattern as well and you can bet greens, and oranges and browns were in them as well. Now if your home is still hanging on to the 70's look, you may want to get it into a time machine fast and move on up to the current decade. Leave that Brady Bunch home behind.

The Pastel 80's

You may think that your buyer will not notice your eighties décor, and in fact you may not even notice or be aware of your 80's décor either. Does your home look like it was used as the backdrop for the show The Golden Girls? To help you assess whether your home is dated, watch some shows from the era and pay close attention to the décor. Whether it is the Cosby Show or Different Strokes, chances are if your home looks similar it is time for an update. Look for these clues, large over stuffed pastel and floral furniture is usually a dead giveaway. Brightly polished brass was another popular finish in the 80's and 90's. While the 80's home furniture was over stuffed and larger than life, the kitchens were suddenly taking a turn as well and County blue and similar shades. You will also notice Oak furniture was all the rage, whether it was in the kitchen, or other parts of the home, Oak was in. Oak and brass was also seen paired together.

The Hunter Green and Burgundy 90's

When we left the 80's behind, someone decided to go from warm and sunny pastels to darker cooler shades such as good old Hunter green and Burgundy. What designers didn't think through in this era was how hard it is to neutralize this color scheme, and when a color scheme is hard to neutralize, it is hard to match it to other colors not in the same color group. What does this mean to a buyer? It means unless they have all neutral furniture, they may have trouble matching their décor in your home, assuming they still want to. Hopefully if your home is caught in this time warp, a can of paint will correct it all. If not, you may be looking at some more expensive measures. If this color scheme carries onto your solid surfaces and flooring, get ready to shell out some major coinage to correct the problem.

In a rosy world, we'd like to think “if a buyer loves my home, they will make the changes to it that need to be made..” however, buyers see “changes” as extra “money” they have to spend and if a buyer thinks they have to sink an additional 5 to 10 thousand dollars updating your home, they might as well look at a more expensive home that doesn't need updating. When selling your home, think like the buyer, not the seller. Disassociate yourself from your home, pull your head out of the past, and look toward the future, if you want to sell your home. Otherwise you will find yourself sitting year after year on your little piece of nostalgia and you will have to make peace with that.

Related articles

• Choosing the finishing touches for your newly built home
• Things to do before you put your home up for sale
• Spice inspired colors for interior spaces in 2011
• Questions from my readers: Where did I go wrong with my grey room?
• Home staging for a faster sale

Grey, the new beige in home decor

Ten years ago, if someone had said grey would soon be the new beige in home decor, one  might would have scoffed. However, in recent years consumers have softened towards this not-so-new color and it is turning up everywhere in homes.

Grey is no longer the dull and drab institutional color it once was. Today, the average homeowner is more skilled in design than ever before. Most consumers are quite design savvy and have access to information and know that  in the right settings,  and paired well with supporting colors, grey is the new hot neutral.


Consumers have migrated away from the somewhat traditional and expected neutral of beige, and in their migration,they have found themselves drawn to the alternative color of grey for an option. As furniture went from large, comfy and tan, to sleek,dramatic and contempory, color choices began to shift. Still desiring a neutral background pallet, many designs went with an ideal neutral for the new shifts in darker wood tones, and cool to dark metal finishes that are popular.

When Brass went out, beiges lost some appeal as well, since it tends to be a warm color neutral. Pairing up finishes like brushed Nickel, Pewter, and dark oil rubbed Bronzes seemed ideal next to soft grey pallets in a room. As consumers left their traditional oak furniture behind and migrated to Cherry, Mahogany and the intermediate Maple options, no longer was grey an undesirable counterpart in decor.

Grey done right. In order to play up the grey walls in a room it is important to follow suit with furnishings, finishes and trim in the right balance. Grey can come off as drab and boring if this is not achieved, and that is where you don't want to be with decor. Try pairing this "new" neutral trend with bright white trim accents, bold darks in accessories and add pops of color, for ultra modern, pops of red balance well with greys, whites and blacks.

For a soothing grey retreat, such as you would find in a bedroom or bath, less colors are more. Two to three colors at best if you are trying to achieve calming effects. Grey with white trim, and Silver, brushed Nickel and Stainless Steel will finish the rooms off nicely. Keeping the color pallet simple in these rooms keeps things simple, clean and elegant. Remember even in neutrals there are cools and warms, metal finishes that pair with cools are chrome, stainless steel,and nickel. Metal finishes that pair well with warm greys are oil rubbed bronzes, pewter and iron.

Home decor trends that will last

Recent Trends in Home Decor, they'll be around for some time to come...
If you are updating an existing home for yourself or you are preparing to sell in the near  future, one area of interest should be what the recent trends are. Typically speaking, following trends can be a risk but a few trends surfacing today are likely to be around for some time to come. Knowing what trends are safe to use and likely to appeal to not only your sense of style but any future prospects is just sound investing.

Know your style- Not sure? Educate yourself online, look up various decor styles and their definitions, ie: Contempory, Traditional, etc. Once you have some idea of a few design styles, simply walk through your home and take note of the furnishings you have that appeal to you. Make sure to factor in lighting, fabrics, types of wood, and metal finishes. This should give you an idea of what you lean towards aesthetically. Knowing this, will help steer you in decorating your home and updating it's look.

Color Trends- If you have watched a few design shows on tv, specifically those geared at helping people stage their homes you know all too well the word "neutral". Most of us associate neutrals with varying degrees of tan, taupe, or beige. However, recently the "new" neutral color trend is leaning toward dove greys, and blue greys and powder greys. Yep, ten years ago that would have shocked most people. As society in general becomes more decor savvy though, we see a new educated breadth of vision with what neutrals can be. Keep an eye out for these soft hues in decor, especially wall color. Why? Soft blue greys lend themselves very well to crisp white trims, blacks and metallic finishes like brushed nickle, and Pewter.

Trends in furniture- In the world of design, furnishings always follow lifestyle in design and function. The more active the lifestyle, the more simplistic, clean lined and comfortable furniture trends tend to be. Dual purposing furniture will always have some level of allure to most family homes. However, gone are the days of floral fabrics, and over-stuffed pastels, and that ever lingering oak trim. A society much more educated in decor has emerged and furniture is becoming soft, comfortable and offering much cleaner lines. Rich fabrics in shades of mocha, cinnamon, and every shade in between seem to be here to stay. When chosing woods, always chose quality, and when in doubt, a good rule of thumb is, if you wouldn't want it for your kitchen cabinets, it probably isn't desirable elsewhere in the house. Cherry, Maple, and Mahogany are high on the list for most desirable furniture woods. Investing in pieces made of these are probably going to stay in vogue for years to come and if they go out of style, it will have more to do with the overall design than it would the woods itself, so keep that in mind when shopping.

Trends in Finishes- Finishes that will probably stay in the game for a while will be on two ends of the spectrum, Stainless steel, Pewter, Brushed Nickels are popular in faucets, appliances, light fixtures and hardware. On the flip side, Oil rubbed bronzes, and dark iron grill work is also making a comeback. Both metals go well with all forms of granite, marbles, and natural elements. It is a safe gamble to replace your hardware and fixture in these, and not have to worry about them going anywhere or becoming out of date any time soon. Because these finishes are offered in so many styles from chic and sleek to old world, they will be a versatile and desirable look for many years to come.

How to Balance A Room Aesthetically

Image via Wikipedia

Having a room that is balanced is conducive to the well being of all those who enter. Have you ever noticed how in most homes there is a room that most people just naturally gravitate towards? This room often is the most comfortable and inviting space. Here are some things to consider when you balance a room to create a feeling that will draw you in.

Balance  with Textures - Rooms usually have several different textures taking place. Whether it is the smoothness of perhaps a leather arm chair, or a lamp base, or the rough texture of carved wooden accents in the furniture or decor. Having these textures evenly distributed in the room with no one dominating entirely over the other is ideal. Large smooth textures from a leather bound sofa can be balanced out by a large Sisal rug on the floor, or a wall hanging with a lot of texture. Always look around your room and identify the different smooth and rough textures. Are they balanced with opposite textures? If not add something, or reduce something. It really makes a difference.

Balancing with Colors - Strong colors are visually weighty in a room. To balance them you must have neutrals to combat their impact. Having too much of any one color in a room can be either too stimulating or too boring. Again this is where balance comes into play. Perhaps the primary color of a room is neutral. Strong darks, or strong brights can balance out the neutral and give it a boost. This can be in the form of dark wooded furniture, or individual art pieces. It doesn't always have to mean paint color. Take time to look at your room to see if the colors are balanced. Too much of either is not good.

 Balancing with Furniture - Room balance is about textures, colors and also furniture. Having furniture that is proportional to the room and in relation to the other furnishings is extremely important. Failing to keep the pieces in scale can create negative closed in feelings if the furniture is too big, or too open and sparse if the furniture is too small. Always keep scale in consideration when buying or arranging furniture. Remember even a not so big piece of furniture can have a visual weight that makes it appear larger if it is in a bold color, either very light or very dark.

How to Select a Good Real Estate Agent

Image via WikipediaWhen meeting your agent, take time to see if you like them in general. Are you comfortable with them? Does their personality suit you? Do they listen, and are they positive? Do they take the time to explain things to you? These are so important because if your personality clashes, communication will suffer and they will be less enthusiastic about selling your home, and this is not good.

Know what you want and make sure your real estate agent listens. There is nothing more aggravating than being taken to see 12 houses and all of them are not suitable. Have an idea in advance about age, condition, square footage, no. of baths and bedrooms, etc.

Ask your agent beforehand, what improvements you can make that may impact your homes value and asking price. My agent set our price and then had us spend a fortune on improvements after the fact. This actually took away from the profit we made.

If your agent has arranged to come by to take photos, ask them if there is anything special you need to do, or have them walk through your home first before they take photos to suggest and give you a chance to change something you may have overlooked. Your home is going to be shown on websites all over, potential buyers may be turned off by the pictures and what they see in them before they even bother to view your home. A good agent should know this.

Before you commit to your real estate agent and his company, make sure you tell them that for any home you are interested in you expect to be able to make an offer on the property.  If this is something they don't do or discourage in any way, don't sign on with them. You are the boss!  Its your money. You have the pre-approval, you have the power!

Make sure your real estate agent knows you may need more time to move, and have it written into any contract. If your contract states that you are to turn over your keys at the signing, you really have limited time to move out, and in some cases the buyer can charge you rent by the day for every day it takes you to move out. You want to get all of this clear before you sign any agreement to use that real estate agent or his agency.

How to Improve your Home to Sell Faster

Image via Wikipedia

I'm sure you have heard this before, updating and staging your home can make or break a sale. The housing market is a tough sell now with far more inventory than ever. How will your home stand up to the competition? Is your kitchen updated? How are the baths? Is there clutter that needs moving out, even before you do? Are you willing to invest some money to get a return? These are all questions that need addressing if you plan on selling your home and actually getting it sold.

The biggest area to address in your home without a doubt is the kitchen

The real question is, not necessarily can you afford to update it, but can you afford not to? New construction prices are dropping everyday as builders scramble to move empty homes. Do you realize this is your competition? Well it is. Whenever addressing any area of improvement with your home, the template you must use is new construction. Not only new construction, but what is also available in your area. A shrewd seller will have already taken into account what comparable's are around. Have you done this? If not, check out your local real estate agency and view the listings in your area. Factor in age, size and location of the homes you are viewing.  The rule used to be not to over improve for your area. However, that doesn't mean you can't take it up a notch or two.

Do your research first before you spend a dime. There are sites that will let you factor in what sort of return you could possibly get per improvement. Bank of America has a calculator that can help you figure out what is worth it. and what isn't. Even at that to a  degree you do roll the dice.

If you don't have a vast amount of money, key improvements and updates can be done relatively cheap if you are willing to  do some of the work yourself.

I always recommend starting with your kitchen. I viewed many homes during my own house shopping, and the ones I steered clear of were old, outdated kitchens. Why? Well if it's not obvious, money. Taking the step at a major purchase is daunting enough without also factoring in renovation and updating costs. From the buyer's perspective, a home with outdated old appliances, fixtures, etc. scream "money pit", high energy bills, and potential break downs in the near future.

When your home is not updated, think what this is saying to the buyer. It says, what else is old and fixing to go? Probably a safe assumption is, everything. Not to mention, if you can see it and it's bad, what you can't see is probably worse. If you only have a small amount of money, update your appliances. In my neck of the woods, refrigerators often times are not included in the sale price, but ovens definitely are. Check to see what is the "norm" for your area. A modestly priced refrigerator, and matching brand oven, can immediately update the kitchen. If you can add in a dishwasher of the same style, and brand. Those are your big ticket items in a kitchen.

However, if that is out of the question, survey the counters, flooring, and cabinets. Cabinets can be refaced, painted and new hardware added. Flooring can be easily updated if you are willing to do the work yourself. A good alternative to vinyl flooring that is outdated, is the new high end peel and stick  tile. For around $1.00- $2.00 a square foot you can really update the floor. Some look so much like stone, you'd have to get down close to it to know the difference, even coming with "chiseled edges" for a real look.

Choose neutral tones. This is no time to get wild and creative.  Painting cabinets used to be voodoo, but if they are dark and old, you will save a lot of money by painting them a fresh bright color and adding new hardware. If you can't replace your counters, At least de-clutter them and have them as clean as possible.

Fresh new curtains, clean counters, fresh painted cabinets and walls can usually make a huge difference in how fast your home sells

 If you have old appliances and cannot afford to replace them, have them be sparkling clean and fresh smelling. Old is one thing, old and dirty is another. Organize your cabinets and keep them clutter free. I know we all love to see a well stocked pantry and cabinets, however overly filled cabinets and pantries  can send a red flag to a buyer that there  is limited in space. We want the buyer to feel like there is more than enough storage.

 Ceilings and ceiling fans need to be clean as well. Buyers notice everything. From floor to ceiling, and everything in between. Never over crowd the square footage in your kitchen. Better to be slightly sparse, than overly cluttered. You are selling your home by the square foot, buyers want the most square footage they can get for their money, so why hide it if it isn't necessary?

If you can afford it,  the second area in your home that will probably help you get an offer would be the bathrooms

 Bathrooms can be costly renovations, however, many of the same tactics used in the kitchen can be applied to your bathrooms. Update fixtures, paint old cabinetry, a new shower curtain and towels can go a long way at making your home feel well cared for. If you have it in your budget and your home is older, you may want to consider having your sink and tub re-glazed. This can be done cheaper than replacing these items and they can turn an unsightly Avocado green sink into a newer looking white one. The same with your tub.  A new toilet can also spruce up the area. New toilets can now be purchased as a complete set for as little as $100.00 and be better looking than a green, pink or blue model from times past, not to mention use less water. Fresh white towels, guest soaps, can add little details that stage a scene and tell a buyer that your home was well cared for. This translates as a home that is move in ready, and problem free.

Living areas need to be clutter free, personal belongings can be packed away

 This is a great idea anyway because if your home sells, you will be ahead of the packing game and be relieved! Steam clean the carpets, add new bedding in the bedrooms, and make sure your home's furnishings don't distract and overcrowd the space. Buyers are not interested in your collections, photos, or mementos. Having too much "stuff" can make a buyer think you will take forever moving out if they make an offer and this is always a potential headache, especially if they have their own time frame to work in. De-personalizing, and de-cluttering will say to your potential buyer  that you can be out of there in no time, and they can envision their own belongings in the space much easier. If you have to, while your home is on the market, it would be a good idea to rent a storage unit to do this. Think of how stress free your moving out will be knowing that the majority of your things are out of the house, and already packed and waiting for your next home. Its a little investment now, but a huge relief later.

Lastly, address your curb appeal

 Lawns should be cut, hedges trimmed, fresh potted flowers can be a nice touch and fences should be mended. Have a friend walk around your home inside and out and tell you what they think you need to do to spruce up the place. Sometimes a fresh honest pair of eyes can be enlightening, since we tend to overlook things we see every day. With limited funds, you should always make a list of what you can do, versus what you can't do  and make the best of it. Many buyers will do what I call " a drive by" when they are considering your home. What they see from the road could either have them hit the gas and floor it, or slow down and admire. Which do you think will get their name on the dotted line? You are not just selling your home, but to the buyer, you are selling a lifestyle, make it as desirable as possible.