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10 Money Saving Ideas to Makeover your Home in 2010!

By
Home Stager with Hart & Associates Staging and Design

Are you looking for money saving design ideas to use in your decorating or home staging projects? If so, check out my latest tips for easy, budget friendly ways you can give your home a new look this year.

DECORATING SENSE FOR A NEW DECADE: 

10 TRENDS & MONEY-SAVING DESIGN TIPS TO GET THE DESIGNER LOOK FOR LESS

  

CHARLOTTE, NC (January 2010)- Staying up on trends can be expensive, but with some affordable finds and budget décor tips you can get the latest looks for your home for less.  Expert home stager and designer Kate Hartgives us her top ten trends for 2010 - and tips to affordably update your home for a whole new decade.  

  "Many of the trends in 2010 reflect the mood of today's consumers," says Hart.  "Homeowners are looking to brighten their space and their mind set, stretch their decorating dollars and make the most of the home they have." 

Here's what Kate highlights as trends and tips to take us through the new year in style:

•1.       REFURBISHED FURNISHINGS - Reclaim and restore what is old and make new again.  Tip:  Reduce, reuse and recycle are décor terms today so reupholster that  old chair, add a MirrorMate® frame to your bare mirror instead of replacing it and repaint a flea market-find dresser as opposed to buying new. 

•2.       CALMING, UPLIFTING COLORS - Create a cheery retreat with cool colors & lighter wood tones. Tip:  Use turquoise, the Pantone color of 2010, as a bold accent when paired with neutrals like black and white or use it with gray or mint green for a more subtle effect.  Replace or refinish dark woods with lighter shades of honey or a driftwood-inspired finish for a brighter, more up-to-date look.

•3.       MIRRORS & METALS - Brighten, lighten and add pop to a room with the shimmer and shine of mirrors and metals .  Tip:  Group three or more Pizzazz MirrorSquares (less than $20 each!) in Charlotte Silver Leaf behind a couch or along a wall, add a mirrored chest to a room or silver candlesticks to a mantle.  Shiny silver, brushed nickel, antique or oil-rubbed bronze remain popular metal finishes. 

•4.       MULTI-PURPOSE SPACES -Turn unused spaces into something new and useful.  Tip:  The space at the top of the stairs, the living room you never sit in, or guest room used twice a year, can do double duty as a home office, den or playroom by adding an armoire-style desk, pull out sofa bed or toy storage. 

•5.       BOLD, GRAPHIC PATTERNS - Replace timid designs with large scale patterns in one or two colors.  Tip: To perk up your living room consider recovering a chair in a new, fun print or simply add some toss  pillows to a neutral sofa in exotic patterns like bamboo or natural motifs such as asters or birds.

•6.       MIX & MATCH PIECES - Mix it up by breaking up matching sets of furniture, adding in new and unexpected pieces.  Tip:   Instead of buying a new dining room set, add new chairs to the table you already have or consider hosting a furniture swap with your friends to exchange unwanted piece.  You'll get a whole new look -for free!

•7.       NATURAL ELEMENTS -Bring the outside in and "green" your home with eco-friendly materials like bamboo and cork. Tip:  A sisal or jute area rug is an affordable way to embrace this look without adding new flooring to your room.  Add some recycled glass candle sticks or organic cotton pillows to complete the space.

•8.       LESS SHABBY, MORE CHIC - Forget the flowers and ruffles, things are looking more tailored in 2010. Tip:  Think fitted bed skirts, drapes that don't drag and throws that are neatly placed- not draped.

•9.       HOTEL DÉCOR - Bring the look and feel of the hotel home to enjoy during "staycations" and all year long.  Tip:  The bathroom and bedroom are the perfect place to start, adding furnishings with clean lines, plush white towels and a spa-like color palate. 

•10.   DIY DECORATING - Tackle those do-it-yourself projects and save money in the process. Tip:  Pick up the paint brush to refresh your wall color, break out the sewing machine to de-puddle those droopy drapes and resist the urge to spurge on new items like a mirror for your powder room.  Reframe the one you have instead with a MirrorMateframe in eco-friendly Pacifica Silver Sheen or Acadia Dove White.

"Trend number 10 is the most inspiring of all because by doing-it-yourself, almost all of these trends and tips can be achieved with little to no expense," concludes Hart.  "So many of today's trends allow you to use what you (or your friends) have, simply re-arranging or adding to it with affordable accents."

About Kate Hart

Kate Hart is a pioneer in the home staging field, having helped hundreds of families and realtors prepare homes for sale through her Philadelphia-area company, Hart & Associates Staging & Design.  Her design work and expert advice has been featured in numerous books, magazines and broadcast outlets ranging from Fine Living and CNN to Everyday with Rachael Ray and HGTV.com.  Hart was recently recognized by the Real Estate Staging Association as "Staging Professional of the Year," the industry's most prestigious award.  Kate serves as national spokesperson for the MirrorMate brand and is known for her on-trend, budget-friendly design advice.  For more on Kate Hart visit www.hartstaging.com.

Comments (21)

Richard Strahm
American Foursquare Realty - Lansdale, PA
Lansdale and North Penn Real Estate

Thanks for posting that!  Something I want to put in front of a few of my sellers!

Feb 19, 2010 11:21 PM
Kate Hart
Hart & Associates Staging and Design - Radnor, PA

Thanks Deb, feel free to reblog or share with clients too. KH

Feb 19, 2010 11:22 PM
Kate Hart
Hart & Associates Staging and Design - Radnor, PA

Richard, if you have sellers with "builder's grade" bathrooms, MirrorMate frames are the most affordable way to give them a more custom look. I have homes that are 12 years old that have to compete with new construction and their bathrooms look better because they updated their mirror frames, added some new hardware and faucets. The bathroom is one area where you have to add the bling!

Feb 19, 2010 11:24 PM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

Now I am curious are there two identical sinks in that bath? What is in that mirror image but another sink?

Feb 19, 2010 11:26 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

I like the yellow on this bathroom. . it is exactly as I have them painted on my house. . great post!

Feb 19, 2010 11:27 PM
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

These are great tips since many people are remodeling their current home during this economic crisis.

Feb 19, 2010 11:29 PM
Debbie Cullen
REMAX Realty Team-Cape Coral, FL - Cape Coral, FL
Your Cape Coral, FL Specialist

Thanks Kate! what a great blog.  A lot of people are staying in their homes....time to fix them up

Feb 19, 2010 11:29 PM
Anthony Stokes-Pereira
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Nanuet, NY
Realtor

Hi Deb;

Putting up some shelves, paint a few walls, hang some pictures can make a big difference.

Feb 19, 2010 11:29 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Kate, this is good information to put in a listing package. Thanks for the tips.

Feb 19, 2010 11:35 PM
Kate Hart
Hart & Associates Staging and Design - Radnor, PA

I love that color too!

Yes, those are two mirrors- there are two identical sinks and mirrors across from each other. Makes a really cool picture!

I have found that a lot of home owners are staying place and redecorating or doing small renovations. These ideas are helpful for them as well as your home buyers that are looking to update the homes they are purchasing and of course your home sellers that are staging!

Feb 19, 2010 11:38 PM
Connie King
Sevierville, TN

The bathroom above is just awesome.    The 10 tips are all right on and so very timely.   Lots of sellers trying to move their homes need to buy into the fact that staging and creativity does not  have to be expensive.

Feb 19, 2010 11:55 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Awesome advice!  So many people are looking to re do today to save money and you have given them just what they need to tackle their home improvement projects!

Feb 20, 2010 12:26 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Kate....GREAT list.  Seems so simple when you put these into a list!!

Feb 20, 2010 01:38 AM
Sandi Gerrard
Toronto, ON

Great tips - thanks for sharing.  I'm all for re-using, re-freshing and re-newing old pieces.  That's the basis of what REDESIGN is all about. 

Feb 20, 2010 01:55 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Kate, these are great "stylish" yet "thrifty" ideas.  A very good compilation, and eco-friendly, too.

Feb 20, 2010 04:45 AM
Virginia Tatseos
Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

very good suggestions.

Thanks for posting them

Feb 23, 2010 08:23 AM
Lori Cofer
Beasley Realty - Moscow, ID
REALTOR, Moscow Idaho Real Estate

Kate,

 

I came across this post that you wrote a few months ago, but I'd still like thank you for these great tips. 

 

Lori

May 28, 2010 06:20 AM
Jeff Wilmoth
Barrett Financial Group, LLC - Senoia, GA
If you need a mortgage, call us! 404-597-5662.

Excellent ideas!! Thanks for sharing Kate!

Jun 06, 2010 08:33 AM
Jo Potvin
Design To Market LLC - Cincinnati, OH
Home Staging Cincinnati - Design To Market

Great tips.  I especially like the Hotel Decor concept.

Aug 15, 2010 01:09 AM
Wendy Tomm
Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB
CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors
Kate very great advice and something to keep on hand.
Sep 10, 2011 04:29 AM