The following is a guest blog post from Patti Stern of PJ
& Company
The start of spring means its time to celebrate the season
with some fresh style for your home, both inside and out! Not sure where to
begin? We hope the following tips will inspire your imagination when deciding
the best ways to brighten, renew and add curb appeal.
Bring The Outdoors Inside. Place a variety of natural
garden-like elements such as potted plants, topiaries and moss-covered balls on
mantels, floors and shelves. Accessorize with beautiful botanical prints, fresh
cut fern or boxwood clippings in glass vases, dried flower or pussy willow twig
wreaths, ceramic bird figurines and plates which will make you feel closer to
nature.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint. Go brighter, crisper and cleaner
for spring. Start by choosing one new color such as yellow or green for an
accent wall and combine with complimentary accessories which will make the room
feel cohesively inviting. For your front door or shutters, try a fresh coat of
a trending spring color such as Benjamin Moore’s Champion Cobalt to add instant
curb appeal.
Update Bedding. Now is the time to consider some new bedding
for your master bedroom, guest room, or kids room. Layer your bed starting with
white and add some of the freshest colors for spring — coral, turquoise, or
butter yellow. And, if your bedding is in great shape, just add accent pillows,
new shams, and large European size pillows to transform the look of your room.
Get Bold With Fresh Colored Accents. Add color and texture
to your entertaining areas (living rooms and patios) by switching out winter
pillows with new spring colors and organic designs. Navy and white, orange and
yellow, and linen pillows are great accessories to liven up any space. Don’t
forget about your lamps which are also available in many different colors this
season from green to orange. Add special string lighting and colorful hanging
lanterns for garden ambiance in the evenings.
Refresh Kitchen and Patio Dining Accessories. Switch out
dinnerware for ones with bright, garden-inspired patterns which pair well with
lighter weight tablecloths and place mats in natural woven textures. Replace
umbrellas that are stained and damaged with the latest trending patterns and
colors. Add complimentary accent pillows along with a cozy rug for under the
table. Finish off with some beachy scented candles and you’ll be reminded that
summer is just around the corner!
Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal. Repair cracks in driveway,
walkway, front porch steps and patios. Add personal touches to entryway with a
beautiful floral swag or wreath, a new welcome mat, clusters of potted spring
flowers on the porch and a hanging swing if space allows. Refresh with new
accessories such as house numbers, lighting fixtures, door handles and knocker
to create added appeal. Remove dead shrubs, prune bushes, and add pops of color
with new annuals. Assess the condition of your lawn and decide whether to
reseed or add sod if uneven and patchy. Add a generous layer of natural mulch
to beds to complete the whole look.
Patti Stern, principal, interior decorator and professional
stager of PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating, has been decorating
and staging homes since 2005. She and her team provide turnkey, full service
home-staging and interior decorating to clients across Connecticut, New York
and Massachusetts. She also developed an award winning staging program for
luxury home builder, Toll Brothers.
Patti has been featured in Connecticut Magazine, the
Hartford Courant, Danbury News-Times and on NBC Connecticut and FOX TV. She is a regular contributor to the National
Association of Realtor’s Blog, “Style, Staged and Sold".
