Whether you need to freshen up your home for resale or revitalize your existing surroundings there are numerous cost-effective ways to get a new look for a new year. Over the next few weeks I’ll be addressing some of these techniques starting with painting and rearranging your furniture plan and following up with tips on window treatments, artwork consultations and much more.
While all of these techniques can be accomplished on your own, I always advise people to hire a designer even for these simple projects. Too often homeowners put time, money and energy into fluffing their homes on their own only to find that the end result is unsatisfactory. To get the desired result, let a designer lead you through 
the process so that you spend your money once and you spend it well. Most designers also have relationships with skilled contractors and can coordinate projects for you so that you can go about your daily life.
– A New Palette for a New Perspective
Paint is the easiest way to change the personality of a room whether you are staying in the home or getting it ready to sell down the road. Paint will also have the most immediate visual effect. A new wall color can work wonders when integrated correctly with the style and colors of surrounding furnishings. But don’t overlook doors and trim, especially at eye level. Doors and door trim are the first surfaces to show age and grime due to daily repeated use.
A relatively inexpensive investment, hiring a designer to help select your wall/trim color palette and appropriate paint finish can reduce frustration and save money in the end. Designers work daily with a broader palette than the average homeowner and may have a fresh suggestion that you would never have considered on your own. Many people don’t realize the scientific element involved in the selection of color. It has been proven that color elicits a very physical response in the people who are living, working, and learning within a space. For instance, we all associate pink with soothing, sweet rooms for little girls. Did you know that studies show that a pink room will instantly relax the person who enters the space? Unfortunately in 30 minutes, the person becomes irritable, fidgety and anxious in that same pink space?
Let a professional evaluate ways to make your space more functional and aesthetically pleasing through the appropriate use of color.
– Rearrange to Revitalize
Rearranging furniture, accessories or artwork can create a whole new dynamic, traffic pattern and lifestyle. When preparing to rearrange, first take a good look at the way your family uses a particular space. Do you spend your time watching tv in a relaxed setting? Do you need extra space for children to play or do crafts? Or do you use the space for more formal entertainment? Often you’ll find that living spaces must serve a multitude of functions.
Notice the direction and placement of light fixtures and glare from windows. A television screen that takes a direct hit from sunlight will be ineffective and can cause eye strain and irritability. Relaxing in your favorite club chair will be somewhat less enjoyable if light fixtures shoot a beam of light directly into your eyes. And an evening with a good novel is fruitless without appropriate task lighting.
Pay close attention to walkways and make sure you have plenty of space for movement around tables and seating elements. Furniture placement should enhance rather than hinder your lifestyle.
Let’s face it. Most people don’t have the time, energy or vision to know how to best plan the placement of furniture elements within a room. It can be trial and error and it’s not always easy to move large pieces of furniture several times until you find the placement that works for your lifestyle. Done incorrectly a room can feel crowded, chaotic, messy or cold.
Hiring a professional designer in this instance is another cost effective method of achieving the end result that will work best for you. A designer will take measurements of your room and furnishings and sit down with paper and pencil and sketch out options until the desired result is achieved. Your designer works closely with bonded, insured warehouse personnel and can arrange to have your furnishings placed according to an approved layout and it’s done right the first time!
If you are considering putting your house on the market, this is a great route to take. Competition’s tough and you need to present your home in it’s most attractive light.
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