Real Estate Blog - Decorating & Design

Home Staging: Furniture

Nothing quite fills up our homes faster than furniture. A couch here, dresser there, bookshelf in the corner, coffee table by the TV… it all adds up very quickly. The reality is some things, like a bed and a couch, are essentials in any home. However, they also eat up precious space and can make rooms seem small and cluttered.

This becomes an important issue when you try to sell your home. So, what is one to do?

We have two words for you: clever staging. The reality is furniture can be hard to work around. However, by trying some of these tips you can eliminate as many negative side effects as possible. Read on to learn more.

Use your walls. If you can have big pieces of furniture, such as couches and beds, up against a wall instead of…

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Maximizing Outdoor Spaces

One of the most attractive features of a new property can be the outdoor space included. Here in Calgary, many properties include nice outdoor living spaces compared to other cities where homes are lucky to have a strip of grass in front of the door. With this space, Calgarians get creative. If you search the city, you can find people who have created elaborate garden oasis’ in their backyard, or crafted mini hockey rinks during the winter. While these features are fun, they aren’t always the best example of maximizing the space.

Outdoor living spaces are something to be treasured and taken care of. In fact, here in Calgary we have bylaws about maintaing this part of the property. Part of taking care of your outdoor living space is properly…

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Organizing Your Office Space

Working from home was essential as businesses shut their doors to the public following strict quarantine rules. For some, working from home was the dream scenario. Who doesn't love working with their pet at their side and their favorite tv show playing in the background? For others, working from home became a nightmare. Enter scenes of kids yelling and coffee spilling on the laptop keyboard.

This work from home movement meant many spare rooms became overnight office spaces. Even though some businesses are reopening their doors and calling their employees back into cubicles, some are continuing to ask employees to work from home for the time being. Whichever office space you fall into, we thought it was time for some office organization tips. 

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Lighting Tips

Many indoor lighting options are not only expensive, but fail to properly fill your home with an appropriate, comfortable amount of light. Here are some of our best tips for tackling this problem:

Maximize all natural light potentials. Make sure your windows stay clean and clear of snow and dirt. This will allow the most natural light to come seeping in whenever possible. Open up your blinds and move things away from windows that will cast an obtrusive shadow.

Purchase quality, environmentally friendly lightbulbs for all indoor and outdoor lighting. Using an LED light not only gives you more brightness, but it will save you an incredible amount of money in the long run. Go to your local hardware store and assess your options. Remember that…

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Holiday Decorating Trends in 2020

With American Thanksgiving over, the Christmas holidays are officially in full swing!

This year Christmas is going to be different as families are modifying their plans in the wake of new COVID-19 restrictions. Even though some of our traditions may no longer be feasible, like large family dinners or sitting on Santa's lap, one tradition that stands the test of 2020 is decorating for the holidays. As we settle in for a new round of quarantine here in Alberta following a state of public health emergency being declared, it's becoming more appealing than ever to decorate our homes. If there is one thing we all need right now, it is holiday cheer and coziness.

There are consistent holiday decorating staples, such as a Christmas tree and stockings…

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Back To School: Keeping Your Home Organized

Back to school is right around the corner! The commercials are on TV, people are flooding Staples and Walmart for supplies, schools everywhere are dusting off their desks and students are trying desperately to soak in every stray moment of summer. With back to school time comes a new dedication to keeping things organized, especially the house. Here are some creative DIY additions that will make back to school easier on your home.

1). Front Entryway Locker Room: Transform your front entry into a mock-locker room by installing little stalls with space for yourself and each of your kids. Put a shelf up for winter hats and gloves, a coat hanger for jackets and backpacks, and a basket for miscellaneous items. This will prevent everything from getting…

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The Summertime Purge

Summer is the perfect time for reorganizing and decluttering your home. We like to call this two pronged approach The Summertime Purge. Not only will this help you mentally and emotionally, because a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind, but it will also help your home! With less clutter your home becomes less hazardous to occupants and less likely to be damaged. 

There are a lot of experts out there claiming to be the voice of wisdom when it comes to purging your home and doing so well. However, it is important to have a nuanced approach when doing so. In this blog we're going to take the practices of three home organization and decluttering experts, and show you how when joined all together they can help you navigate this process…

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Most Desirable Home Features

When it comes to finding a new home, most buyers put together a wish list. This wish list has two sections: need to have and want to have. For example, for some people a pool in the backyard is a need to have. For others, it would only be a want to have. Different buyers have different needs. These needs are based on preference and what is required for each buyer’s particular lifestyle.

Some people are extremely picky when it comes to what they want out of a new home. Others are more relaxed. Either way, there are a number of home features that can make a property more desirable to potential buyers. The list below is not universal; like we said, everyone is different and will want and need different things out of their home. However, this list is a…

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Spring Decorating Trends

One of the most fun parts of owning a home is decorating it and getting to make it your own. Even the smallest change in visuals can liven up your home and make everything feel fresh and new, which is something we could all use these days as we're quarantined at home. If you’re looking for some inspiration on what to do for your next home decorating project, look no further! We’ve got you covered.

This spring, decorating trends are all about vibrantly neutral colors that are in style, but will remain classics. Gold, modern calligraphy and strong lines are predominant among many designs, along with feux-rustic accent pieces. Here are some trends in colors, fabrics, furniture and art.

Color: The colors trending right now are vibrant neutrals.…

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Maximizing Small Home Spaces

Tiny houses are all the rage right now, with people living in little spaces no bigger than the bed of a pick up truck. To save money many people are turning to smaller and smaller properties to live small while they pay of student loans, save up for a new vehicle, put extra money towards their retirement fund, etc. While many people cannot imagine living that way, most who do swear by it.

Living small has a lot of benefits, but you have to do it effectively or it will feel like you’re living in a hoarders closet. You don’t want to feel claustrophobic. So, if you are living in a small space, how can you maximize it to contain everything you need but still feel spacious?

1). Be frugal. Do you need five mixing bowls? No you don’t. Only keep the…

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