Articles Tagged "interior design"

After looking at numerous homes, you finally found the one — but it needs a little sprucing up. Updating your home can be really rewarding and exciting. It's an opportunity to make the home better suited to your needs and also a chance to catch up with some of the latest design trends. But what are the interior design trends you should follow in 2023? Here are some of the coolest ideas our real estate agents have noticed lately. 

• Deep, Dramatic Shades
  In terms of color scheme, it's trendy to go deep and dramatic right now. Designers are using a lot of charcoal gray and dark, rusty brown in homes. Often, these colors are used on an accent wall or two, and then you complement them with more colorful furniture. Imagine, for example, a cobalt blue couch against a rust-brown living room wall.
  
  
• Pink Neutrals
  Pink may not seem like the first color you'd use in your home, but a very specific type of pink is in-style right now, and it looks a lot classier than you'd think. Muted, dusty pink with warm undertones works like a neutral, adding a pop of interest to spaces you might otherwise paint gray or beige. Consider using this warm pink in a sunroom, foyer, or even a spare bedroom. It looks stunning when paired with warm grays.
  
  
• Bringing Nature Inside
  Nature-inspired spaces have been trendy for a while, and that trend should stick around through 2023. Think potted plants, decor made from bamboo, and large picture windows that capture the perfect outdoor scene. This trend is all about bringing the outdoors in. Spaces decorated in this way feel so ethereal and relaxing. Plus, you can feel good about using sustainable elements in your decor.
  
  
• Dark Counters
  If you're remodeling your kitchen, definitely give dark-colored counters a second glance. They look incredible when paired with white or light cabinets. Matte black stone is really trendy right now, as is any pattern of darker granite.
  
  
• Stripes
  Gone are the days when stripes were just for mimes and referees. The interior design industry is fully embracing stripes – especially black and white stripes. Consider painting your stairway walls in a striped pattern. The look could also be fun in a half-bath or even in a bonus room. Pair your striped walls with bold, jewel-toned furniture for a really sharp look.
  
  
• Statement Rugs
  Carpet is becoming less common as it can trap allergens and be tough to clean. But area rugs are as popular as ever, and today, they are making a statement. Look for a bold, patterned area rug that you adore, and use it as the focal point of your bedroom, living room, or dining room. Decorate with colors found in the rug for a unified look.
  
  
• Gold
  Gold-plated decor looks luxurious and inviting. We've seen gold pendant lights in kitchens, gold faucets in bathrooms, and even gold hardware on bedroom dressers. Pair gold with cream or white for a very on-trend look.
  
  
• Wine Displays
  Artistic wine holders and wine racks are becoming features in living rooms and dining rooms. If you have a few beautiful bottles that you love, work them into your decor for 2023.

With these design trends, you'll have no trouble turning your home into a classy, on-trend space. If you're still looking at Bradenton homes for sale or Sarasota homes for sale, don't hesitate to contact us. We'll help you find the perfect place to live in 2023. 

Decorating your entryway can be an easy, fun way to shift into the fall season without exerting too much effort. It's a smaller space so that you can create an effect with just a few accents. Maybe you're expecting company, but you're too busy to decorate the whole house, or you're expecting potential buyers to visit since you've listed your home among Sarasota homes for sale or Bradenton homes for sale. Why not just focus on the entryway, and say it all with a great first impression?

We're sure you'll love these tips for fall entryways that will dazzle your company.

1. Start with a Bench 
   You need a bench -- or something like it -- in your entryway, no matter what the season. If you've already got a nice entryway table or hall tree, so much the better. Metal, wood, wicker -- whatever suits your style. This piece of furniture will be the stage for all your decorating efforts. Here's where you change your seasonal pillows. Display your decorative gourds and pumpkins on top of it or under it. 
   
   
2. Chalk it up
   What could be simpler for wishing your visitors well than a fall greeting on a chalkboard? Think your artistic skills aren't up to the mark? Go online and look for some simple examples of chalkboard art, and you'll be surprised at how well you can do by just imitating and adapting. Your message and art can welcome visitors but can also be directional, as in, "Follow the pumpkins to the kitchen for Fall fun," or "This way to hot apple cider."
   
   
3. Did We Mention Pillows?
   A changing cast of seasonal pillows is an easy way to mark the passage of the seasons. Set the mood: spooky, fun, festive -- you decide. If you're handy with the sewing machine, you can make seasonal covers to slip over the pillows as the mood strikes you. For fall, you can, of course, go with traditional orange, cinnamon, and rust, but you can also jazz things up with a vivid purple or a striking green. 
   
   
4. Go Vertical
   Make use of the space above the bench or to the side of the chalkboard. Hang some decorative hooks or install a rustic coat or hat rack to hang stuff: a wreath, a lantern, or seasonal garlands. 
   
   
5. Seasonal Wreaths
   One of the best ways to mark the change of seasons is through wreaths, but you don't have to limit your display efforts to the front door. You can hang fun Halloween wreaths with pumpkin lights in the entryway to mark the spooky season, but also dried botanicals to signify the arrival of fall. 
   
   
6. Lots of Pumpkins
   Pumpkins just lend themselves to inspiring creative fall displays and arrangements. Big ones, middling ones, ginormous ones -- mix and match -- you can paint your entryway masterpiece on a palette of pumpkins and gourds. Put 'em on top of the entryway table or under the bench. Draw or paint faces on them to set the mood, or decorate your pumpkins with garlands of fall leaves. If you'd rather avoid the messiness of carving, create Halloween creatures or fall figures out of them, using felt or construction paper and a hot glue gun. 

Our real estate agents are always ready to share good ideas that can help you sell your home. Contact us today. 

Spring cleaning isn't something we all look forward to, but while we're sticking close to home, this is an excellent opportunity to organize and clean house. To make it more manageable, we advise creating a five-day plan, focusing on a section of the house each day. Set some goals, write them down and check them off. Here are some suggestions that you can adapt as needed.

1. Monday -- Clean appliances and cabinets under sinks.
   Let's get some of the most challenging tasks done first. Start by deep cleaning your kitchen appliances until they sparkle, but first remember to check cleaning recommendations for appliance surfaces, particularly stainless steel. Clean out cabinets under bathroom and kitchen sinks, throwing away whatever you no longer use, disposing of any cleaning products according to local regulations. Vacuum the coils under your refrigerator to keep it running efficiently.
2. Tuesday -- Clean closets, cupboards and the pantry.
   This is another task you may be putting off, but don't,  in fact, be merciless. Go through clothes, shoes, toys, household items, and if you haven't worn or used something in a year, it's time to say goodbye to it. If possible, box and save these items to donate them to charity. Throw away out-of-date food in the pantry. Clean shelves and redo shelf paper if you use it. 
3. Wednesday -- Perform outdoor tasks.
   Sweep the sidewalks, porch, and patio. Make your own glass cleaner with 2 cups of water (distilled or filtered is best so it doesn't leave residue), 2 tablespoons vinegar and 10 drops essential oil of choice to cut the vinegar smell) and clean exterior windows and door glass, light fixtures, and patio furniture. Take a look around the HVAC condenser and trim back bushes so the unit can maintain proper airflow. Clear grass, leaves, and weeds away from the base of the unit.
4. Thursday -- Clean interior glass.
   Grab an old t-shirt (they're pretty much lint-free), and continuing your window cleaning from the inside, along with door glass, and mirrors. Work top to bottom, wiping the water away with a squeegee to avoid streaks.
5. Friday – Clean the garage.
   Start by separating everything you absolutely need from items you can, want or should donate, sell or throw away. If you don't have shelving, cabinets or other types of storage units, now is a good time to consider them. Everything needs to have a place to avoid piles of clutter.
6. Saturday – Relax and take the day off.
   Time for a break! If you are thinking of moving, we recommend taking a virtual tour of Bradenton homes for sale and Sarasota homes for sale to see what's available in the area, and of course our real estate agents are happy to help. Contact us today!

If your living space is starting to feel a little stale, there are a few things you can do about it. 

Our real estate agents know what it takes to successfully stage Bradenton and Sarasota homes for sale, and we can assure you that arranging the furniture appropriately can change the entire look and feel of a room. Here are a few simple furniture changes that you can make to improve your space. 

1. Find the Balance
   Interior decorating focuses on striking the right balance. Never is this more important than when it comes to arranging furniture. To avoid rooms feeling lopsided or unsettled, consider both the size and placement of each piece so that you don't end up with all the large or small pieces of furniture bunched together. 

2. Don't Push Furniture Against the Walls
   Though it might sound counterintuitive, leaving a few spare inches between your furniture and the wall behind can actually make the room feel bigger. Determining how much space to leave should be dictated by the size of the space, but even in smaller rooms, it's best not to have furniture pushed right up against the walls. 

3. Choose a Focal Point
   Some rooms have a natural focal point, like a fireplace or a prominent set of windows. If that's the case, you can arrange the furniture around that point. If not, you can create your own focal point, such as a large coffee table or an entertainment center, and use it as the central focus of the room. Furniture doesn't have to be directly pointed at the focal point, but it should be arranged so that the eye is drawn toward that focal point. 

4. Use the Right Size Area Rugs
   Area rugs should generally cover most of the floor, leaving just a bit of extra around the walls. An exception to the rule is if you have hardwood floors you want to show off, but still want a few smaller area rugs to add a splash of color or tie the space together. 

5. Mix Colors and Textures
   A lot of your furniture and decor can be arranged by color, but don't forget about texture as well. If you're arranging throw pillows on a sofa, for example, mixing up colors and contrasting textures helps keep the eye interested. You don't want colors to clash with each other, but they shouldn't all be too similar. 

6. Go With the Flow
   One of the most important considerations, when you arrange furniture, is the natural flow of traffic through the room. The last thing you want is to have people tripping over furniture. Make sure each piece of furniture has enough space to walk by it if needed, especially between the coffee table and any couches or chairs that may be nearby. 

7. Let There Be Light
   Lighting is one of the best tools you have to tie a room together. Use light to your advantage by incorporating a variety of sources, including floor and table lamps as well as ceiling and wall-mounted fixtures. Use natural light as much as possible, with curtains or shades that allow you to control the lighting in each room.

Contact us today to learn more about transforming your living space. We've helped countless families find their dream homes in Florida, and we can't wait to help you find yours!