Search
Related Links




    

Informative Articles

Buying A Home After Bankruptcy
If you're planning on buying a home after bankruptcy you'll want to read this article carefully. Buying a home is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make. Having a bankruptcy on your credit report adds an extra challenge. If you've...

For Sale by Owner: how to sell your home yourself
'For sale by owner.' Four words that are becoming more and more common in the real estate market. But it selling your home yourself the right approach for you? And if so, how do you go about it? Let's start with the first question. The "for...

Honeymooning in the Poconos -
In 1945, a soldier named Rudolf Von Hoevenberg opened the first resort for honeymooners -- called "The Farm on the Hill". He started a trend for many more honeymoon-type resort entrepreneurs to open business and "couples only" resorts were born....

Moving To Spain
So you are looking to emigrate. Spain may a good choice, the warmer climate, lower cost of living, and as part of the EU there is no points system in place if you have or are entitled to a passort from a member country. However, if you are...

Real Estate With No Money Down, Part 2
Here's a way to profit from real estate with no money out of your pocket that's a winner for everyone involved. Find a vacant residential property that needs work. Instead of tying up your money buying it and dealing with the hassle of contracting...

 
New Decor for a New year

January is a time for setting goals and making plans for the year ahead. The typical resolutions of losing weight or saving money could be made a little easier when you feel proud of where you live. You deserve a beautiful home. There are four easy things to do - without spending a lot of money - which will help you love your home.

A reasonable goal is to pick one or two of the suggestions below and finish that project in the next month. Enjoy the year with a fresh new look! These ideas can make a powerful impact on the way you feel about your home but are cost effective and affordable.

As you take down your tree or other holiday decorations - do not place furniture back in the same location as it was before. Try something new. Now is the time to change it up and get a new perspective! Consider moving furniture between rooms. Maybe a chair for the bedroom will look great in the den. Maybe the den's leather couch can be switched with the family room's loveseat.

Try to learn about and obtain some original artwork. A pet peeve of many professional decorators (myself included) is the mass produced art print. When I go to a client's houses, I just cringe when I see the exact same artwork I saw last week at a different client's home. Be original. It does not have to be expensive. I have even seen some high school


student's art that has been extraordinary. You can even try eBay by searching under the phrase "self representing artists".

Purchase some new accent pillows. Really big this year is pillows with textures and embellishments. Look for fringe, braiding, beads etc. Don't get matching pillows but rather coordinating pillows. Accent pillows can be added to just about every room. Place a unique pillow on the spare chair in the dining room corner. Place a new pillow on your bed. Maybe something new to greet you at the back door bench. Think intricate and lavish - not solid and plain.

The number one change you can make for the New Year is to declutter. Go through one room at a time to sort into the toss, sell or giveaway piles. Areas to declutter include old clothes, food in the cupboards, expired medications, and magazine piles. An important goal you can make is to declutter and give yourself more space without building on a new room to your home.

About the author:

Julie Dana is a professional Interior Redesigner and Accredited Staging Professional. Her company, The Home Stylist, offers online decorating consultations, do-it-yourself decorating plans and real-estate staging. Visit http://www.thehomestylist.com to take a fun style quiz, vote on a color poll, and sign up for free decorating e-newsletter.