My passion for interior design derives from helping people just like you solve design dilemmas. My hope is that I can inspire you through my own life journey and what I’ve learned along the way. Thank you for your support. -Tiffani
Fall Porch Decorating Ideas
Transform your front porch into a cozy autumn retreat with thoughtful decor ideas.
Hi friend! I love the fall season! The changing cooler weather, pumpkin everything, and pulling out my cozy sweaters. My most favorite part about fall is decorating my front porch.
It doesn’t take much to transform your porch. You could use what you already have or find inexpensive decor items to add some warm welcoming vibes to your home.
Front Porch Inspiration
Transform your front porch into a cozy autumn retreat with thoughtful decor ideas that celebrate the season.
Start with a warm welcome by adding a seasonal wreath adorned with vibrant leaves or rustic accents.
Seasonal welcome mats come in an array of shapes, sizes, and wording. I like to layer welcome mats to add dimension and texture.
Incorporate hay bales and pumpkins in various sizes to create an inviting focal point.
Some of the most popular flowers, like mums, roses, dahlias, purple pansies and, yes, even bright yellow sunflowers, all bloom around September and October. Plant these in varying planter pots of different sizes, shapes, colors, and heights to add visual interest.
Use throw pillow cushions on rocking chairs to invite guests to sit and enjoy the crisp air.
Create symmetry by repeating the same planters on both sides of the steps or doorway.
Use muted colors that relate to the home's exterior colors and don’t be afraid to mix in green with shades of orange.
I wholeheartedly believe that there's no such thing as too many pumpkins!
With these delightful fall front porch decor ideas, you can craft a lovely space that truly captures the essence of the season!
If you are local the the Charlotte, North Carolina area, I would LOVE to help you transform your front porch! Let’s connect!!
Did you know that eDesign can keep you from making costly design mistakes?
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Fashion-Inspired Dining Room
Fashion advertisement transformed into a room design.
In the realm of Interior Design, inspiration can spring from various sources. Recently, I stumbled upon a fashion magazine ad and had the idea to transform the campaign into a room concept for a creative twist.
The Inspiration
The sand, sky, and sea at the beach are the foundation for a style movement that we never tire of - the classic, quintessentially coastal look. It always stays in style because, when done well, it conjures up a luxurious, laid-back lifestyle.
The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2024 Campaign, is an evocative fashion campaign starring English actress Emma Laird set on the captivating Italian island of Isola Bella.
The narrative blends history, elegance, and allure, with models representing the collection's essence.
Jamie Hakesworth's visuals depict the island's rich history and folklore, evoking a timeless and fantastical atmosphere.
The Mood Board
Drawing inspiration from the location and model’s ensemble in the advertisement, I concentrated on infusing soft tones and textures into this mood board to reflect the essence of the captivating image.
Visual mood boards are instrumental in sparking ideas and integrating textures from inspiring images. Through carefully selecting and organizing a collection of pictures, I establish the groundwork for designing a room.
The Sketch
Sketching a room puts my ideas to paper.
The Rendering
After I’ve brainstormed and have a better understanding of the overall feeling of a room’s aesthetic, I put it all together into a 3D rendering.
Advertisement Reimagined
Both the advertisement and room design encapsulates a vibrancy, crafting a timeless and enchanting atmosphere.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on my creative process of turning a fashion design advertisement into a room design.
Did you know that eDesign can keep you from making costly design mistakes?
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Charming Home in Birkdale Village Staged to Sell
Birkdale Village home staged to sell.
Lenko Design had the opportunity to stage a charming and quaint home in a thriving Birkdale Village located in Huntersville, North Carolina. While the seller had some key furniture pieces to utilize for staging, a few additional items were required to perfect the overall look.
Alluring Front Porch
Lighthouse Visuals
On average, it takes 7 seconds for potential buyers to formulate a first impression. This is huge! People are viewing homes online so it is critical to show gorgeous listing photos that will allure potential buyers in.
This inviting front porch features custom wood window shutters, a well-manicured lawn, freshly planted flowers, new accent pillows that relate to the color scheme on the home's interior, and a new front door mat.
Buyers expect to be welcomed into a home that looks and smells clean and well taken care of. The entryway should be open, unobstructed, and inviting. The staging of an entryway establishes an emotional connection for buyers right from the beginning.
Simple decor items can be used to style an entryway. We hung a decorative mirror directly opposite the front door so that buyers would literally see themselves in the home.
HOT TIP: Hanging mirrors in the entryway is a great way for potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the home. Their reflection will be the first and last thing they see. Mirrors also reflect light and make a space feel bigger.
The Best Furniture Placement for a Corner Fireplace
It can be tricky placing furniture in front of a corner fireplace. We placed a sectional sofa perpendicular to the fireplace facing the room's entrance. This setup not only showcases the fireplace but also offers a pleasant view of the sofa. The area rug aligns with the sofa's direction, centered on both the focal point and the sectional.
Living room
Living Room Before
Living Room Before
Effective staging can eliminate uncertainties about arranging a room with a diagonal fireplace, transforming it into a desirable feature that enhances the overall attractiveness of the area.
Living Room After Staging
Open Concept Spaces
Staging open-concept spaces takes a bit of finesse. We want potential buyers to have a clear distinction between spaces, yet the entire area needs to be cohesive.
The existing round dining table and chairs fit the dining area well. The kitchen was in spectacular condition. I asked the Seller to remove small appliances, the knife set, and other miscellaneous items that were unnecessary.
Dining Room and Kitchen
Dining / Kitchen Before
Dining / Kitchen Before
We relocated a console table from the office to the dining area to establish a coffee bar. Above the console table, I hung artwork that complements the colors of the living room and styled it with coffee-themed accessories.
The dining table now takes centerstage in this space with a beautiful vase and tall greenery.
Dining / Kitchen After Staging
The kitchen received minimal countertop accessories to not distract from the kitchen cabinet's wood stain or the window above the sink.
Dining / Kitchen After Staging
HOT TIP: Always highlight cleanliness and storage in a kitchen and pantry.
Creating a Home Office
In homes of all sizes, the trend of working from home continues to thrive, leading buyers to seek out dedicated office spaces for quiet work and privacy. Buyers aim to envision their future work setups clearly, yet not all homes come equipped with such spaces. When faced with a house lacking a designated home office area, think outside the box. Identify areas that can be repurposed into functional work-from-home spaces and make the most of the available space creatively!
Home Office
This home did have a designated spare bedroom that they were using as a home office as well as for storage. I asked them to completely clear out the room so that I could bring in a new desk to help clearly define this space.
Office Before
An area rug adds depth and dimension to the space by anchoring the desk and chair. Proper placement of artwork and accessories is crucial for effective staging. The goal is to attract the viewer's attention to the focal point while enhancing the room's visual appeal.
Office After Staging
Bedrooms and Bathrooms
The Primary Bedroom is critical for home staging as it is a top priority for potential buyers. They are interested in the room's size and envisioning their own layout and decor. I appreciated the furniture arrangement in this bedroom, but it seemed cramped with two nightstands. To create more space between the bed and closet door, we took out one nightstand.
Primary Bedroom Before
Primary Bedroom Before
I adore the window seat and architectural features in this primary suite. We enhanced these spaces with decorative pillows and crisp white bed linens and accents.
Primary Bedroom After Staging
The bathroom has a tranquil spa atmosphere, complete with minimal countertop accessories. I enhanced it by including a bathtub tray with items that evoke a spa-like feel.
Primary Bathroom After Staging
Guest Bedroom
The guest bedroom saw the most significant staging transformation. It was previously used for storage, craft projects, and various other purposes but has now been cleared to establish its identity as a bedroom.
Guest Bedroom Before
The bed, artwork, and accessories breathe life into this room, showcasing its full potential.
Guest Bedroom After Staging
Outdoor Spaces
In an age heavily influenced by technology, individuals are seeking solace in nature during their free time to detach from the digital realm. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 57% of homebuyers are investing in properties in suburban areas, while 16% are choosing small towns and 15% are favoring urban locations that provide convenient access to backyards, fresh air, and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Laundry Room Before
Buyers often seek a combination of indoor and outdoor areas. Arrange seating in an appealing manner and incorporate vibrant splashes of color. This setup will attract buyers looking for an outdoor entertainment space.
Recipe for Sucess
Enhancing the room with details attracts attention to the space and enables potential buyers to form an emotional connection with the property. Taking this extra step will ensure buyers fall in love and feel at home!
If you are serious about selling your home, here are 3 ESSENTIAL KEY STEPS you must take into consideration to make your home stand out from the competition:
Marketing Your Home On the Inside – Professional Home Staging
Marketing Your Home to the Public – Online Marketing, brochures, open houses, etc...
Pricing the House Right – Reviewing comparable homes in your area, getting a good agent, and finessing your price.
These three key steps are what aided this quaint home to sell in less than a month for $5k over the asking price!
I love how everything turned out in this home and I am very happy for both the seller and buyer!
FREE Home Staging Investment Guide
Want all the tips on how to make the most out of your Home Staging Investment?
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Hallway Refresh
Hallway gets a refresh with board and batten and new wallpaper.
This dark dead-end hallway was boring and needed a refresh. Check out what we did to make this a more appealing and happier space!
The Before
Where to start with this dead-end hallway? The overall darkness, the chair rail, the awkward yet narrow walkway, or the lack of a linen closet…
I’ve always been bothered by the floor plan layout of this hallway. The angled wall to the right creates a very narrow walkway from the landing of the stairs. Since we aren’t changing the walls or layout of this space, I had to decide on what could be changed.
What We Did
We opted to remove the unnecessary chair rail. Chair rail has a place in dining rooms to protect walls from chairs being pushed up against the wall. Why the chair rail was installed upstairs in this hallway will always be a mystery to me!
We repaired the walls from the chair rail removal and installed board and batten.
I found this gorgeous Dark Multi Moody June Blooms peel-and-stick wallpaper from WallPops. I loved the blue accent color paired with the different shades of green and tiny bits of orange.
This was my first time installing peel-and-stick wallpaper and it was fairly easy. I did find it a bit challenging to line up the patterns perfectly. I love it though and the print adds so much life and cheerfulness to this dead-end wall.
After applying primer to the wood, we painted a fresh coat of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray SW7029 paint on the walls. I opted to paint the board and batten the same as the original paint color as a way to color drench the space. The original white chair rail and trim stood out, and not in a good way!
It took me several days of sanding and fully preparing the walls to be primed and painted.
Once all the painting was complete, we moved our antique pie safe back into place. The blue cabinet which we use for linen storage, was the inspiration behind my selection of wallpaper, area rug runner, and table lamp.
HOT TIP: Find an inspirational piece to begin developing your design plan. This can be artwork, a pillow, an area rug, a pretty pattern on a dish… you can draw inspiration from almost anything! Your design plan will have a purpose once you do. You’ll know what colors or patterns you are drawn to and a clear direction of what you would like to try and incorporate into the space.
To help add some light to this hallway, I found this adorable blue glass table lamp on Amazon and the white wall mirror was on clearance at Hobby Lobby. The mirror helps to reflect light and also makes the hallway feel a bit longer than it really is.
The dark wood cabinet in front of the wallpapered wall has a lot of scratches on it. I’m considering stripping the dark stain and giving this old cabinet a facelift.
What do you think?
Paint the cabinet a light green or go with a more natural-looking wood tone. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Delightful Harrisburg Residence Staged to Sell
Owner-occupied home staged in Harrisburg, NC.
Lenko Design worked with the Seller to stage this delightful Harrisburg, North Carolina residence. The combination of the owner's personal belongings and LD's creativity has resulted in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The seller had an abundance of furnishings that needed to be paired down in order to get this home market-ready. We edited much of what they had and displayed only the best decor.
First Impressions
Impress prospective buyers with amazing curb appeal. When it comes to selling a home, you only get one chance to make a lasting first impression.
A manicured lawn, a new doormat, freshly planted flowers, and a Welcome porch sign greet guests as they enter this home.
We created a simple yet welcoming entryway by repositioning a console table, lamp, and a decorative mirror from the dining room next to the front door.
Edit Belongings
The Seller was a young and busy family. They, like many people, had an abundance of furniture and belongings. We went room by room during the Home Staging Consultation and took note of what should stay and what needed to be removed from each room.
The Seller ended our consultation time with a 25+ page Home Staging Report that included everything they needed in order to complete the staging process.
Let’s take a look at some of the transformations.
Living room
Living Room Before
In the Living Room, we maintained the sectional layout for maximum openness. By adding colorful artwork to the mantle we drew attention to the focal point, which in this room is the fireplace. The oversized reclining chair was swapped with a smaller-scaled chair from another room.
HOT TIP: Remove family photos to protect your privacy and allow potential buyers to envision their own family living in the home.
Living Room After Staging
By keeping only pieces that improved upon the rooms and emphasized the focal points, each room had a defined purpose in order to show potential buyers how they could use the space.
Dining Room
Dining Room Before
The area rug was placed under the dining table to help anchor the table in the center of the room. Excess and visually distracting wall decor was removed from the walls.
To create an even more spacious room, the oversized console cabinet was moved into the Living Room. The scale of the cabinet worked better under the wall-mounted TV and was more proportionately scaled for the Living Room.
Dining Room After Staging
Formal Sitting Room
This room is located immediately to the left of the Foyer and was being used as an office/craft room.
When staging a home for sale, it is important to stage a room with its intended purpose so a future buyer can visualize the room as it was designed by the builder.
Formal Sitting Room
Once the majority of the crafting supplies were boxed up and moved out of the room, we could then place the piano and oversized recliner in here.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
The Kitchen is the “Heart of the Home” and should be staged so showcase its features.
Kitchen Before
When living in a home while it is for sale can be challenging. The house needs to look like a model home, yet be lived in!
If possible, pack up any dishware or appliances that don’t need to be readily accessible. Tuck away daily use items as best you can in the cabinets or pantry.
Kitchen After Staging
When staging a Kitchen, it’s important to clear off all of the countertops, but then add in personal touches so it exudes a homey vibe.
For a simple vignette next to the stove, we used a wooden cutting board propped up against the backsplash with an olive oil container in front of it. These little details create memorable moments that catch the viewer’s eye!
Primary Bathroom
Primary Bathroom Before
A crisp clean clutter-free bathroom will speak volumes to potential buyers. They want to see the spaciousness and cleanliness, not any of your personal hygiene products.
In this bathroom, we chose to keep accessories to a minimum. The neutral fixed finishes (white cabinets, white tub, white shower, and beige flooring) allow for some pops of color. We kept the area rug for the colorful visual interest and displayed pink beige towels that picked up the lighter undertones found in the area rug. The warm wood-tone basket on the countertop anchors the pretty marble and gold soap dispenser. The tub features an orchid, a pleasantly scented candle, and textural bathing items.
Primary Bathroom After Staging
Defining The Purpose of the Room
As previously mentioned, when staging a home for sale each room should have a defined purpose so that a buyer can easily distinguish what the intended purpose of the room is and how they might use the space in the same way.
Let’s talk about bedrooms for a minute.
The Primary Bedroom
In this home the furniture placement in the Primary Bedroom was not ideal. The bed was placed between the windows on the shortest wall. Instead, the bed should be placed on the longest wall.
Primary Bedroom Before
Do you now see how rotating the bed opens up the room tremendously and displays better flow and balance throughout?
Primary Bedroom After Staging
This home had a total of five bedrooms plus a huge bonus room they were using as a bedroom/playroom. It’s important to first ensure the Primary Bedroom is staged and then decide the priority level of the ancillary bedrooms.
Guest Bedroom
The Guest Bedroom was full of boxes and random items that needed to be removed from the home and put into a storage unit. The room was a decent size, but too much furniture was making it feel smaller than it really is. The double nightstands were overcrowding the space when entering the room, so we opted to remove one nightstand.
Guest Bedroom Before
Guest Bedroom After Staging
The area rug was oriented incorrectly, so I asked the Seller to rotate the rug so it fit parallel to the bed frame. The Seller had the teal bed linens in a closet that we used on this bed. Simple styling on the nightstand add just the right amount of visual interest.
Guest Bedroom After Staging
Home Office
In a multi-bedroom home, it is ideal to show a home office when possible.
Once you stage the Primary Bedroom and at least one other bedroom is staged as a bedroom, you could consider staging any other ancillary bedrooms as a home office.
Home Office Before
We transformed what was once a little girl’s bedroom into the Home Office. With so many people working from home nowadays, it is always a great idea to show potential buyers where they could put their workspace.
Home Office After Staging
All of the miscellaneous children’s items were removed from the room. The desk from the Formal Sitting Room was moved up to this room. A simple, yet effective layout shows how this space is large enough to be someone’s office.
Creating lifestyle moments throughout the home helps homebuyers envision themselves living in the house. Invoking positive feelings by styling vignettes with accessories, lamps, artwork, and pillows helps to create memorable aspects of the home that will stick with buyers as they view it. Details are what make a house stand out from the rest.
Savvy home sellers realize that creating a “show home” environment will entice buyers. Going the extra mile and paying attention to every single detail will pay off in the end!
Bonus Rooms
If you are fortunate to have bonus rooms in your home, highly consider staging these rooms because they are added selling features and should be showcased.
Laundry Room
As a busy family, this laundry station became a major drop zone. The Seller needed clear direction for what to pack and remove from this space.
Laundry Room Before
After all of the unnecessary items were removed, we styled with fluffy white folded towels, filled jars with laundry items, and styled a metal tray for the countertop.
Laundry Room After Staging
Kids Playroom
There was a lot happening in this room. The Bonus Room was being used as the children’s bedroom and play area.
A good majority of the toys needed to be removed from this space as well as one of the beds. We placed the bed into another bedroom allowing us to create a defined play area.
Kids Playroom Before
The room looks so much more spacious and organized!
Kids Playroom After Staging
Is Home Staging worth it?
Professional home staging can lead to faster sales, higher selling prices, and increased buyer interest.
Staged homes have improved online appeal, evoke emotions, and showcase the property's potential. Although it requires an investment, the benefits outweigh the costs.
Staging emphasizes the property's strengths and can mitigate limitations, with a unified design showcasing unique features and helping buyers envision their life in the home.
This home seller did the hard work needed to sell quickly and for top dollar.
So YES, Home Staging is worth it!
FREE Home Staging Investment Guide
Want all the tips on how to make the most out of your Home Staging Investment?
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Paint Color Predictions for 2024
2024 interior paint color predictions.
It’s that time of the year again when all of the major paint manufacturers present their color forecast and announce their representative color for the upcoming year. Each paint company spends hours researching and observing the current cultural climate resulting in colors symbolic to it.
I’m excited for their trend predictions!
Color forecasters are predicting palettes chosen for their distinct presence and personality. 2024 is predicted to be a year of coastal-inspired blues and calming neutrals contrasted with moodier hues, such as olive green and black. This year’s trend cycle is a stark contrast from 2023’s saturated yet playful color palette.
If you are ready to give your walls a fresh update, take a look at what paint manufacturer experts believe will be big next year.
Here’s some color inspiration.
Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams announced their color for 2024 is Upward SW6239. A blissful blue hue inspired by coastal aesthetics.
"We knew lighter tones were going to be important in 2024 and 2025 and we wanted to forecast the shift from earthy neutrals to lighter expressions and a light blue like Upward SW 6239 told that story very well," says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams.
The soft hue complements a variety of design styles and looks great with antiques, modern furniture, transitional pieces, and even boho interiors.
Benjamin Moore
Blue seems to be a recurring color across the paint brands.
Benjamin Moore did not disappoint with their Color of the Year pick Blue Nova 825. “Elevate the everyday and expand horizons through juxtaposed color that is sure to inspire. With Blue Nova leading the way, depth and intrigue are balanced by an undercurrent of reassurance. This alluring mid-tone features an enchanting duality, capturing the spotlight with endlessly classic appeal” Benjamin Moore.
Feeling Blue? Every year I look forward to curating fun mood boards featuring the colors of year chosen by top paint brands Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.
I personally love to design with blue!!!
I think these story boards showcase the personality and versatility of each color.
Which do you prefer?
Behr Paint
Behr Paint Company took a different approach with their color selection.
The selected a moodier, edgier color for those who are ready to embrace a color that encourages homeowners to take a leap. Cracked Pepper PPU18-1 is described as “a versatile soft black hue, acting as a neutral, creating a grounding shade that trends away from classic white-and-cream colors” - Behr Paint Company.
"The moment now is about optimism, awakening the senses, and elevating how you feel—and a room with a soft black really checks the box on all of those things," says Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services at Behr Paint. Cracked Pepper works with everything from dusty pastels and metallic accents to earthy shades and bold patterns and textures.
HOT TIP: Choose your paint color LAST! Trust me on this one. If you paint first and then decorate, the paint color may not work with what you've chosen and you'll end up hating the wall color. Instead, build a color palette off of your fabrics, area rugs, or artwork.
Blue is one of my favorite colors to design with. Below are some rooms in my home where I used blue!
I chose to incorporate Sherwin Williams Granite Peak SW6250 throughout our first floor. The deep hue is rich and so beautiful in person. I selected this blue based on a blue and white vintage inspired area rug.
For a cohesive color palette, Granite Peak was painted on different surfaces beginning at the front door over across to the fireplace, in the Powder Room, and on the half knee wall behind a sofa.
Varying shades of blue are repeated throughout and can be seen in the area rugs, wall decor, table linens, accent throw pillows, drapery fabric, artwork, and blankets.
I think my favorite room is the Powder Room because the walls are blanketed in Granite Peak. Using bold colors in powder rooms is such a fun way to incorporate your favorite color!
I guess I was ahead of the Blue Trend when I selected blue for my home! :)
Did you know that you could boost your home’s selling price by over $10,000 with a select few statistically proven paint colors?
I offer FREE 30-minute Paint Color Discovery Calls to help you choose paint colors that work with the architectural style of your home, your fixed elements, and your specific design style!
The Point: Styled, Listed, Sold
Owner-occupied home staged in Mooreseville, NC under contract in four days.
I recently had the pleasure of staging an absolutely stunning home in Mooresville, North Carolina. The home is located in the coveted neighborhood of The Point. This home went under contract after being live on the market for only four days!
The seller had exquisite taste and all of the furnishings belonged to them. As a home stager who specializes in Owner Occupied Home Staging, this was a dream home to stage! There was an abundance of furniture, accessories, and artwork to style with. We edited much of what they had and displayed only the best decor.
First Impressions
When it comes to selling a home, you only get one chance to make a lasting first impression. Impress prospective buyers with amazing curb appeal.
A manicured lawn, a new doormat, and freshly planted pansies welcome guests into this home.
From the moment you step in, the grand entryway and beautifully refinished hardwood flooring greet you.
Edit Furniture
With so much great furniture to work with, we decided to only use pieces that improved upon the rooms and emphasized the focal points.
In the Living Room, the two leather recliners, oversized end table, and additional leather sofa (in front of the knee wall) were removed from the room. We placed the chaise lounge opposite the glass door wall in order to create more visual balance.
Living Room Before
HOT TIP: The most important room buyers want to see staged is the Living Room.
Living Room After
A console table was repositioned from the breakfast nook onto the Living Room side of the knee wall to better fill the space behind the sofa.
The glass-top coffee table and shelves were styled with accessories in order to draw focus to the fireplace and an oversized canvas print hung on the adjacent wall from the TV to add visual balance.
Artwork and Accent Mirrors
It can be tempting to remove everything from the walls when gearing up to sell your home, but doing so is a big NO-NO!
In order for a house to feel like an inviting home, hanging artwork and mirrors will help make a house feel homier and not so sterile and devoid of personality.
The home seller updated lighting fixtures throughout the home and we wanted to accentuate the gold tones in this very cool, modern chandelier hung over the dining table.
Dining Room Before
A large canvas print with metallic gold leafing and gold accessories all tie in the gold accents from the chandelier.
Dining Room After
Mirrors were hung in strategic locations to reflect and add light to the rooms.
We chose to prop artwork up in various places because if it were hung, it would have felt off or hung too high. Propping up artwork or mirrors is also a good way to keep from putting holes in the walls and gives a more casual feeling to a room.
HOT TIP: If you do choose to hang artwork, use Monkey Hooks Picture Hangers. They leave a tiny hole in the wall and can amazingly hold a lot of weight.
Don’t Forget the Details
I had so much fun placing items in this home to make it memorable and showcase the many, many beautiful features!
Creating lifestyle moments throughout the home helps homebuyers envision themselves living in the house. Invoking positive feelings by styling vignettes with accessories, lamps, artwork, and pillows helps to create memorable aspects of the home that will stick with buyers as they view it. Details are what make a house stand out from the rest.
Savvy home sellers realize that creating a “show home” environment will entice buyers. Going the extra mile and paying attention to every single detail will pay off in the end!
Guest Bedroom Before
Bedroom Transformed
This tiny but mighty bedroom originally had two twin bed frames pushed together to create a king-size bed. This room was serving as a storage space and needed to be shown as a well-functioning bedroom.
Style Screened In Porches
A tranquil retreat is at the top of most buyers’ must-have lists and should not be an area to skip over when staging your home for sale. For continuity, add pops of color that relate to the interior decor in your seat cushions, pillows, and accessories.
The porch swing has lovely decorative throw pillows and we styled the end table with interesting decor pieces.
Statistically, staged homes sell on average for 9-30% more than unstaged homes according to the 2022 RESA Study of Staged Homes.
Only 1 out of 10 people can visualize furniture in a space. For this reason, it is critical to stage your home so that the vast majority of prospective buyers can visualize themselves living in the home.
This lovely home is easily one of my Top Ten Stages! This home seller did the hard work needed to sell quickly and for top dollar.
Are you ready to do the same?
FREE Home Staging Investment Guide
Want all the tips on how to make the most out of your Home Staging Investment?
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Paint Colors of the Year 2023
2023 paint colors of the year.
Every Fall paint manufacturers present their color forecast and announce their representative color for the upcoming year. Each paint company spends hours researching and observing the current cultural climate resulting in colors symbolic to it.
Neutrals. Soothing Hues. Warm Earth Tones.
Let’s check them out!
Color forecasters are predicting palettes chosen for their distinct presence and personality. 2023 is a year of adding individuality to your space and discovering the transformative power of paint with hues inspired by modern art, natural changes that occur in metal, and a desire for self-expression through color.
Here’s the breakdown of the top three paint manufacturers…
Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams announced their color for 2023 is Redent Point SW9081. Warmth, intrigue, calming, and versitile are some of the adjectives they used for their paint color selection. SW embraced the spirit of connection with the world around us with this soulful-yet-subtle hue. This minimal yet cozy color creates a comforting backdrop for everyday moments that matter. Here’s to softer spaces!
Benjamin Moore
Make room for a vivacious shade of coral tinged with pink, Raspberry Blush 2008-30 has been named the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2023. Enlivening the senses, Raspberry Blush encompasses an electric optimism and is the definition of charismatic color. BM is unapologetic with their choice of red-orange and I personally love it! They had me at a hue that makes a statement! BM drew inspiration from artists desiring to communicate through color, shape, and sound as well as giving individuals a platform of self-expression.
Seeing Red? I put together this vision board featuring the colors of year chosen by Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore. They both selected red-based pinks. I think these story boards showcase the personality and versatility of each color. Which do you prefer?
Behr Paint
A much calmer selection, Behr’s 2023 color of the year is Blank Canvas DC-003. Paint forecasters have said over the past few months that consumers are moving away from stark white walls and instead crave warmer beiges. Blank Canvas does not disappoint! As a neutral color, it creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This paint color can be used in virtually anywhere… entryways, hallways, main living spaces, in bedrooms, or even on kitchen cabinets. This neutral color offers a comforting appeal yet creates a fresh feeling.
Did you know that you could boost your home’s selling price by over $10,000 with a select few statistically proven paint colors?
I offer FREE 30-minute Paint Color Discovery Calls to help you choose paint colors that work with the architectural style of your home, your fixed elements, and your specific design style!
Are The Holidays A Good Time Sell A Home?
Should you put off selling your home until the spring season?
Towards the end of October and the beginning of November, I am often asked "Are the holidays a good time to sell a home? Should I hold off until spring? What will the winter real estate market be like this year?”.
The answer may surprise you. Keep scrolling to find out.
With so much going on at the end of the year… Holiday parties and family gatherings. Living in a home on the market can be a pain in any season, and more so during the holidays. So, if you (or your real estate clients) are in no hurry to sell, it may make sense from a convenience standpoint to hold off until the festive season is past. On the other hand...
There are some good reasons why the holidays are actually a great time to sell a home.
The first of the year is a common time for new job starts, so the weeks leading up to that are a prime time for some house hunters. With the school break, families have an opportunity to relocate with minimal learning days lost. They may also have vacation days that expire at year-end, so this is their window to find a new home.
Yes - the recent mortgage rate increases have slowed some buyers down, but buyers who are still looking are serious buyers. These buyers are often from out of town and are more likely to have a relocation package or submit a cash offer. They are motivated buyers.
Is it OK to style with holiday decor in homes staged for sale?
Try to keep holiday decorations simple, minimal, and non-religious when a home is on the market. Think greenery and possibly a poinsettia. This is true only for showings. MLS photos are another story!!
Listing photos should not have any holiday hints visible.
This goes for any other season as well. When you have any type of holiday decor on display, this can give a clue about when photos were taken and put a visual time-stamp on those images. This tells a prospective buyer about how long the home has been on the market.
Let's put a dollar value on a Christmas tree in a house on the market.
A major factor in home value is the price per square foot. The average Christmas tree consumes about 15 square feet of floor space. Crazy, right? Let’s say the home is priced at $200/sq ft. That means that the tree is concealing $3000 in perceived value. source
All of our reindeer, Santas, and garlands make a home feel so cozy, but in real estate, 'cozy' equals 'small and cluttered'.
My gift to you!
In the spirit of the season, I created a Home Staging Cheat Sheet to help you or your real estate clients prepare their homes for sale. Enjoy!
Staging Cheat Sheet that works for any season!
Happy Holidays!
Painted Cabinets
How to paint kitchen or bathroom cabinets.
The overall aesthetic of my kitchen was mismatched and outdated. Since the cabinets and granite countertops are in great condition, we decided to paint the cabinets.
This is how I did it.
What You’ll Need
I used everything listed below plus some additional brushes I had and buckets to clean with.
Preparation
Step One:
I removed all of the doors and drawers from the kitchen. I took off the knobs, hinges, and clear sticker bumpers.
Step Two:
Once the hinges were removed, I used a Sharpie marker to write what number the cabinet was inside one hinge hole cutout. I then also labeled a piece of blue painter’s tape with the same number and stuck it on top of the number marked with Sharpie. I did this because when the paint was sprayed on, it covered up most of the labels on the painter’s tape. I was able to pull it off and see the numbers clearly for the installation.
I also made labels out of blue painter’s tape for each drawer.
Step Three:
I sanded the cabinet boxes, doors, and drawer fronts using 320-grit sandpaper wrapped on a sanding block.
I wiped everything down with a tack cloth and then using a paint rag, wiped with Liquid Sandpaper.
I then mixed the TSP All-Purpose Cleaner with warm water and wiped everything making sure to get any leftover sanding residue.
Be sure to wear heavy-duty protective gloves during this process!
Hot Tip: Use a hair dryer to heat any sticky residue and scrape it off with a palette knife or flathead screwdriver.
Step Four:
Prep your workspace. Place painter’s plastic down on the floors and on top of countertops to protect from paint spills or drops.
Using the Green Frog Tape, tape all areas where the cabinets meet the walls, floors, appliances, countertops… everywhere you don’t want paint. Be sure to tape two layers side by side. Doing so will make it so that the edge of your paint roller goes on the tape and not the wall.
I taped painter’s plastic on the interior of my cabinet boxes to protect them from unwanted paint splatter.
Applying Primer
Step Five:
Cabinet Boxes
I painted two coats of Zinser BIN Primer on the cabinet boxes. The primer is very thin and smells awful. Make sure you ventilate your room as much as possible.
For the cabinet boxes, I cut in using the 2” flat brush and rolled on the paint everywhere else.
Door and Drawer Fronts
When I primed the doors and drawer fronts, I used the paint sprayer. It was much faster and only required one coat of Primer. The downside was that the paint sprayer used up a lot of Primer. I ended up going through an entire gallon.
I first painted the backs of the doors and drawers. If I made any mistakes or the paint dripped, it was on the back and less noticeable than on the front.
HOT TIP: Wear a properly fitted face mask, eye covering, and gloves when using primer.
I used the mini cone paint stands to prop the doors and drawers up on as they dried.
Once the backs were dry, I painted the fronts and sides and then let them dry.
HOT TIP: I learned that once dry, the Primer dries flaky on the painter’s plastic and painter’s tape. I had to use a lot of tack cloth to get the flakes off before I could paint with the cabinet paint. I probably should have removed the painter’s plastic and then prepped it again with fresh plastic and tape.
Applying the Cabinet Paint
I chose the Nuvo Cabinet Paint because it is easy to work with plus the kit comes with everything you need to get started. Nuvo has several colors to pick from and I really liked that they included very detailed instructions.
I used the Nuvo Cabinet Paint on my bathroom vanities without the top coat that can be purchased separately and the paint has held up very well. I do plan to go back and put a top coat on them just to make sure the paint lasts even longer.
Step Six:
Cabinet Boxes
Using the same method as with the Pimer, I cut in with a 2” brush and rolled the paint on with the cabinet paint roller. I found the Nuvo Titanium White paint to be very thick but applied smoothly.
I didn’t take a picture of this step, but I used the drywall knife to avoid paint bleeding through the painter’s tape onto the flooring. I put the flat edge of the drywall knife on the floor up against the shoe molding and painted on top of the knife instead of painting directly onto the painter’s tape.
It took two coats of cabinet paint to fully cover the Primer. I repeated the painting process with one layer of the Clear Top Coat.
Drawers and Doors
I used one of my daughter’s toy bins that has wheels on the bottom to easily rotate the doors and drawers around while I painted them.
I started with the backs again. I first cut in with a brush and then rolled on the paint with the paint roller.
After the backs were dry, I repeated the process for the fronts.
I let all of the doors and drawers dry overnight and then repeated the process of applying the Clear Top Coat.
HOT TIP: Remove the painter’s tape while the paint is still a little bit wet. This will allow for cleaner edges.
Putting It All Together
Step Seven:
Inspect your paint job to see if there is anywhere you need to touchup, then replace the clear bumper stickers on the backs of the doors and drawers.
Step Eight:
I enlisted the help of my husband to help reinstall the doors and drawers. We replaced the hinges with new soft-close hinges and hung the doors back up.
After the drawers were put back, we installed new knobs and then we admired all of the hard work that went into this transformation!
I am so glad we decided to paint our cabinets! It was a labor of love and definitely took me longer than I anticipated. I think the most time-consuming part of this project was the prep work, but it was necessary to achieve the results I wanted. All in all, this project took me over two weeks to complete. I worked a little bit every day and did what I could while my kids were at school.
Now we have a fresh bright white kitchen that instantly brightened up the entire space!
FREE download! Start planning your next home refresh with this Room Budget Calculator.
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Out With The Old… In With The Newly Refreshed Kitchen
An outdated kitchen gets a fresh coat of paint.
When we purchased our house in 2020 we knew that the Kitchen would need a facelift. The layout is perfectly functional, but the overall aesthetic was mismatched and outdated.
The Before
The layout of the Kitchen works for us, but the reddish brown cabinet stain and pink beige tile felt outdated and clashed with the black and white granite countertops.
The hanging pot holder served no purpose and was crooked and off-center. When we removed it, we found out the hanging pot holder wasn’t even secured to a ceiling joist! Thankfully we never hung any pots from it.
The Flooring
The flooring had to go! The pink beige builder-grade tile was chipped, cracked, and clashed with the black and white granite countertops.
With kids and pets, we ultimately decided to install a wood-look LVP (luxury vinyl plank tile) throughout our first floor due to its durability and water resistance.
When installing this type of wood look flooring, it is important to try and run it continuously throughout. Never try to install the flooring up to another type of wood pattern. It will not ever look right because the wood tones will be different and you could timestamp your house.
BEFORE
Do you see how awful the installation was? The previous owners of our house installed LVP next to the old tile. The tile is much thicker than the LVP so we constantly stepped on the “ledge”. Plus, they didn’t bother removing the tile that created a pointed angle that butted up to the column. It drove me nuts that the point was not centered on the column!
AFTER
The Walls and Cabinet Paint
We painted the walls and ceiling with a fresh coat of paint. The walls are Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray SW7029 in a satin finish.
The reddish brown cabinet stain represented the Tuscan trend from when the house was built in 2008. The cabinets themselves were in great condition so we opted to paint the cabinets a fresh bright white. We also replaced the cabinet door hinges with soft-close hinges as well as replaced the knobs.
Want to find out how I painted my cabinets? See more here.
The appliances were replaced with a matching set and we swapped out the sink faucet for a taller spot resistant brushed stainless steel sink faucet from Moen.
The Result
The Kitchen now feels brighter and makes the entire space feel even more spacious!
What do you think about this Kitchen Refresh?
FREE download! Start planning your next home refresh with this Room Budget Calculator.
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Hot Home Trend: Lighter Flooring
Homeowners are brightening up their interiors by replacing flooring with lighter wood planks.
Spoiler Alert!
Lighter wood-tone floors are taking center stage
According to a recent poll taken by the National Association of Realtors, 31% of Americans want to undertake replacing their flooring as a home improvement. Source
Softer wood tones are available in more expansive, longer planks to instantly modernize the floors.
Why is this trend happening?
Dark wood has been the popular choice for flooring up until recently. We are seeing lighter tones re-emerging but in wider and longer plank versions. The wider and longer planks achieve a fresher, more updated modern look.
Engineered Hardwood
Laminant
Actual flooring shown in open living space above.
Actual flooring shown in the bathroom above.
Are there advantages to installing lighter wood tones?
Why yes there are!
Don't show as many scuff marks
Don't show dust as easily as darker wood tones
Pet hair is more difficult to see
Softer colors and wider planks of wood can lighten the overall look of the space making it appear larger
Wood flooring in blonde shades such as a greige (mixture of gray and beige), and whitewashed hardwoods are definitely on-trend right now.
What flooring material is right for me?
Hardwood: Actual hardwood will always be a classic and timeless flooring material. If you have hardwood floors consider sanding them and refinishing the wood with a lighter stain. Hardwood floors are beautiful but, the cost and upkeep of natural hardwood floors can become costly.
Laminate: Laminate floors are durable and made of layers of high-density fiberboard with a photographic image laminated to the surface. Due to a wear-resistant coating, laminate holds up really well. Laminate floors are relatively easy to install and are a great choice for a busy household in areas not exposed to moisture. It should be noted that many people have complained of laminate flooring types feeling cold and hard underfoot and are also noisy.
Engineered Luxury Vinyl Plank: LVP is by far the most durable and easy to maintain flooring option if installed correctly. LVP mimics the look, texture, and warmth of real wood with the added benefit of being 100% waterproof. I would advise having underlayment installed because the flooring will be easier on your feet, almost cushioned-like, and quieter. LVP can be installed on top of virtually any flat surface as it easily clicks into place. I have Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring on my first floor and also on my second-floor bathrooms. I absolutely love it!
HOT TIP: When considering which direction to install the planks, avoid installing them in the left and right orientation to avoid an outdated look. Doing so can make a space feel shorter and smaller. Instead, start at your front door and turn the planks so that they go straight towards the opposite side of the house. This will elongate the space and draw the eye from the front door into the rest of the home.
Need help choosing a flooring material for your home? I’m here to help!
Want in on the secret to great design?
Fresh Take Log Cabin
Lakefront Airbnb gets furniture makeover.
From Cheeky Tropical Beach Decor to Updated Lakefront Comfort
A fresh take on a log cabin Airbnb.
This 1980s log cabin is nestled in next to Lake Norman in North Carolina. The peaceful surrounding environment invites guests to vacation here and to enjoy all that the lake has to offer.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
Redesigning the furnishings for this Airbnb was a huge undertaking because the cabin has so many different wood tones to work around. The other main challenges for this redesign were staying true to the architectural style of the home and working with some of the existing furniture pieces. My client and I wanted to elevate the decor yet keep in mind that everything needed to be affordable, comfortable, and practical for short-term renters.
Renewed Details
Upon their arrival, guests are welcomed to their vacation home with a whimsical wooden arrow sign pointing vacationers toward the lake. Fresh new pillows and a new doormat greet them before entering.
The Biggest Transformation
I personally feel that the living room has undergone the biggest transformation. We took The Golden Girls vibe out of this house and inserted a polished yet relaxed atmosphere.
Living Room Before
Side note: I had a very difficult time trying to donate this furniture because I was told: “it was too ugly”! LOL
Living Room After
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
For the size and shape of the living room, I chose a more proportionately sized sectional that now allows for a better functioning conversational space. Before, the sofa and four chairs were uninviting and made the room feel closed off.
I included a new natural sisal rug layered with an outdoor area rug on top. In a short-term rental scenario, outdoor rugs are more practical in heavy traffic areas. They are easy to maintain and will stay looking nice after many guests have come and gone. It was an added bonus that I could reuse the blue rug found in another room.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
New accessories, artwork and throw pillows tie together the blue and white color palette that can now be seen throughout the home.
Depending on the time of day, the two-story open living room can be very dark, so adding a table lamp was a necessity. Not only does the lamp add additional lighting, but the overall style of the lamp and the color white also make it stand out and add much-needed contrast to the wooden walls.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
I added faux plants wherever I could to bring nature inside and liven up the interior. Before, the only plants to be found were the pink and green floral prints on the chair fabric, tropical leaves on the rugs, and the floral prints on the wall decor. Live plants would be ideal, however not practical in a short-term rental space.
Don’t Fight It… Work With It
This kitchen has four different wood tones going on! The walls and floors are two different wood tones and then the island is a different wood tone than the wall cabinets! Ay, ay, ay… It wasn’t in the budget to make any cosmetic changes, so I had to figure out a way to work with what was there.
Kitchen Before
Hot Tip:
The log walls in this cabin all have an orange undertone making the walls the bossy main fixed element. By establishing what the bossy fixed elements is, I then determined blue to be the best color to work with this orange tone instead of fighting against it. Orange and Blue are directly opposite each other on the color wheel creating a complementary color scheme. When you choose complementary colors on the wheel, the warm and cool hues play off each other, producing palettes that enjoy the best of both worlds.
Kitchen After
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
If you notice we kept the blue and white knobs on the kitchen cabinets and drawers. Since this color palette was established, I ran with it and sprinkled blue and white throughout the house to create cohesion. We could have changed the cabinet hardware for something more modern and sleek, but the knobs are a little quirky just like this house!
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
We did, however, swap outdated light fixtures for these beauties! The elegant glass shape adds a sense of sophistication to the room. I restyled the open shelves and we purchased new industrial-style counter stools to tie in the matte black metal from the light fixtures.
Black and Bold
Before, the dining room was very uninspiring with the outdated dining set. The dining table and chairs were the same wood tone as the walls, which looks washed out and very dated. The dining table almost disappears into the sea of brown.
Dining Room Before
Now making a bold statement, this chic black table paired with matte black metal chairs is more pronounced.
Dining Room After
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
I love the metal stud detailing on the edges of the tabletop and the table base is so amazing!
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
That View Tho!
The view from this Sitting Room is breathtaking!
Before this space was underwhelming and honestly, I can’t get past the tropical print on this furniture to even appreciate the view of the lake!
Sitting Room Before
Sitting Room After
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
The oversized map of lake Norman was unique so we kept it where it was.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
Blue accent chairs paired with a leather loveseat offer needed texture and color to this space. A faux fur throw blanket, bright white pillows, a colorful area rug, new sculptural wall art, and small decorative items take this space up to the next level.
Bedroom Styling
This cabin accommodates up to 15 guests. Ensuring guests have everything they need for a comfortable stay is a must when it comes to short-term rentals.
In an effort to save money, we kept and reused much of the furniture that was in the bedrooms. We did, however, update most of the beds with new mattresses and bed linens.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
Primary Bedroom
Originally this bedroom had a California King-Size bed. The room is large enough to accommodate this bed size, but I wanted to better use the space and create a more comfortable seating area, so we changed the bed to a King-Size.
Primary Bedroom Before
Primary Bedroom After
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
I was able to move two bookcases from the basement up to this room to use as nightstands. I found these sleek leather X-base benches for the foot of the bed which tie in the new black metal headboard.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
I built my color palette around the existing rocking chair fabric which was in great condition. I purchased a new area rug, throw pillows, blankets, artwork, and accessories. The lamps came from another bedroom and I think they work great in this space.
Secondary Bedrooms
There are three guest rooms on the second floor and one more located in the basement.
In this first bedroom, I updated the bedding and used large Euro-size pillows to make up for the lack of a headboard. I incorporated nautical elements through the rope detailing on the lamps, oval mirror, clock, and coral throw pillow.
Bright white bedding freshens and brightens up the otherwise dark room.
The smallest out of all the bedrooms is also the darkest. I selected soft light blue bedding that has a slight sheen to it to help reflect light. Details like the embroidered “Welcome” pillows and plush area rug soften the space and create a more inviting atmosphere. Light-colored artwork also helps to break up all of the dark wood on the walls.
Bunkbed Rooms
We decided to keep all of the bunkbed frames. They were in great shape and only needed a little updating.
I liked the colorful nautical decor that was already in this room. I thought it was playful and perfect for younger kids. I added bright yellow clamp on reading lights and fleece blankets to each bed.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
This white coffee table was originally in the living room serving only as a place for the internet and cable electronic boxes to sit. By moving the table to this bunkbed room and adding adorable poufs, young guests now have a play table area.
Creating a more sophisticated yet cool hangout space was a must. Updating the bedding in the basement bunkbed room allowed me to design a space better suited for teens.
I liked the leather settee that was there. To update the look though, I added textural faux fur throw pillows, a rug with a trendy boho pattern, and an interesting coffee table. Each bed now has updated more mature bed linens, a soft fleece blanket, and a reading light.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
Game On!
The garage space already had so many games and activities in it, but it felt cluttered and incomplete.
Game Room Before
We added two arcade games and for an added pop of color on the walls, I chose four adventure-themed movie posters from the 1980 era to speak to the time when this house was built.
Game Room After
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
The garage space is ready for guests to spend some quality time together!
All the Amenities
Enjoying the lake is only one of the great outdoor activities to do in Lake Norman.
I liked how this house has a fire-pit, built-it horseshoe game, basketball hoop, and of course the dock with a paddle boat.
Image credit @lighthousevisuals
Jump in and make a splash!
This Airbnb has it all.
Plan Before You Plunge
To show my client design concepts, I used my eDesign platform to create renderings so they could see my vision.
Every design should have a vision or mood board. It isn’t possible to fully put together a cohesive look without planning ahead and seeing everything put together.
Interested in staying in this cabin for your next vacation?
Planning for your own Short-Term Rental?
Download a FREE copy of our Short-Term Rental Checklist for all of the necessary guest accommodations.
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Post-Holiday Winter Blues Got You Feeling Down?
Embrace the awkward season between the holidays and spring with a refresh to your home decor.
The holidays may be over, but winter certainly is not.
Do you feel sad after all the holiday decor is stored away? I know I do. I miss the ambiance in my home from all of the Christmas tree twinkling lights and our special mementos that I decorate with. My home looks a bit dull and lacking once everything is put away. Did you know that the post-holiday winter blues are a real thing? You might be experiencing it if you feel a bit down after your Christmas decorations go into storage.
With winter in full swing, it's too early to decorate for spring and it may feel like holiday decor is the only option to decorate with right now. Have no fear, post-holiday winter decor is the perfect way to add an extra dose of coziness to your home!
I’m not talking about Christmas holiday decorations either, I’m referring to making updates that go beyond the holiday season and will maintain a sense of coziness.
Have you heard of Hygge decor? Pronounced hue-gah, this decor style is a Danish concept that focuses on embracing life’s simple pleasures and comfort. Introducing this concept into your home will help take you through to the next season.
Read on to see how you can embrace the awkward season between the holidays and spring!
1. Edit Your Home
The New Year is a great time to go through your home and edit (aka declutter). Take a day or a weekend tackling one space at a time and reflect on what is useful in your home and what is not. By hitting the ‘reset’ button on your home, you’ll be able to cleanse your space… and your mind. Visual clutter can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. Donate those items that no longer bring you joy or serve a meaningful purpose. Make room for what is important to you and your family!
2. Bring the Outdoors In
This rings true for any season… but especially in winter when we can’t frequent the outdoors as often as we can in warmer months and also because most of the plant life is dormant. By bringing in greenery, you will add life and warmth to your home. Eucalyptus and Boxwood are types of greenery that feel especially wintery. Both last a long time and are beautiful even when they dry out. I love eucalyptus the most because of its calming effect and soothing scent!
Did you know that different types of greenery go best with certain design styles?
Mid-century Modern, Minimal, Eclectic styles = eucalyptus
Traditional styles = redwood, pine, blue spruce
Farmhouse styles = juniper, cedar, and magnolia
Boho styles = seeded eucalyptus
HOT TIP: Living plants not really your thing? Faux greenery will give you the same feeling of warmth and life without the guilt of a dying house plant. Ikea is a great source for inexpensive faux plants and planters.
3. Incorporate Textures
Without texture, design is flat, two-dimensional, and boring. Rooms need varying textures for visual and physical interest. You could incorporate textures throughout a room by layering pillows, soft throw blankets, area rugs, and other cozy textures. I like to layer in textures such as boucle, sheepskin, tweeds, faux fur, mohair, and velvet. Chunky knit throws and natural elements would take your space to the next level! If you can splurge, consider a cashmere throw blanket. The extra soft texture is sure to be an indulgence.
HOT TIP: Create balance in your room by layering textures evenly throughout so that no one piece of furniture or area in the room feels lonely or without the cozy factor. I like to keep things simple with just 1-3 pillows on sofas and larger chairs paired with a cozy throw blanket.
4. Add a Plush Rug
One easy way to help your home feel cozier is by adding in a plush rug. Real or Faux Sheepskin rugs can be layered with your existing area rug to create a comfy corner in your space. You could also add one to the side of the bed so that the first thing you place your feet onto in the morning, is a plush warm furry rug!
5. Use Accent Lighting
Accent lights are the perfect way to create a warm glow and brighten up your home in the darker winter season. In an entryway, you could consider layering a table lamp in addition to the overhead lighting you already have. Smaller decorative table lamps sprinkled throughout your home will add additional light and style.
HOT TIP: Candles have a way of adding light, warmth, and an ambient mood to any space. Layer in candles anywhere that you want a comforting glow. There are so many wonderful winter scented candles, try to stick with 1-2 scents throughout. Flameless battery-operated candles are a great alternative for kid-friendly spaces!
6. Embrace the Winter Blue Hues
Blue is and will always be a timeless color no matter the time of year, plus the color blue has the added bonus of seamlessly transitioning into the spring! Breathe new life into your home with a fresh cheery color palette.
The color blue could be incorporated into almost any room. For a winter color refresh, consider crisp blues paired with cheerful yellows to keep your space feeling bright. Swapping out throw pillow covers is an inexpensive way to instantly add shades of blue. Introducing pillow covers with interesting patterns has a way of making your space feel renewed and fresh.
7. Time to Update Your Bedding
The winter months can bring in a much colder climate depending on where you live, so it might be a good idea to update your bedding. Flannel is a go-to choice for sheets. You may want to also switch to a heavier down option for your duvet comforter. After you establish the bedding basics, layer the bed with a cozy quilt or throw blanket. Weighted blankets are trending for optimum relaxation and coziness.
8. New Artwork
Support your post-holiday winter color palette by incorporating artwork into your home. You could swap out for any art that inspires you and makes you feel at peace during the winter. Swapping out art can be small and simple or large and impactful. Winter scenes make for great art - think snowy mountains, snow-covered architecture, or impressionist wintery landscapes.
Are you the DIY type? Framed pressed winter flowers or greenery would make for great winter art.
HOT TIP: Canvas art is lightweight, easily stored, and inexpensive!
I hope that you are able to combat those Winter Blues. How will you refresh your home for the winter months?
Want in on the secret to great design?
2022 Paint Colors of the Year
2022 colors of the year.
Every Fall paint manufacturers present their color forecast and announce their representative color for the upcoming year. Each paint company spends hours researching and observing the current cultural climate resulting in colors symbolic to it.
Are you ready to go green?
Color forecasters are predicting varying shades of green will trend in 2022. According to forbes.com, “the shades of green we will see inspires us to begin again and is a great choice for modern interiors and exteriors”.
Green is such a versatile color that reflects the reality of the worldwide pandemic we’ve all gone through over the past year. A color associated with healing a growth, it’s no wonder why green has been chosen for the color of the year.
Here’s the breakdown from the top three paint manufacturers…
Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams announced their color for 2022 is Evergreen Fog SW9130. This green is more of a muted pastel with hints of grey than a classic sage. The color signifies the fog is slowly lifting as we await the newness of life with its soft green. The color is symbolic of gentle growth and slow emergence from what has become the new normal. Evergreen fog is subtle, calming, and creates a serene room in all styles of homes.
Benjamin Moore
Make room for creativity with October Mist 1495, the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2022. This gently shaded sage quietly anchors a space, while encouraging individual expression through color.
Behr Paint
Behr’s 2022 color of the year is Breezeway MQ3-21. The color is a silvery green, reminiscent of sea glass, inspiring us to embrace adventures near and far in the coming year. Breezeway evokes feelings of calm and a sense of renewal to discover newfound passions and a zest for life. It is a fantastic color to use in smaller rooms as cool pastels are perfect for expanding the perception of space and would be an excellent color to detail the home’s exterior.
Did you know that you could boost your home’s selling price by over $10,000 with a select few statistically proven paint colors?
I offer FREE 30-minute Paint Color Discovery Calls to help you choose paint colors that work with the architectural style of your home, your fixed elements, and your specific design style!
Pantry Refresh
An organized pantry equals easy access to food and cookware plus an immense feeling of order.
Pantry Goes From Dysfunctional to Completely Organized
Holy pantry space! This oversized pantry recently got a facelift and I’m here to share with you how we did it.
The Before
Disorganized and cluttered, things fell through the wire shelving. A very frustrating space that made me feel overwhelmed every time I walked in.
When my husband I bought our house we were shocked at the size of our new pantry. We’ve only ever had a small closet space to use. This pantry could easily fit bunk beds LOL!
The drab basic builder-grade white wire shelving was over twelve years old, dirty, stained, and not functional for adequate food storage. The vertical posts made it challenging to organize food and the open shelving caused things to fall through the cracks all the time.
What We Did
First, the wire shelving was torn out and the many, many holes left in the walls were patched.
We painted a fresh coat of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray SW7029 paint to the walls and I worked on the staining and adding a coat of Polyurethane to the wood shelves my husband cut and sanded. I used the Dark Walnut #2176 stain finish by Minwax.
The shelves vary in length according to the wall-length but are all right at 11” deep.
One by one we spaced out the brackets determining how much height we wanted between shelf levels and the shelving space came to life. We maximized every square inch in this space!
Once all the shelves were up, the room overall felt more open and spacious, but the dark wood tone absorbed much of the light so we decided to also update the semi-flush mount light.
Voila, instantly more light!
The fun part began with a shopping trip to IKEA where I was able to source most of the storage bins. I found the clear bins on Amazon. You can download a free copy of all the products I used here.
I organized all the food and made my own vinyl labels with my Silhouette cutting machine.
You could certainly download free printable labels and print them on sticker paper or use a marker and handwrite them!
All Done
Everything now has a place and I couldn’t be happier channeling my inner KonMari!
What do you think about this Pantry Refresh?
FREE download! Shop my favorite organizational products used to accomplish this Pantry Refresh.
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Farmhouse Bedroom Designed Four Ways
We’re seeing Farmhouse design everywhere! Is this style here to stay? We designed a bedroom with four different variations of farmhouse style.
Farmhouse Style. Is it here to stay?
I recently went shopping at The Depot at Gibson Mill which is an Antique Mall located here in Concord, North Carolina. It is a fabulous place to visit with oodles of vintage and antique booths. One of my happy places! 😊 I am a sucker for unique vintage finds!
During this trip, I was inspired by the aged furniture, all the patina you could ever imagine, and mostly the surplus of farmhouse decor.
Source: @thedepotatgibsonmill
As we perused the aisles, I was so inspired that I found myself placing pieces of furniture together in my mind and imagined a farmhouse-style bedroom situated in a cozy old home somewhere deep in the country.
That leads me to question if the Farmhouse Design Style is here to stay?
After I got home I dug deeper into this thought and realized that the term ‘farmhouse’ is loosely used to describe a design trend that is so much larger than its name.
“Defined as an interior design style, farmhouse is a style that draws inspiration from the look of an actual farmhouse and uses decorative elements that you’d find in rural or agricultural areas. Farmhouse interiors are warm, cozy, relaxing and full of charm and character.” -Modsy
The style takes me back to “simpler” times. It is easy though to veer the look into too much “country kitsch”, so it’s important to maintain a stylish balance of old and new, focusing more on a natural look. In other words, farmhouse design isn’t code for going overboard with the mason jars, shiplap, cotton stems, and collections of rooster statues!
I further discovered that there are many variations of farmhouse design and how each has its own distinct characteristics.
The farmhouse interior design style can be seen all over HGTV shows, Pinterest, Houzz, and Instagram feeds. The most popular forms of farmhouse style are Classic Farmhouse, Rustic Farmhouse, Modern Farmhouse, and Victorian Farmhouse.
After reading more about each individual style, I categorized my antique mall findings as Classic Farmhouse.
I developed a bedroom mood board based on my shopping adventure.
Classic Farmhouse
A more traditional style with “French provincial” aesthetic influences, Classic Farmhouse is a softer, more feminine approach to farmhouse style and creates that classic cottage chic vibe.
After creating this concept board, I decided I needed to challenge myself to create more versions of the bedroom in each of the most popular farmhouse styles.
Rustic Farmhouse
This style is a less mid-century and more rustic/industrial take on farmhouse design. It has a heavy focus on rugged materials—like rough-hewn and natural woods, wrought iron, and leather with a rich patina—along with more vintage and antique pieces.
Modern Farmhouse
Modern Farmhouse effortlessly blends the best parts of some of the most popular trends from the past several years—you’ve got a smidge of Rustic, a dusting of Industrial, and just the right amount of Mid-Century Modern design. It instantly adds a casual-but-pulled-together character to any interior. While this style is a bit more dramatic than your typical rustic or classic farmhouse look, it still manages to be effortlessly livable. It embodies that perfect mix of modern and relaxed, for a look that’s both on-trend and approachable.
Victorian Farmhouse
Victorian Farmhouse style is warm, cozy, and a relaxing style that’s full of charm and character, but also mixes in the elements and principles foundational to Victorian style. Victorian Farmhouse maintains a definite farmhouse aesthetic. It takes all of the comfortable, cozy, and approachable parts of farmhouse design, then pulls in some of those antique and classic vibes, with a bit of a collector approach. It’s an elevated country style, with a bit of French country decorating mixed in.
When it comes to decor trends, Farmhouse style has it all—think texture, contrast, and coziness all rolled into one perfect space. This trend is here to stay and is already becoming a classic design style.
What’s your favorite variation of farmhouse design?
FREE download! Start your design project the right way with the Principles of Design.
Want to see your space before you commit to a new design?
Try eDesign.
Work directly with me on your design project. Let’s set a plan in motion so you avoid costly design mistakes. Click here to learn more about my eDesign services.
Your vision before you buy.
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Why Stage in a Seller's Market?
6 Reasons to Stage During a Sellers Market
In a hot seller's market, home staging is just as essential as ever.
How do you know if your market is a "seller's market?"
“A seller’s market is when there are more homebuyers looking to purchase a home than actual houses listed for sale. A seller’s market usually results in rising home prices, stiffer competition, and increased bidding wars among homebuyers.” -Redfin
Even without staging, houses are spending far fewer days on the market. But staging is not just about getting a home sold quickly.
Home staging creates an emotional connection for the buyer. Falling in love with the home is especially important in a seller’s market in order to make the highest possible profit on every listing.
The Staging Studio put together a list of reasons why it is essential to stage in a Seller’s Market.
6 Reasons Why You Should Stage in a Seller’s Market
Even in a hot real estate market, home staging is essential. Here's why!
Regardless of where the real estate market stands, staging is a crucial part of the selling process.
Homeownership is probably the largest investment people will make in their lifetime. By creating spaces that buyers fall in love with, the negotiating power stays on the seller's side throughout the buying process. Don't leave money on the closing table!
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Birkdale Bungalow Styled, Listed, Sold
Owner-occupied home staged in Huntersville, NC sells for $25,000 over asking price.
I recently had the pleasure of staging an adorable bungalow home situated in a thriving metro Charlotte, NC neighborhood called Birkdale Village. While the real estate market continues to be HOT, it’s no surprise that this home sold so quickly! The home was listed on a Friday and went under contract the following Wednesday with over 12 offers resulting in a sale of $25k over asking price!
First Impressions
Vibrant plants and a comfortable seating area on the front porch set the tone for this home. The front of the home is the first thing viewers see online and in person. Make a lasting first impression by doing the hard work of pressure washing your home, trimming shrubs, maintaining the yard, and adding a fresh coat of paint to the front door if it needs it! Add an updated doormat and you’re set.
Outdoor Oasis
Outdoor living spaces have significantly grown in importance to buyers since the pandemic. A tranquil retreat is at the top of most buyers must-have lists and should not be an area to skip over when staging your home for sale. For continuity, add pops of color that relate to the interior decor in your seat cushions, pillows, and even decorative planter pots.
Reposition Furniture
Living Room Before and After
Home Stagers have a trained eye to visualize how moving furniture into a different location can improve upon a rooms ability to emphasize the focal points. By repositioning some of the furniture in this Living Room, the homeowner and I were able to create a more streamlined and more inviting space. We cleared out unnecessary items and styled the accessories in order to draw focus to the fireplace. Additionally, we repositioned an armchair underneath the mirror to create a more inviting entryway.
Hang Artwork
Living Room Before & After
It can be tempting to remove everything from the walls when gearing up to sell your home, but I highly suggest you don’t do this. In order for a house to feel like an inviting home, hanging artwork and mirrors will help make a house feel more homey and not so sterile and devoid of personality.
In this Living Room, family photos hanging over the sectional were replaced with a colorful canvas print found upstairs in another room. I love how visually interesting the rhinoceros is and how directionally, the rhino points towards the fireplace which is the main focal point of this living room. Relocating items you already have to a different location within the home instantly updates a space and achieves a more meaningful purpose.
Don’t Forget the Details
I am OBSESSED with this kitchen! Scandinavian meets Modern Farmhouse at its finest. So cute and so on trend!
What I love most about this kitchen is the mix of emerald green and white two toned cabinets. The gold cabinet hardware is a nice touch along with the butcher block countertops. The matte black faucet looks stunning against the bright white farm sink. Classic white subway tile with contrasting dark grout is always a look I love!
Before & After Kitchen
To stage the kitchen, we cleared everything from above the cabinets and hutch cabinets to create a clean undisrupted visual site line. The homeowner is an avid tea drinker so to add a playful touch, we set out a white tea kettle and tea cups which looks great on the butcher block. Bright yellow lemons add an extra pop of color and freshness to the room. The hutch shelves were restyled with accessories the homeowner had on hand, and we were in no shortage of plants in this home! I couldn’t have been more happy with how we were able to bring the outdoors in and accessorize with so many beautiful plants.
Bedroom Styling
Before & After Owner’s Bedroom
Styling this bedroom was a lot of fun! The homeowner already had the white bedding and some brightly colored accent pillows. Since there was no headboard, we added much needed height to the bed with euro sham pillows. To give this room a more modern feeling, new lamps and a new nightstand were purchased. Editing down the unnecessary items on the floor and clearing the workspaces allowed us to create a bedroom that now looks and feels sophisticated.
Make It Memorable
Having memorable and exciting pieces throughout the staged home creates a memory for the homebuyer. Savvy home sellers realize that creating a “show home” environment will entice buyers. Going the extra mile and paying attention to every single detail will pay off in the end!
Why stage when houses are selling so quickly?
The short answer is to get more money!! Statistically, staged homes sell on average for 9-30% more than unstaged homes according to the 2020 RESA Study of Staged Homes.
Only 1 out of 10 people can visualize furniture in a space. For this reason, it is critical to stage your home so that the vast majority of prospective buyers can visualize themselves living in the home.
This homeowner did the hard work needed to sell quickly and for top dollar. Are you ready to do the same?
FREE Real Estate Staging Consumer’s Guide
Want all the tips on how to make most out of your Home Staging Investment?
Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
Keep the Clutter Away... the IKEA Way!
Keep the clutter away… the IKEA way! Top 9 organizational products.
Top 9 IKEA Products to Help You Stay Organized
Whether you are preparing your home for sale or just need some organization in your life, IKEA is a great store to turn to for inspiration and affordable home organization products.
Blending form with function, IKEA has a long standing reputation for helping their loyal customers stay organized with simple yet unique, affordable, and trending solutions. Here are my top 9 favorites to help you stay clutter-free!
Snidad
Source: Ikea.com
I LOVE the Snidad basket! It is adorable, lightweight, and becomes a central place to store items like blankets or pillows. The beautiful craftsmanship makes this basket the perfect choice to use in an entryway or even in a bathroom to hold towels!
Lubban
Source: Ikea.com
Rattan has made a comeback! This trending material is a great way to invite nature in your home. I like this Lubban cart because it can be wheeled around whenever you need it. The cart could easily be used as a serving cart or even as a storage solution for your home office. The possibilities are truly endless with this stylish cart.
Hemnes
Source: Ikea.com
Is it a cabinet? Is it drawers?
You’re in for a surprise when you open up the doors to find double shoe compartments inside! This gem is not only a secret hidden shoe rack, but the top compartment could easily store your face masks, keys, and other daily essentials. Say goodbye to entryway clutter and hello to this space-saving Hemnes cabinet!
Lurpassa
Source: Ikea.com
My favorite part about these adorable baskets are that they are perfect for storing smaller items. The Lurpassa boxes would be great to use in a media stand, kids playroom, for pantry storage, or even for office supplies. Ikea really thought of everything when it comes to these little beauties because they are designed to be stackable!
Saxborga
Source: Ikea.com
Storing items in jars allows you to see what is inside the vessel making it easier to find what you are looking for. The Saxborga jars look great and are extremely versatile. The jars can be used individually, stacked or grouped thanks to the cork lids and tray that keep them in place. No matter where you use this collection, you’ll be able to effortlessly turn your everyday items into decor!
Skubb
Source: Ikea.com
If you are looking for an under the bed storage solution, the Skubb is for you! This box could also be used in a wardrobe or chest of drawers to help you organize belts, socks, scarves, ties, and jewelry. The handles on all sides make it easy to pull out and reposition however you want. The box can be folded flat and stored when not in use.
Signum
Source: Ikea.com
Tuck all those annoying cords away with the Signum. No one wants to see or get tangled up in dangling cords, so I like that Ikea came up with a simple solution for home offices. I could see this being used for entertainment centers too. The Signum collects your cables and cords together making it easier to keep your work area tidy.
Dragan
Source: Ikea.com
Bring some warmth into your home with these bamboo Dragan storage boxes. With their sleek clean lines, the boxes nestle into one another and keep small items at bay. They could be uses in a bathroom for makeup or hair accessories or if you are a crafter, they would be great for organizing your smaller craft supplies.
Kubbis
Source: Ikea.com
Maximize your vertical wall space with the Kubbis. Featuring seven hooks, you can hang all the things! Use this anywhere in your home, even in damp indoor areas like the bathroom. The wall hooks make for a great entryway storage solution for bags, face masks, or the dog leash!
Cut Through the Clutter
Ikea offers so many organizational products that I had a difficult time narrowing my list down to just nine! View all of my favorites, by simply downloading your own curated shopping list below.
Favorite Organization Finds At IKEA
Gain access to the curated list of our favorite Ikea organization finds sure to help you keep your home clutter free!
Need a little extra help with how to stay organized? Download a free copy of Three Steps to Less Is More and Loving What You Have.
I will walk you through how to let go of unnecessary processions that may be weighing you down.
Have a question about your home and want to chat? Schedule a FREE 30-minute Discovery Call with me.
-Tiffani Michalenko
HSR Certified Home Stager & Expert eDesigner
SUBSCRIBE
Signup for our mailing list so you are always in the know!