Jim Guido's Blog

When Buying and moving into your new home it is usually a stressful process. It can also be a fun process for many homeowners. A new home in a new location offers the perfect opportunity for homeowners to reclaim their space and personalize it by using objects, furniture and themes that are important or meaningful. The experts at Ryland Homes offer some tips to help you find your inner decorator and personalize your home so that it suites you for years to come. Check out their suggestions below and good luck in making your new home yours.

Be true to you. Your home tells a story about you, so fill it with objects that you enjoy. Decorate for you – not for others.

Tread cautiously with trends. Trends are great, but not always practical for your lifestyle or your pocketbook. Ask yourself if the design you implement today is the one you’ll want to look at years from now.

Think of others. When planning your space, imagine it with people in the room. Often, homeowners try to decorate their homes like pictures they see in a magazine. But those are for photo shoots – not for real life. Instead, focus on what’s comfortable and functional for you, your family and your guests.

Focus. Find an inspiration around which to focus your design, whether it be a piece of furniture, art or a meaningful antique. By planning your design around your most prized items, you can maintain focus and stay true to your style.

Wow ‘em with white. Nothing brightens a room like a touch of white. By simply adding a white throw pillow or towel to a room, you can make it feel cleaner, brighter and more luxurious.

Think in 3-D. Don’t forget that every room has three surfaces to consider: the walls, floor and ceiling. Each helps establish the mood.

Cast the best light. Even the best design can look shabby in poor lighting. Choose good lighting to maximize your surroundings.

Look ahead. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades tend to offer the most return on investment when it comes time to sell your home, so don’t overlook upgrades like tile and cabinetry.

Rismedia is reporting that instead of playing the trade up game, more homeowners are staying in their homes. They are upgrading their kitchens and bathrooms and also adding additions to accommodate their needs in-lieu of moving into a larger home. Architects say they’re seeing demand for and inquiries about home-remodeling projects which again include kitchen and bath upgrades and home additions. These upgrades for the most part are for kitchens being upgraded with practical improvements and features to make the space more usable and the same holds true for the bathrooms.
The five most popular kitchen products and features include:
-Recycling center, a designated place to put cans, papers, etc., which could be in the form of a nook or even part of the lower cabinetry
-Larger pantry space
-Renewable flooring materials
-Renewable countertop materials
-Computer area/recharging stations, dedicated to such tasks as recharging laptops, cell phones and PDAs.
The same desire for practicality and less glitz can be found in the bathroom.
The five most popular bathroom products and features include:
-Water-saving toilets
-Radiant heated floors
-Accessibility/universal design, or features that are adaptable and allow homeowners to age in place
-LED lighting
-Doorless showers.