Sprucing Tips for Your Camano Island Home

Making your home an attractive and comfortable place can seem like somewhat of a mystery. In my experience with preparing homes for sale and in my own quest to better my living space, I’ve found some tips I’d like to share with you.

Here are some basic ways to take the guesswork out of making your home that nest of relaxation you’ve always dreamed of; just waiting for you to come home, put your feet up and enjoy. By making a few changes to your existing décor, you can transform your living area enough to make it look like you’ve hired a decorator.

The most transformative element of your area is light. If you can’t tell that it is daytime when your drapes are closed, it’s time for a change! The heavy drapes that were popular in the past have been replaced by flowing, transparent drapes that allow filtered light into the room. Your window treatments say a lot about you and your style, it’s important that they say the right thing. A very common decorating mistake is to hang curtains that are too short and don’t reach the floor. They should always touch or even pool on the floor. Let their color and pattern (or lack thereof) speak of your personality, not show to world that you are NOT related to Martha Stewart!

Strategically place lamps to illuminate dark corners. This will make your room appear bigger and add interest to a potentially uninteresting place. A colorful lampshade can add a splash of color to draw your eye to different areas of the room, also giving the illusion of additional space.

Last, but definitely not least, try installing dimmer switches. By dimming bright lights you have the power to add instant ambiance. Dimmer lighting is more flattering to the room because it hides flaws such as the tiny scratches on the furniture that come with everyday living. Here’s a handy link for all you do-it-yourselfers. http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-dimmer-switch/index.html.

Mirrors add depth, interest, and light to a room as well. Placing a mirror between two windows can even make it look as if you have another window! When strategically placed they can reflect the beauty of an outside flower garden or water feature into your home. Mirrors make a small room look larger or a skinny hallway look wider. When they came up with the phrase “smoke and mirrors”, I’m sure they had interior decorating in mind! If you’d like to keep up with the latest Feng Shui fashion, make sure that your mirrors do not face the main door as this is said to reflect all of the good entering your home back out!

One of the biggest mistakes people make in the living room is to place the furniture around the room with the backs touching the walls. Angled pieces and groupings create a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere because of the perceived lack of organization. A room becomes less sterile and more inviting if people feel that they have a silent invitation to sit down and relax. Furniture should be arranged to create an atmosphere for easy conversation. If the furniture is too far apart, it makes conversations less intimate and even a little awkward. People should be able to comfortably talk to each other without shouting.

If you think about all of the different rooms of the home, most of them serve a purpose that involves activity. You bathe in the bathroom, cook in the kitchen, do laundry in the utility room; these rooms don’t scream “down time” (well, except for maybe a good soak in the tub with a nice glass of wine, flickering candles and a good book). The living room on the other hand, should. This is the room that provides the recharge time during your waking hours and, at a glance, should invite you to come on in and sit right down.

Take the time to give your living area a good once over. Following these easy steps will help you find your home light and bright on Camano Island! You’ll be so glad you did.

Any additional questions such as a reference for a good handy-man to help hang new window coverings or install those dimmer switches? Call me today — Jan Mather, your Camano Island Expert! 360-507-4133