Adorn Home Staging

26/03/2023

I’ve been listening to this excellent podcast after reading the book by the same authors and it got me thinking about my own 3 non-negotiables which I thought I’d share:

Be the best version of myself I can
- work hard
- Be on time
- Over deliver
- Strive to learn
- A resilient mindset

Positive energy
Be my true authentic self

Listen to this episode from The High Performance Podcast on Spotify. “What are your three non-negotiables?” This is the question Jake and Damian ask at the end of every conversation they’ve had on the podcast. No two answers have been the same. In this episode, Jake and Damian reflect on the m...

26/03/2023

As someone who loves to try new foods and recipes I am loving this trend report on the Top Food Trends for 2023 - which is your favourite ?

The last few years have seen canned cocktails, TikTok recipes and meal kits all become staples in our kitchens, but what does 2023 have in store? From nu-wave croissants to fauxmage, here’s what – and how – experts think we’ll all be eating and drinking over the next 12 months.

25/03/2023

Liv Conlon’s Stager Boss Launch.

I spent the morning at the inspirational Liv Conlon’s book launch in Mayfair, London and the afternoon spent working on business planning. What a great day!

23/03/2023

A poem about home-staging written by the new BING AI platform. Quite good I thought!

Here’s a poem about homestaging:
A house is just a house, Until it becomes a home, And that’s where homestaging, Comes into its own.
It’s all about presentation, And making things look their best, So that potential buyers, Can see themselves as the next.
From decluttering to decorating, There’s so much to be done, But with the right touch, A house can become a home.
So if you’re looking to sell, And want to make a good impression, Consider homestaging your home, And watch the offers come in!

17/03/2023

Currently reading this book as part of a new business networking book club I’ve joined. I’m new to business books so my target is 10 pages a day for the next month. Looking forward to the chapters on ‘Play to Your Strengths’ and ‘Find Your Non-negotiables’ - daily habits to move you forward.

16/03/2023

Top Staging Tips

I will never forget viewing a property where the agent had to open all the curtains and going upstairs I encountered cobwebs in my face. A rather unpleasant experience! There was also a time when I saw a house with a leftover Christmas tree in the garden - in August. Or the bungalow I viewed recently for my parents with a pair of child’s pants elastic holding the gate open. These experiences put me off buying and probably others too as they hadn’t followed the basic rules for property staging. Today I share my top tips for staging-for-sale so you can convert more views/clicks to offers.

*CHECK YOUR KERB APPEAL
Make sure the presentation of the outside of your house is as important as the inside. Put bins out of sight if possible and invest in some seasonal planters to brighten up your front door.

*CLEAN
Check all surfaces at all heights are spotless.

*DECLUTTER
Tidy every room including outside spaces like garages. Pack and store everything you don’t use regularly.

*DEPERSONALISE
Don’t let buyers be distracted by your life. Pack away family photos and children’s drawings throughout the home.

*NEUTRALISE
The goal is to create a look that will appeal to the widest spectrum of buyers so avoid dark or bright colours on walls. Opt for warm neutrals or white.

*DEFINE EACH ROOM OR AREA
Give each space a purpose - dining, relaxing, entertaining, working.

*FINISH DIY JOBS
Make sure all little jobs are completed so they don’t raise a red flag that other more important things have been neglected.

*INVEST IN LIGHTING
If necessary change your bulbs to brighter ones or upgrade your light fittings.

*ACCESSORISE
Dress your rooms with carefully chosen and co-ordinated accessories and mirrors to reflect light. Use colour to create a balanced scheme for each room.

Need help with staging your home for sale? Contact us at [email protected] to find out more.

08/03/2023

International Women’s Day 2023

To celebrate International Women’s Day this year I’m highlighting three inspirational women in my life over the last few years.

Firstly, Nina Grunfeld, Founder of LifeClubs whose workshops have motivated me to make positive changes in my life. Nina has a new book out at the moment called ‘Picture This’ so please do take a look if you are in need of unlocking some problems in your life right now.
https://lifeclubs.co.uk/

Secondly, Liv Conlan, owner of The Property Stagers whose training I have undertaken prior to setting up Adorn Home Staging. Liv has a passion to empower women to start their own businesses and is also launching her new book on 24th March. She has amazing drive and enthusiasm for her work.

Finally, my Mum, Barbara Neely who, despite her own health issues, has supported my family unwaveringly through some tough times. She is s talented watercolour artist and exhibits her lovely artwork locally in Dorchester for sale.

05/03/2023

Sustainable design

At Adorn Home Staging we do our best to incorporate sustainability and the eco-credentials of products into our affordable designs for your living spaces. We love to include natural fibres in our textiles not only because they look good and are visually appealing, but also because they have a lower carbon footprint than synthetic alternatives. Choosing products with timeless design features will ensure longevity of the pieces as well. Check out our mood board for our favourite home-staging products available to source for your property to sell.

Sustainable design

04/03/2023

Action for Happiness is one of our 2023 charities. The theme for this month is Mindful March.

04/03/2023

I fell in love with photography after undertaking a week long course at the London School of Photography a few years ago. Those that know me know I particularly enjoy portrait photography and wildlife photography on safari. I love the challenge of trying to capture the beauty of a person or wild animal. I’m now enjoying the opportunity to photograph contemporarily styled rooms, capturing the features of the space showing the property in the best light to uplift the market value.

Here are some photos from my latest staging project taken with an iPhone or Canon DSLR with wide angle lens.

28/02/2023

How to deodorise your home prior to staging

We’ve all heard the tricks about baking bread and brewing coffee to attract buyers but what if you have the opposite problem - an unpleasant smell perhaps from pet odour or similar.
I’ve recently discovered two amazing products that can remove unpleasant odours in rooms that may put off buyers and the good news is that they are incredibly cheap. Both white wine vinegar and bicarbonate are available at supermarkets and let me tell you - they actually work.
I had a perfume smell left by a previous tenant drying washing and we cleaned the room with a vinegar solution and the smell disappeared! The residual vinegar odour was removed by sprinkling the carpet with the bicarbonate of soda, leaving for a few hours and then vacuuming. Simple, cost effective and no nasty chemicals to linger in the air.

21/02/2023

How to use houseplants for home staging

According to John Lewis sales of indoor house plants have skyrocketed over the last year. It’s perhaps not surprising given that ‘Wellness’ is a key macro consumer trend at the moment. With our homes being a sanctuary in difficult times, they can create a calming atmosphere, can help bring the outdoors in and are believed to improve our mood. This trend for wellbeing is particularly important for the Millennial generation so homes staged with houseplants will standout to them and this small investment could lead to a profitable price.

Our tips
🌿Just adding 2-3 house plants can upgrade the space but adding 5-6 will make the statement buyers desire
🌿Choose your containers carefully to ensure they compliments the design scheme and the plant
🌿Striking coloured plants in a coloured pot will brighten up a pale interior and add contrast. Examples are the Gerberas, African violets and Tulips
🌿Cool sophisticated plants in cream, white and silver will add a touch of minimalist luxury. Examples of elegant plants are Orchids, Palms, Aspidistra and Ferns. These plants require a stylish container to match their effortless charm
🌿Pretty romantic florals are useful for bedroom spaces and culinary herbs in soft wood containers will add a fresh look to kitchens
🌿Leafy palms make a good choice if you want to disguise a problem area in the property such as boxing. A powerful vertical plant can draw the eye upwards giving the impression of height in a room
🌿Carefully placed plants can draw attention to the best features of a room. For example, flanking a fireplace with two impressive plants will draw the eye towards it
🌿The entrance space is a great place to add a real statement piece as it is the first room buyers will see. Smaller seasonal flowering plants are best placed at the centre of a dining table
🌿Avoid highly scented plants such a lilies and spring flowering bulbs like hyacinths to avoid setting off asthma in buyers
🌿Using seasonal flowers is a cost effective way of adding colour. In the summer plants sold as garden plants will happily do a stint inside while they are at their best
🌿Empty properties can still benefit from quality faux plants and flowers to brighten the space, draw attention to features and create a homely atmosphere. As with real plants they need suitable containers that match the staged design.