Rock the House
To set the mood, music is a must! Place some Bluetooth-enabled outdoor speakers on your deck and subscribe to an app such as Pandora, Sonos, or Sirius and you’re ready for an instant party right from your phone or tablet. I have speakers that masquerade as a rock: Put them under the bushes and no one will ever know they’re there.
– Lara Michelle, Lara Michelle Beautiful Interiors Inc.
Start a Story Board
Houzz is my new, most powerful, and helpful tool. It’s not just a color story. We’re looking at: What’s the hardware? What’s on the floor? Why do you like that picture? When clients create idea books on Houzz, it helps me to design their kitchen.
– Arthur Zobel, Majestic Kitchens
Related: 5 Lessons Homeowners Should Take Away From Design Shows
Boost Your Bathrooms
Homeowners should update bathrooms before the kitchen if they’re on a limited budget and plan to put their house on the market. Everyone has a “Dream Kitchen” Pinterest board and most buyers would love to purchase a house that’s a few thousand dollars cheaper in order to make that dream kitchen come true rather than spending a premium on a kitchen they don’t really love.
– Melissa Colabella, Julia B. Fee Realty
Fake a Green Thumb
Don’t feel like planting? Keep a collection of those round balls of moss on hand to stick into urns or pots. Or just pick up a few flowering plants at the grocery store and place three of them in an empty planter. It’s so easy to change them out.
– Dorye Brown, Dorye Brown Interiors
For more design tips, view our Bright Ideas! feature story.
