Tips for Staging with Plants

Natural design elements have been on trend for the past few years. Sustainable wood, stone, and fabrics add simple beauty to spaces in all parts of the home. The color palette of these materials tends to be soft beiges, creams, and browns; lovely tones but without a pop of color, create cool, drab rooms that lack personality. In keeping with the natural theme, designers and stagers are using plants to add dimension and warmth.

Decorating with plants takes more strategy than adding a pretty pot to a coffee table. Here are a few tips for incorporating plants into the design scheme that home stagers use to make a home more appealing:

• Choose Low-Maintenance Plants – Choose plants that do not require a lot of attention and water. This is especially helpful if the home is for sale.

• No Pollen – Asking ahead of time if a plant can trigger allergies will prevent issues for guests and buyers.

Mix and Match – Choose a variety of colors, heights, and textures.

• Showcase Home Features – Bight plants will attract attention. Consider a tall plant to showcase the ceiling height or a bright bloom to draw the buyer’s attention to a great view.

• Remember Stands and Pots – Make sure to choose pots or stands that complement the design of the room.

Home design has embraced sustainable, green themes. Adding lush greenery to a light-toned room will add warmth and make the home more inviting to potential homebuyers.

Home Decor Goes Back to the Future

It was only a matter of time until home designers looked to the 1980s for inspiration. Showrooms are looking more like a TV set of the Golden Girls rather than the bland, gray-toned backdrops of the past few years. Color, shapes, and playfulness are making a comeback.

Bringing rooms back to life is the theme for this design trend. What’s New?

• Round Shapes – Gone are the sharp edges and squared-off furniture. Round tables, sofas, and chairs are making an entrance this year.

• Lower Furniture – Just like its mid-Century modern cousins, 80’s furniture was lower to the ground than contemporary styles.

• Color – 1980s seafoam green and peach have morphed into teal and mauve this season and taking center stage in home décor.

• Rattan – Rattan furniture is no longer for retirees in Florida or vacation condos in Hawaii. This versatile material is now a mainstay in homes. Consider a piece or entire room of rattan furniture to brighten your space.

• Lucite – Clear furniture offers an illusion of floating in the room. Small spaces become larger by adding clear chairs or accent tables.

• Ceramics – Shell-shaped lamps and art deco styles vases are an essential decorating element for the 1980’s style.

• Kitsch – Pop Art pieces are back.

Think Andy Warhol prints and oversized novelty decorations like oversized pencils or giant teacups. Fun is the essential theme of the 1980’s style. As designers put a modern twist on an old décor, more homeowners are dusting off their 80’s décor and adding a bit of whimsy to their home.

Tips to Make Your Home both Beautiful and Kid-Friendly

Have you ever been to a home where it’s clear that the kids have taken over the space? It’s obvious that the home has become more of a playground, filled with toys and bright-colored plastic everywhere. Homes like this often sacrifice style for durability or stain-resistance. Maybe this is your home? The good news is that it’s possible to create a home that incorporates the beauty of a stylish home with the practicality of living with children. Here are a few design tips to help.

• Be Realistic – You may love the look of crisp white sofas and delicate glass vases, but if you live with kids, opt for more durable choices. Natural fiber furniture in neutrals hide stains while looking stylish; choose a sofa with removable cushion covers you can pop in the wash as needed. Display beautiful wood or stone accent pieces instead of glass, to cut down on accidental breakage.

• Less is More – Uncrowded rooms allow for the excess energy of fast- moving children. Give them room to play. Less toys also means less mess when they’re all inevitably spread over the house!

• Double Duty Furniture – Look for stylish bins or hidden storage units such as ottomans where you can quickly dump excess toys when guests pop by.

• Create a Play Station – Carve out a special place for the kids to play, such as a basement family room or a cozy attic. Keep larger playsets and toys there and help the kids make it a special place just for them. This may keep some of the ‘kid clutter’ contained to one area of the home.

• House Rules – Develop some simple rules and then be disciplined about it. For example, a good house rule is that toys are gathered into storage units each evening before dinner. Cleaning things up a bit at a time makes it less overwhelming.

Most of all, strive for a livable home. It’s almost impossible to have a picture- perfect home with kids, but by taking a few simple steps, you can merge a kid- friendly environment with a beautiful adult home.