Accent your world
The place to use colour is in the accessories you use
around the home. Be bold here, but also look around
at what is popular. Interior design and home maga-
zines are your friend. The latest ones will show you
which colours are on trend. Rich and luxurious colours- peacock blue-green, deep purples, bronze – will work
in most spaces to create a warm, cosy feeling, as will
pastels like dusty pinks and mint greens.
Layer the comfort
These days, everyone talks about textures and they’re an
amazing way to make a home feel special and inviting.
Satin and velvet cushions, alpaca throws and soft rugs
can add real warmth to living spaces.
Layers can also hide a multitude of sins. If your
carpet or tiles are a little bland, choose a beautiful rug
then use the colours in it to coordinate throw pillows,
blankets and curtains.
Don’t forget about plants. They can make a space feel
fresh and add a sense of life to rooms. In bathrooms, add
a pop of green with some succulents in small containers.Cohesion is key
When you are working on making your home more
attractive to buyers, keep the same feeling throughout
all the rooms. Give your style a name: beach house,
Scandinavian chic, contemporary country, warehouse
cool. Then, as you are working on your styling, each
and every room should have that theme.Play with furniture placement
Even if you are working with a compromised floor plan,
you can always look at the flow and move or take out
furniture. You may need to put certain pieces into storage
with your boxes and you may need to reposition so the
natural flow of the room is better for people walking
through. Play around with the pieces and go with what
feels more spacious and allows flow.
Shoving all the furniture, especially sofas, up against
the walls can make a room appear small.The clean scene
People will have very definite views on a bathroom, so
it is best to show yours in the best light. If any of the
fittings are outdated, you could buy some new, relatively
inexpensive ones to be installed. Change the toilet seat
if yours is an odd colour or has seen better days. If grout
is discoloured, get yourself to the local hardware shop
and find something to clean it up.
Look for streaks on glass and mirrors before any open
houses or inspections. And clear off the top of the vanity
and keep only essentials in drawers and cupboards.Clear away clutter
Take all the kids’ drawings, old tickets, photographs
and magnets off your fridge and place them safely in
a big envelope. Any cupboards, wardrobes and draw-
ers stuffed to overflowing should be thinned out and
organised properly. The same goes for overflowing
bookshelves or sideboards covered in little ornaments
and framed photos. Packing these sorts of belongings
into boxes – if they have sentimental value – or getting
rid of them in a garage sale or at the local charity shop
will put you in good stead when it comes time to move.
It is quite cathartic, too!
Any spare rooms that have become junk rooms need
to be cleared out, their contents boxed up and stored
or thrown away.
Clear your kitchen benches. Chances are you have
all your everyday appliances, like the kettle, toaster
and juicer, out where you use them. Clear some space
in your kitchen cabinets where they can be put away,
at least when you are having open houses.
If you have kids, especially little ones, grab some
plastic storage boxes and cull the number of toys for
use during the selling period.Keep it neutral
Now is not the time to play with strong colours. Some
people will tell you it is all about white, and that is
definitely one of the safest options. But check out any
colour chart and you will see there is a huge variation
in even the palest of shades. One of the most popular
whites of all time is Dulux’s Antique White U.S.A.
Painting can add thousands of dollars to your end
price, so it is definitely a worthwhile investment. Most
companies have a colour consultant who can advise
you in your home. If you have no idea on colours, then
this is a good option. They come at a cost, but that will
be redeemable on the price of any paint you then buy.
There are a number of free tools to help you decide
on colours too, like the one at visualizecolor.com, which
lets you virtually paint your walls.
Otherwise, stick to the basics. A great idea is to get
a few sample pots, then paint large swatches on your
walls and live with them for a week or so.Design to evoke an emotion. For example,
leave a book with a throw on a sunlounge near
a window. This allows the buyer to envisage
themselves in that space. Norm and Jess (The Block, Season 14)