Cut the Clutter for the New Year

Happy New Year Everyone!  I'm sure by now you've thought about your resolutions (hopefully over a cup of hot coffee this morning) maybe even written some down and are now ready to roll.

2012 is like a clean slate.

  A new start.  

A new beginning.  

In my work as a Home Stager my first order of business when I walk into an occupied home is to convince the homeowners to De-Clutter, Depersonalize, and increase traffic flow in order to sell their home quickly and for the highest price possible.  Now, you may not be selling your home but a lot of these same tips can apply to enhance your home for daily living. 

Let's take a look at a home I recently Staged as an example. This home was built in 1925 and is an adorable little house.

 Here is the before picture of the Living Room, the first room you see when you walk into the home.  There is a lot going on here and your eyes aren't sure where to rest.  The fireplace or the shelves on top of the windows? What is it that we want our buyers to see and be "Wowed" by?

 Here is another view as we look into the Dining Room. 

 And another view into the sunporch.

And here is what a little paint and De-Cluttering can do!

 Don't you just look at it now and go "Ahhhhh"? 

It seems so much more restful and inviting doesn't it?  

Here are the changes that were made:

• The room was Painted in a neutral color Patience Sherwin Williams SW7555.  This is my go to color for secondary Bedrooms and Bathrooms. 
• I asked the homeowner to pack away any accessory item that was smaller than a football.
• We removed the green drapes but  left the white sheers hanging on the windows.
• The Homeowner removed the shelves over the drapes.
• I rearranged the furniture and found the console behind the sofa in another room. 
• I moved the two end tables together to form a coffee table and added in a few of my own accessories to update the room. 

                                    

 Now this is a room I could spend a lot of time in!

Happy New Year and Happy De-Cluttering in 2012!

Hope you enjoyed my "Before and After"  

***Note- This house sold in 7 weeks***

 

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Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday