Real Estate Blog - Decorating & Design

Fall Back in Love With Your Home With Simple Upgrades

After living in a space for a long time, it can feel stale. You get used to the same old furniture, layout, and seasonal decorations. Just like relationships, it’s important to spice it up every so often! Before you jump to “I need a new house,” it might be worth asking a different question: what small changes could make this home feel exciting again?

You don’t need a major renovation with a massive budget to fall back in love with your home. Instead, try some of the following simple updates to refresh your space:

1. Paint: Paint is one of the most affordable ways to transform a space, and the emotional payoff is huge. Consider warm whites or soft neutrals to brighten winter-dark rooms, and a subtle accent wall for depth and personality. Even…

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Christmas Lights Safety

Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year in Calgary, Alberta, in part because of all the Christmas lights. Whether you are a vintage colourful lights person, or a modern white lights person, so many people adorn their homes and trees with twinkly bulbs. While this makes the season feel extra warm and cheery, Christmas lights do carry some risk. 

Here are some tips for Christmas light safety, so that you can enjoy all of the magic and none of the risk:

• Check your strings of lights for any broken or missing bulbs. CNET writes, "replace any missing or broken bulbs before you string up your porch or tree because they could lead to electrocution, fires or injuries. Most lights come with replacement bulbs, but you can also buy a pack at your…

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Old-Fashioned Christmas Craft Ideas

This holiday season we are in pursuit of an old-fashioned Christmas.  Be gone days of ipads and gizmos! Instead let us embrace simplicity and handmade charm. An old-fashioned Christmas is a great way to bring the whole family back down to earth, where the focus can be on what really matters: time spent together, making little moments magical. 

To set the stage, here are some old-fashioned Christmas crafts to try out this season:

• Edible Garland: Gather a collection of apples, oranges, cranberries, popcorn, and cinnamon sticks. Cut the apples and oranges as thin as possible, then lay them out on parchment with the whole cranberries and bake them at a low temperature until the fruit dries out. Pop the popcorn, skipping any butter or seasoning.…

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Holiday Decorating While Selling

One of the most important things you can do when selling your home is to stage it properly. Staging is the art of presenting your home in its best possible light. When staging your home, the goal is to make buyers come away from their visit able to envision themselves living there. It needs to be clean, bright, and clutter-free.

And what about during the holidays? What if you want to decorate for Halloween, or put up the Christmas lights?

When it comes to staging your home for sale during the holidays, we have one word for you: minimalism. Minimalism is all about ensuring every object has a function or a purpose. This does not mean your home has to be empty; it simply means it must be intentional. You can still enjoy the décor of the holidays…

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Western Inspired Home Decor

Whether you are a genuine mud-kickin' cowboy, or a cowboy at heart, a western aesthetic will make your home feel like a haven. Even outside of Alberta, western styles are having a big moment in fashion and home decor. Simple patterns, mixed textiles, and moody neutrals are in.

While some are leaning right into their cowboy boot roots, others are embracing mindful touches that remain classic no matter what is in fashion. If this is you, here are some home design and decor tips to bring the wild west to your sweet abode:

First, find a color palette that suits your style, with a western flair. Try dusty tones of blue, pink, and green, rich burgundies, rusty browns, and antique brass. If you search for colour palette recommendations on Pinterest, it…

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Bee-Friendly Gardening in Calgary

Creating a bee-friendly garden in Calgary is a rewarding way to support local pollinators while enhancing your outdoor space. Plus, did you know we're considered the official Bee City?

The City of Calgary writes, "Calgary is an official Bee City and designated as a Bird Friendly City. The City of Calgary is committed to providing habitat and resources for wildlife by incorporating native plants into our parks and greenspaces. Calgary is a mecca for native bees and 199 different types of bees have been documented in our city. Calgary may contain more kinds of bumble bees than any other city in North America, three of which are endangered species. Climate change, disease, pesticide use and habitat loss have all contributed to the decline of…

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The Best House Plants

Did you know that greenery is good for your mental health?

Jamie Keaton Jones, LICSW, PhD, says, "plants and exposure to greenery have been found to have multiple mental health benefits, such as lowering stress, decreasing feelings of depression, increasing sociability, restoring focus, improving cognitive performance, improving mood, and increasing self-esteem" (The Healthy). 

While it is too early to start digging in the garden, house plants provide an excellent alternative for people looking to enjoy greenery in the colder months. Here are some of the top houseplants that are easy to maintain and will benefit your mental health:

Philodendron Plant: "Philodendron plants, known for being low-maintenance, can thrive indoors if given the…

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Guest Room Hospitality

Hospitality is such a gift. Those who do it well have the ability to make people feel safe, loved, and relaxed. If you have a guest room that often hosts people, this is a great opportunity to practice hospitality. Little details can go a long way and are sure to make your home the standard to which all others are compared. Here are some tips to make your guest room shine:

1. Invest in Décor: Do not simply shove a spare mattress in the room and call it a day. Take the time to thoughtfully curate a warm and welcoming environment. Paint it a nice neutral color, invest in a simple bedframe and mattress, get linens that are just for that bed, and make sure there is warm lighting available besides the overhead light. You do not need to do anything…

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Romantic Home Features You’ll Love

It is the season love, and we love living in Calgary! Even though February can be the coldest month of the year, Calgary homeowners still find ways to keep the romance alive. After all, when you make your home a sanctuary of peace and love, the most romantic night out can be one at home. In the spirit of the month of love, here are some romantic home features that you’ll adore:

1. Fireplaces: Fireplaces are a home run when it comes to adding atmosphere. The crackling wood, glimmering light, and warmth all make a space feel incredibly cozy and safe. Whether you have a real fireplace or a faux one, make the most of it on a relaxing night in.
2. Textiles: Even the coldest, bleakest places can have warmth and love added to them with a simple throw…

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How to Create a Warm and Inviting Home Office for Fall

As the crisp autumn air settles in and the days get shorter, creating a warm and inviting home office can make all the difference in how productive and comfortable you feel. Whether you’re working from home full-time or need a cozy spot to tackle tasks, transforming your office for fall can boost your mood and efficiency. Here are some tips to help you design a space that’s both functional and seasonally inspired.

1. Indulge in Cozy Textures: The change in season calls for layers and warmth. Bring this feeling into your office with cozy textures like chunky knit throws, velvet cushions, and soft rugs. Adding a plush area rug under your desk can help keep your feet warm on colder mornings, while cushions on your chair add comfort during long work…

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