Articles Tagged "Decor"

The market is likely to remain strong for sellers in 2022, according to the latest predictions. But to get top dollar for your home, you need to play an active part in getting the property ready for listing and in mapping out a strategy for selling it.

Here are seven tips that can make your house a standout among Saint Louis homes for sale. 

1. Engage a real estate agent who knows your neighborhood.
   Most homeowners avoid the hassles involved with selling their homes themselves and engage an experienced real estate agent who is familiar with properties in their neighborhood. A real estate agent will advise you on asking price, marketing, and negotiation strategy. For instance, an agent will research how much homes like yours are going for in your area, so you know how much to ask. An agent will also negotiate an offer, including clauses and contingencies in the purchase agreement; explain paperwork you may not understand; and deal with the home inspection, commissioning repairs, or negotiating credits with the seller.
   
   
2. Declutter the house.
   This is the first step before staging. A potential buyer won't be in love with all your beloved stuff, so pack it up and store it in the garage or basement, so your home presents a neutral aspect. Put away personal effects such as photographs and mementos. You don't have to leave the home bare, but do go minimalist so potential buyers can imagine themselves and their furnishings in your home. 
   
   
3. Get professional help staging your home.
   You can try doing this yourself, or for best results, hire a professional. Stagers help you showcase your home in a strategic manner, sometimes working with your furnishings or bringing in other furnishings that might look better.
   
   
4. Map out a marketing strategy.
   If you have a real estate agent, use the agent's expertise to develop a marketing strategy. You'll need good quality pictures -- better than those you take on your phone -- with good lighting. Pictures should look professional to show off your home to the best advantage. If you have an agent, your home will be listed on the MLS database. 
   
   
5. Plan on how to show your home.
   One disadvantage of selling your home yourself is having to show it to potential buyers. Home shoppers sometimes feel inhibited or intimidated with the owner present -- yet another advantage of having an agent to show the home for you. 
   
   
6. Work on a negotiating strategy with your agent.
   If you get an offer, you need to discuss with your agent how to strategize -- that is, whether to agree to repairs, to lower the price, or stand firm and entertain other offers. 
   
   
7. Get ready for the closing.
   You may need to agree to repairs and fulfill certain contingencies for the closing. Your real estate agent will help you know what to expect and guide you through this process step by step.

Our real estate agents can answer your questions about selling your home in 2022. Contact us today. 

Fall is here, and so is a new wave of interior design trends. According to our real estate agents, this season's design ethos is all about comfort and self-expression. Let's delve into 5 of the most popular interior design trends this fall, how we've seen them applied in many of our St. Louis homes for sale, and how you can bring these ideas into your home. 

1. Earth Tones
   Fall's stunning orange and brown color palette is providing inspiration for some homeowners in 2021. In addition to rich chocolates and muted apricots, many choose to add soothing blues and verdant greens to their homes. These hues evoke the natural world. 
   
   Because many of these colors are very close to neutrals, they are very easy to incorporate into almost any room. Repainting the walls is the most obvious way to do this, but it isn't the only way. A small touch like a mist-colored vase or some mossy green curtains can go a long way. 
   
   
2. Soft, Cozy Fabrics and Textures 
   In stressful times, people often try to make their homes as comfortable and welcoming as possible. This might be why homeowners are currently so eager to add soft textures to their living rooms, bedrooms, offices, and other living spaces. At the moment, most use discreet, removable items like blankets and rugs for this purpose instead of permanent fixtures like carpeting or upholstery.  
   
   It's easy to bring this trend into your home with a single shopping trip. Look for throw blankets and decorative pillows, especially ones made of materials like wool, flannel, and sherpa. 
   
   
3. Dividers 
   In the past, homeowners often wanted to open up every space as much as possible. This is no longer the prevailing trend. Instead, many people are adding room dividers (screens, shelves, and other partitions) to their homes to break up those open spaces and create more intimate areas without having to actually build new walls.  
   
   If this idea appeals to you, experiment with different types of room dividers. An elegant folding screen, sturdy bookshelf, or long silky curtain can break up those large rooms and add some additional function or decoration to the space, depending on what you prefer. 
   
   
4. Natural Finishes and Other Elements 
   Homeowners are also taking cues from nature when adding furniture and fixtures to their space. Faux stone finishes, light natural woods, and other rustic accents are becoming increasingly common this season, especially in conjunction with nature-inspired color schemes. Together, these two design choices amplify each other and create an even more sense of soothing respite within the home. 
   
   Countertops, mantlepieces, coffee tables, and other focal points are great places to incorporate natural elements into your own home. 
   
   
5. Vintage Furniture and Housewares 
   Finally, fall 2021 has also brought an increased interest in vintage furniture and homeware pieces. After spending so much time in their homes over the last year and a half, homeowners see their interior spaces as an extension of themselves. This has led to an interest in personalizing spaces with art, furniture, or knickknacks from the past, especially if these items are family heirlooms. 
   
   These days, it's easy to find as many charming old items as your heart desires – if you can't find exactly what you want at local thrift stores and garage sales, hop online and see what's listed on sites like eBay and Craigslist. 

No matter how you choose to decorate the inside of your home, the most important thing is that you feel happy and at ease there. If you're in the market for a new home, contact us today. 

If you enjoy browsing vintage furniture and tend to see it for its potential, you might enjoy upcycling furniture. Upcycled furniture can be funky, trendy, or even classy with the right touch, and that one special piece might be great for starting a conversation with your guests or perfect when staging your home for sale, according to our real estate agents. Here are a few tips for giving tired outdated furniture new life.

1. Look for Good Bones
   When you're on the hunt for vintage furniture to upcycle, try to see past the current finish (or lack thereof), and instead look at the bones of each piece. You'll want furniture that is sturdy and made of real wood so that it'll stand up to the demands of a makeover and a new life. Look also for interesting features such as mid-century modern styling or interesting curves and carvings that painting and distressing would highlight.
   
   
2. Find a New Purpose for Old Things
   Part of the fun of upcycling furniture is thinking outside of the box. There are a lot of old pieces that don't necessarily have a purpose anymore, but you can make a trendy new purpose with a little creative thinking. For example, vintage crates can be stacked to use as bookshelves, a cozy little vintage dining table would make a great desk, and that vintage radio or record player could find new life retrofitted as a wine rack or liquor cabinet.
   
   
3. Update the Look with a Little Paint
   Typically vintage furniture is cast-off not because it no longer functions, but because the finish has become scratched and worn. Purists will repair or refinish a valuable piece, but you can give the more mundane pieces exciting new life with a little color. Perhaps the piece is perfect for your current look but needs a facelift with a new coat of paint. For something a little more interesting, you can opt for shabby chic with a distressed look, or aim for more urban with stenciled accents.
   
   
4. Stick to the Style
   While mixing and matching can be cool and trendy, you won't do the furniture any favors if you don't work with what you've got. Different pieces have different looks, and your upcycling will be the most successful if you stay true to the style. Furniture with straighter lines, such as mid-century modern, will look better with clean paint or geometric stenciling, for example. Furniture with graceful lines, carved details, or even simple country style will pair well with distressed finishes.

Upcycling furniture can be very rewarding, and you may find that your thrift store score ends up being one of your favorite pieces after a little (or a lot of) TLC. Just remember, if you'll be using the piece to stage your home for sale, that buyers tend to react more favorably to a neutral decor when browsing St. Louis homes for sale. For more information about how to stage a home for success on the sales market, contact us today.

Your home should be filled with things that inspire you, make you feel comfortable, and create joy in your life. Creating a special gallery wall that showcases cherished artwork, photos, and collectibles is one way to add personal style to your home. Whether you love paintings, photography, old family portraits, or antique plates, a gallery wall will add visual interest to any room, even a staircase.

To create the perfect gallery wall, you need to focus on hanging items cohesively so no one item stands out above the rest. It is a bit of a challenge, but it's easier when you follow certain steps.

1. Choose the Location
   The first step is choosing a location with some natural light and enough wall space. If you're hanging less than 5 or 6 smaller items, an entry, hallway, or bathroom is a good choice. If you plan to hang 10 or more large items in various sizes, consider a large room in the house or a staircase.
   
   
2. Measure the Wall
   Once you choose a location, measure the entire height and width of the wall, then decide on the amount of space needed to hang gallery items. It's best to leave a border of 1 to 2 feet above furniture items and between wall edges and ceilings.
   
   
3. Choose Frames
   If you're hanging artwork or photographs, you need to choose frames that complement other things in your room. To keep your gallery wall cohesive, it's best to keep framing materials and finishes to a minimum. It's okay to mix wood and metal frames but choose similar finishes.
   
   
4. Assemble Items
   Items on a gallery wall should complement each other. You can combine landscape paintings with scenic photographs, family photos with old memorabilia; black and white photographs with old quilts; and antique plates with woven textiles. Be creative, but don't let one item on the wall become the main focus.
   
   
5. Plan the Layout
   Before you begin hanging, plan the layout by placing items on the floor first. Make paper templates of each item or use painter's tape to create size and placement on the wall. When you're hanging various shapes and sizes, using templates or tape first will prevent unnecessary nail holes in your wall.
   
   
6. Create Visual Balance
   Gallery walls rarely have items with the same shapes and sizes. It's the variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and subjects that create visual interest and design appeal. It's often easier to place the larger items first then fill in spaces with smaller items. Gallery walls don't have to be symmetrical, just visually balanced.
   
   
7. Hang Large Items First
   When you're happy with your layout, you can begin hanging your gallery wall. Hang large or most important items first, then hang smaller items around them, leaving 2 to 6 inches between items. If you make a mistake, don't worry. It's easy to fill the nail hole with putty and try again.

At Coldwell Banker Premier Group, our real estate agents can show you a variety of Saint Louis homes for sale with stylish features, modern conveniences, and a range of prices. If you're searching for a new home in the Saint Louis area, we can help you find a home where you can create your own stunning gallery wall. For more information, contact us today.