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  STAGE PRESENCE INC. - Professional, certified home stager, skilled at home staging and interior styling
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Fun Facts & Favourite Things...

This Blog is all about my years of experience in the Staging and Styling Industry, offering tips and tricks to beautify your home.
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    Mom, wife, friend, stager, designer, entrepreneur, lover of animals and music, admirer of all things beautiful, inside and out.

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~NEW POST ~ How to Stage your house for the Spring Market

2/16/2023

 
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As I look out my garden doors, I see snow, still... but I also see patches of green, YES! This means spring is just around the corner, which also means  Spring Market is near if you're looking to sell your house.  After a long winter, staging your house  may feel like a daunting task, but with a few quick tips and tricks, you can DIY more painlessly than you might think. 
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In a nutshell,  start by decluttering and deep cleaning, which you probably already knew. Make sure to get rid of any items that you don't need (donation time) and give your house a good once over. Next, focus on making small improvements and repairs.

​Consider painting walls and cabinets a fresh coat of neutral, but don't bite off more than you can chew, maybe if time is of the essence, settle for a good scrub and spot refresh instead.  
Replacing light fixtures from the builder basic to an upgraded look can be an affordable way to elevate the appeal.  Larger renovations can take time and money and may not be necessary.  Before taking on such a task, consider if the R.O.I. is worthwhile, you can always defer to your realtor or certified stager for expert advice.  

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How to Transition from Winter to Spring 


​After all the grunt work is complete, it's time for the fun stuff...adding in all the inviting touches for the new season.  Start by bringing in some lighter colors and fabrics to your home, such as soft neutrals and pastels, also add texture and pattern.  Consider changing out your winterthrows for lighter, breathable fabrics like cottons and linens. Fresh towels, shower curtains andbedding will all create that fresh hotel vibe buyer's love to see. ​Bring in some potted plants, like blooming flowers and succulents, to give your space a fresh and vibrant feel. If you have heavier curtains, swap them out for some sheers that will let more light in and give your room a brighter atmosphere.   ​
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Keep in mind, investing in these home decor pieces now, serves double duty, 1- staging your home for amazing presentation and 2- fresh items to bring with you to your new home.
It's a win-win!

TIP- If you love pillows like I do, then shopping for new ones is a treat. However another option is to look for just the COVERS  to go over your existing throw pillows...can save you money and storage space.
How to make your house smell nice after winter​ 

​Making your house smell nice after winter can be tricky, especially if you live with boys like I do! Depending on the size of your home and the weather, there are several steps you can take to freshen up the air. First, open all your windows and doors to let in some fresh air.  I usually advise against  adding smelly candles, artificial scented plug ins and sprays to the air, however  essential oil diffusers can add a pleasant scent to your house, without overdoing it. Replace the heavy winter scents like cinnamon and spice with lighter, more natural fragrances such as lavender and rose.You can also use baking soda to help absorb odours or use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove dust, dirt, and other particles from the air. Finally, you can use air purifiers to circulate clean air and help prevent odors from developing. I personally have this Blueair Bedroom Air Purifier, I move it to different rooms and spaces in the house when needed, it's cool looking and quiet. 
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5 tips at a glance for spring staging
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  1. Use lighter colors and fabrics to create a fresh, stylish spring atmosphere – Add netrauls, soft pastels, textures and layers.
  2. Take advantage of natural light – Days are getting a little longer.  Open up the curtains and blinds to let in as much natural light as possible. This will help the home feel brighter and more spacious
  3. Create a great first impression - Make sure the entryway and front porch look inviting. Remove winter and holiday planters and decor, change out welcome mat if it's looking a little worn
  4. Clean and declutter - Remove any unused and extra items, dated furniture, and anything else that makes the house look cluttered. A clean, organized space will make the house look more appealing.
  5. Bring the outdoors in - use plants such as tropicals and succulents in decorative planter pots and baskets. This will help create a fresh and comforting atmosphere.
Not sure what to buy and where? Check out Shop-my-Looks for affordable shopping inspiration for all your staging needs.  I've curated easy to shop groupings that make it simple and fast to get the things you need to stage and style your home. Always adding new "done for you" looks so check back often.
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Have fun and good luck this spring market!
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How to Stage a Bathroom for Better Showings

2/10/2023

 
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​​Why should you stage a bathroom?

​Staging a bathroom can make it much more inviting and appealing to potential buyers, and it doesn't have to cost a lot to achieve.  You want to create a feeling of luxury and comfort in the space, while also giving off the impression that it's well taken care of. Additionally, staging a bathroom can help to make it look larger, and photograph well. Dedicating a little time, effort and maybe a small budget to this space will increase your home's value, and who doesn't want more money in their pocket?

The Goal 

The goal is to lighten, brighten and neutralize the space.  Ideally a fresh coat of neutral paint will assist with this along with all the other tips to come.  However if your bathroom walls, or maybe your counter top or tiles are currently a brighter or dominate  colour, and you don't have the time or budget to roll on a fresh coat of neutral, then add white everything ( shower curtain, towels, artwork, etc.) to tone down the the other non-neutral colour.  

​​How to stage a bathroom

​​Staging a bathroom is a great way to improve the look and feel of the space. Here are some tips to get you started:

    Do the free stuff first

  • Clear the clutter. Remove any items that don’t belong in the bathroom. This includes anything that’s out of place, such as toiletries, extra cleaning supplies, and toys
  • also remove toilet brushes, plungers and large baskets or bins out in the open
  • Reorganize your storage. If you have clutter in your cabinets, thin it out it to make the bathroom look more organized.
  • Give it a good cleaning. Make sure you scrub the walls, floors, and fixtures to make them sparkle.
  • empty your shower/tub out 100%, that includes shampoo bottles and used soap bars and well used non slip mats
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​    ​Now add in a few spa-like touches

  • add a fresh or life-like orchid or simple greenery in a nice pot or place a  scented candle in the corner
  • add a few fresh decorative towels to liven up the space.
  • swap out the shower curtain for a fresh neutral one, and don't forget to freshen up the liner too
  • is your metal shower bar rusty? replace that too
  • ​Update your fixtures. Swap out your old fixtures for newer, more modern ones. This can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of the bathroom.
  • replace soap bars and plastic pumps with a stylish soap dispenser.​
Following these tips will help you stage your bathroom and create a more inviting space for the potential buyer to fall in love with. Good luck!


Shop these staging essentials that can help you prepare a better bathroom for showings. Click photos to link

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Extra Long shower curtains....who knew?

2/6/2023

 

Do shower curtains come extra long?

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78" from Amazon.ca

​So probably not a topic you'd think to explore, but I was recently at a design clients house, and one of the requests was to replace the existing shower curtain.  The bathroom was thoughtfully renovated and had a casual yet stylish vibe of black and white, with geometric black shower tiles and shiplap walls. 
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The existing shower curtain was your basic waffle design, and when it was was new probably blended nicely, but now yellowed and worn, it was time for a new one.  I also noticed, that the standard 72" long shower curtain looked extra short in this particular bathroom, so my first thought was to find a simple, upscale design, but it needed to be longer.  I've been decorating for over 20 years, but I have to say that this may be the first time I needed to look for something outside the standard length of 72 inches.

When to use an extra long shower curtain 

You'll need a long or extra long shower curtain, when you want to mount your rod above the standard 75-77" from the floor, a standard curtain size is 72"x72". ​I recommend this because in general, the curtain won't look quite right aesthetically, plus the curtain won't be long enough to prevent any excess water from leaking and splashing out. Believe me, with 3 boys, I've had my fair share of water damaged baseboards. But don't let your curtain touch the floor either, try to leave about 2" to avoid absorbing any extra moisture.

​Check out the shower curtain I found below,  comes in a variety of sizes and colours.

Where to find extra long shower curtains

After a quick search, I did find  an option at West Elm, but essentially they only offered one style which was the waffle style I was replacing.   I totally gapped  looking at Amazon at first, and sure enough, plenty of options came up for style, availability and price point!   

I chose this black and white 84" long fabric curtain.   I'm working with black hexagon shower tiles, which  will make the perfect backdrop for the simple white portion of the curtain. The black stripe bottom, which works with the hex pattern and not against, will balance out the white tub backdrop. It's a perfect match

    Why I favour this shower curtain
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  • fabric feel
  • heavy weight and durable fabric
  • waterproof
  • fabric drapes well
  • weighted hem no need for a liner
  • simple yet stylish 
  • comes in multiple colours and sizes
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​amzn.to/3DKRs9W
check out other options here

Do extra long shower curtain liners exist?

They sure do! click on the links below to link to a couple of my favourites
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amzn.to/3HFrPbW   - Clear Shower curtain liner 
amzn.to/3RFSQjW   - White shower curtain liner
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Stage Presence Inc.  Proudly providing Home Staging in Barrie, Simcoe County, Innisfil, Angus, and the Springwater areas since 2006
Stage Presence Inc. 2023
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
​705-627-8106