Home Staging Tips

The short term rental (or STRs) are crazy around here and towns have been tightening rules on them here in NC. Not sure about where you live, but having a rental property is another revenue stream for people who are trying to make ends meet. But if you are renting out a home, condo or apartment there are a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to decorating it. Let’s get into that in this week’s episode. Mentioned in this episode: How to stage a living room online course https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/how-to-stage-living-room-course/ Master bedroom layouts https://www.etsy.com/listing/1606662842/master-bedroom-furniture-plans-floor Home decor ebook https://www.etsy.com/listing/1614205648/home-decor-placement-interior-decorating

So you put your house up for sale and are waiting with bated breath for the first offer. And you wait. And wait. And nothing. Very few showings and not much interest. So now you wonder, well now what? How do I get buyers to show up? Let’s talk about what you should look for in this week’s podcast episode. Mentioned in this episode: Secret to Selling Your Home Faster www.bit.ly/secrettosellfaster Blue Diamond Staging & Design www.bluediamondstaginganddesign.com

Basements can be transformed into usable space in your home. The size of your basement can limit the ways on how you use it but it can be a great space for a number of things. If you have a basement and selling your house soon, you will want to listen in on this episode. Mentioned in this episode: Willow Brook Printable https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowBrookPrintable

It’s officially spring time and you know what that means! Pollen!!!! Oh wait that’s here in North Carolina. Anyway, yes spring means allergies too but when it comes to owning a house, you know that spring cleaning should be on your list. And I have a few things that I need to work on this spring that I’ve been neglecting for some time now. So let’s get into some spring cleaning checklist items that you should start working on now too. Mentioned in this episode: Willow Brook Printable https://www.etsy.com/shop/WillowBrookPrintable

Have you had a rough night sleeping? Are you or your partner tossing and turning and keeping the other one awake? Yeah, I’ve had that too. But I learned about this one method that I tried and my sleep has never been better. Mentioned in this episode: Willow Brook Printable Etsy shop www.willowbrookprintable.etsy.com Master bedroom layouts Scandinavian Sleep Method

A mantra is a motivating chant like I think I can, I think I can. And as you chant your mantra, it releases the positive energy and decreases the negative thoughts or stress, As I think about my two businesses, Blue Diamond Staging & Design and WillowBrookPrintable, I realized they help people in different stages in life. So I came up with a new mantra which is a short phrase that defines a business. I love this because my mantra comes full circle and we are in one of these phases in life and why my businesses exist. Listen in! Mentioned in this episode: Blue Diamond Staging & Design For Staging and Decorating advice www.bluediamondstaginganddesign.com Willow Brook Printable for moving checklists, packing checklists, party planners and more www.willowbrookprintable.etsy.com

When you move into a small home or apartment, you may not realize that decorating it has to be approached in a different way. The big furniture won't fit as well in a smaller space. Or it just feels too cramped. Are there different rules to decorating a small space? YES! Let me share some tips on how to decorate smaller spaces in your home. Mentioned in this episode: Episode #238 Small living spaces How to Open Up Space in a Small Room https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/how-to/open-space-small-room/ 5 things that make your house feel smaller https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/home-decor/five-things-that-make-your-house-feel-smaller/ Etsy shop, WillowBrookPrintable https://willowbrookprintable.etsy.com

What do you do when you have dark brown wall paneling in your home? It makes the space look outdated and dark. Do you take it down? Try something else? I had a real estate agent pose this question to me. Listen in to hear my answer. Mentioned in this episode: Color Snap app by Sherwin Williams Color portfolio by Benjamin Moore 4 Wall Colors bit.ly/4wallcolors Living Room Staging Course bit.ly/livingroomcourse

Living rooms are the most important room to stage when it comes to selling your home. But it can be daunting for real estate agents and home sellers to know how to make it look good. You are in luck because my How to Stage a Living Room course is now available online! Listen up to hear what you will learn. Mentioned in this episode: https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/living-room-course

You know how you get into a habit or routine and you get comfortable with it? It makes you feel like you accomplished something or it’s just a natural part of your day. But then, something drastic changes and you get thrown off your routine. You feel off-center and out of control. I want to share what threw me lately, how it affects my business, and how staging and moving can throw off your routine but I can bring you right back on track. Mentioned in this episode: How to stage a living room course coming soon! Home Staging services https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/services-2/ Moving checklists https://willowbrookprintable.etsy.com/listing/1611526515/moving-checklist-planner-printable Other checklists can be found at www.willowbrookprintable.etsy.com

I recently sent two potential clients to my competitor. Yes, that’s right, I did. But why, do you ask? Because as a business I have grown and learned so much about myself as a home stager. Let me share why I did it, how it makes my business stronger, and what you can learn from it as well. Mentioned in this episode: Podcast episode #261 Pros and Cons of Virtual Staging Staging Snapshot https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/staging-snapshot/ Whole home staging consult https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/services-2/ My website www.bluediamondstaginganddesign.com

My husband loves to watch “Cole the Cornstar” on YouTube but it’s not what you think. Cole is a young farmer who explains his weekly issues on the farm and all the equipment and barns he has on his 1700 acres of farmland. He talks about the 20 minutes he tackles each day to take care of those ankle-biter tasks that just don’t get done. But if YOU take 20 minutes each day, you will soon check off those honey-do list items quickly. So what can you do in 20 minutes? Mentioned in this episode: Cole the CornStar https://www.youtube.com/@ColeTheCornstar Weekly Meal Planner and Moving Checklists www.etsy.com/shop/Willowbrookprintable

If you are a cat lover and have these plants in your home, you will want to consider swapping them out with cat-safe plants. In this week's episode, I share cat-safe plants and plants that are poisonous to cats thanks to my friend, Chelsea, who owns a plant shop. Mentioned in this episode: Follow Chelsea at Rhizome House Plants on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RhizomeHouseplants Blog post with plant names https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/home-decor/these-plants-can-be-deadly-to-cats/

As part of the new year cleanup, my pantry has gotten out of hand lately. I have a walk-in pantry that is 8 feet deep and 4 feet across so there is LOTS of space to store/hide things. And that’s when we get into trouble with losing things that you didn’t realize are still in there. This past week I worked on cleaning out my pantry and I want to give you some tips and tricks I used during this pantry cleanout and challenge you to a Pantry clean out challenge. Mentioned in this episode: How to organize a pantry (BHG) https://www.bhg.com/kitchen/storage/pantry/organize-your-pantry-by-zones/ Weekly meal planner www.etsy.com/willowbrookprintable DM me on IG with ZONING, TOSSING, DONATING @bluediamondstaginganddesign

Happy New Year! With a new year, there are always new things we want to tackle. And for homeowners there are things that you can stop doing when it comes time to sell your home. Now I wanted to tell you to stop doing this one thing...but I can’t stop with just one…so I will share at least two things to stop doing. Mentioned in this episode: How to decorate your walls like an adult www.bit.ly/decoratewalls 4 best living room wall colors www.bit.ly/4wallcolors Blue Diamond Staging & Design website www.bluediamondstaginganddesign.com

Is this going to be the last Christmas in your home? Are you selling it next year? Home selling can be stressful but you don’t have to do it alone. When your house is staged and looks move-in ready, buyers will flock to your open house to make an offer so you can move into your next house. Let me share how we can work together to make this process easy on you. Mentioned in this episode: Advent Calendar of 24 home staging tips https://spoti.fi/47SFE26 Home Staging Do's and Don'ts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pre-home staging playlist for those who have never staged their home before  ⁠The Pre-Home Staging playlist Staging Starter Kit www.bit.ly/stagingstarterkit 2 hour consultation www.bluediamondstaginganddesign.com Moving Checklist www.etsy.com/willowbrookprintable

Enjoy time with family or friends with a winter bucket list. That’s not to say this will be your last winter, but it’s good to have a list of ideas of what you want to do during the holiday season. Do you want to go snow tubing? Maybe listen to live Christmas music? Then make a list and get out there! Here are some ideas to get the creative thinking juices going for winter activity ideas. Mentioned in this episode: My etsy shop, WillowBrookPrintable www.etsy.com/willowbrookprintable

A stocking is one of the most recognized symbols for Christmas. Did you know the tradition of hanging stockings started with a nobleman named Nicholas in the third century? However, back then houses had fireplaces because that was the only source of heat for the house! Nowadays, not all houses have a fireplace. What do you do if you don’t have a fireplace or a mantel? Let me share 5 unique places you can hang your stocking if you don't have a mantel this year. Mentioned in this episode: My etsy shop, WillowBrookPrintable www.etsy.com/willowbrookprintable

Fall is my favorite time of year but that also means we need to do some chores around the house to keep it humming smoothly. That’s why I want to share a few household maintenance tips that you should do this time of year.

Home for the holidays but your home isn’t quite up to its potential with your home decor? And you have guests coming over? Maybe it’s time to up your decor game and add a few finishing touches to make your home a bit homey and “adult” like. That’s why I created a home decor gift guide that you can add to your Christmas list (or buy now) as you get your home ready for the holidays. Mentioned in this episode: Home Decor Gift Guide https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/home-decor/holiday-home-decor-gift-guide/