Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Before selling, it’s always good to give your house a good refresh. But in choosing which looks you are going to emulate, you should make sure you don’t end up decorating your house in a way that looks dated before you’ve even finished. Here’s our prediction for a few good design choices that will last through the year:
Everything old is new
Now that the credit crunch is quickly receding into the past, and we are starting to see the economy start up again, you might be tempted to go crazy with new pieces. But one of the wisest choices is to buy vintage and fix it up. You know it will probably last, after all, it’s lasted this long. And for the environmentally friendly, it is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint while you shop.
And if you just need the latest product, why not try re-purposed furniture? There are many local shops that can help you out, or you can build your own. The site Recyclart.org can give you some great ideas.
The new neutral is grey
It sounds boring, but grey is hot. Grey is a very versatile colour. It gives a clean, modern edge which can help an old house look tidy. And if you feel that grey is too cold, there are many variations on grey that have undertones of warmer browns or beiges.
It’s also not just for walls anymore. Some designers are using it for furniture and kitchen cabinets. Grey can really pop with some brighter accents, making it a perfect compliment for an already colourful room.
Comfy isn’t hard
Get rid of those linens and hard cottons. The fabric trend for 2010 is for overexuberant and playful fabrics with a very soft texture: think of chenille or velvet, or lots of plush throw pillows. The economy is hopefully getting better, but we still need something to comfort us in this time of uncertainty. A comfy home is also an inviting home for a potential buyer.
Go international
Try to throw in some international pieces in your house. It will add interest, and help soften the lines of anything too modern, such as your new plasma-screen TV. But don’t get too hung up on a particular region or add too much – you don’t want your house to look like it’s imitating an exporter’s warehouse. A few key pieces like an Egyptian mother-of-pearl storage box or an Indian desk will be just enough.
Patterns keep you interested
Schumacher Chenonceau Cushion from etsy.com
If you are using a lot of greys and neutral colours, a great way to invest some verve and excitement into your room is to use patterned textiles. The last few years have seen a lot of patterns, particularly animals and nature motifs, modernist abstractions such as shapes, and more fun, pop culture-esque patterns.
Pillows and rugs can be a great way to add some of these patterns. For instance, Persian rugs are a timeless piece that can add warmth to a room. And if you are looking for pillow textiles, etsy.com is a fantastic choice for hand-made original pieces, like these bird motif pillows.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
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