You may have heard that when people buy homes, they buy on emotion rather than logic. What does that mean to you as a home seller? How can you sell your home when what people are really buying from you is not clear?
They may have a checklist of all the things they are looking for, but when it comes right down to it. they buy because of the way the home makes them feel and they can envision themselves living a happy life there. When you sell a home, it is not about the home. It is about the dream of the life that can be lived in that home.
So what does that really mean? They can envision themselves living there, and they like what they see in the mind’s eye. The life they envision living there is better or different than what they have now. You are offering them the possibility of expansion….or something more.
Selling a dream might be a different lifestyle. Home Staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
What makes it better, or more expansive? It’s a step up, something bigger, better or different. That can be something tangible such as more space, better finishes, more outdoor living space, a nicer neighborhood, better schools, a shorter commute, more storage, etc. Or maybe a different lifestyle, such as in the city or the country.
It can also be intangible, such as a more peaceful life, a greater sense of well being and happiness, better family relationships, more time for themselves to do hobbies or self care or fulfilling dream of starting a home based business or working from home.
How Can you Sell a Dream?
How can you sell a dream? Home Staging. A professional home stager will research your market, determine your target market and they are experts at staging a home to appeal to those people and their dreams.
For example, if the home is nearby great schools, you will likely attract families with school age children. Those buyers want peaceful, happy home lives that are safe for their kids and appeal to their ideal visions of family life. A stager can set up the home to promote a vision of that life.
Nearby hospitals or doctors’ offices may attract nurses and other health care professionals, or it could also appeal to people that maybe are older and have health conditions and want to be nearby. A stager can create a home that shows a possible home office or a home that looks comfortable and easy to move around safely in for older buyers.
Different décor and colors appeal to different age groups and markets, and stagers are experts at appealing to the correct age groups based on your target market.
They know how to make a room look spacious, yet feel comfortable, highlight or create areas for crafts or hobbies, or self care. They can turn an awkward space into a great place for a home office. Or they just highlight how a certain area is a peaceful place to have coffee in the morning or get away to read a book.
Ready to Sell Someone a Dream?
I would like to show you how you can sell your house fast and for more by appealing to your target market’s dreams for a better life. Get started with a home staging consultation today.
Home Staging Consultation Online. Call for a custom quote for an in person consultation.
Interested in become a home stager? Try the Staging Diva Home Staging Training. This is what I did and highly recommend it!
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Why Creating Your Perfect Space Matters
Are you a Perfect Space Seeker?
Do you want a beautiful, healthy home that looks and feels great without spending tons of time or money? Do you wish your home was a sanctuary and perfect space for you?
Your perfect space can support you in your journey to BE the person you need to be to live your perfect life.
The Perfect Space- Who Cares?
Most of us think our house or space is OK, but we wish it was better. If pressed, we would admit we really wished it felt like a sanctuary, a place that took our breath away with it’s beauty, a place that brought us joy, peace, well-being. A place that was comfy, yet exciting. A place that supports our dreams and that we are proud of.
Is it really that important?
YES.
You deserve to have your perfect space.
When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better.
Aligned Design- When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better. Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
How Does Your Perfect Space Make Your Life Better?
Our perfect space is an alignment of art, science and energy that supports who we truly are. Below I describe some ways that “energy” contributes to creating your perfect space, and to making your life better.
Our Perfect Space Supports our Growth
We all grow, change and evolve. Hopefully for the better! We are not the same person we were ten or five years ago. Our space needs to change to reflect that, Our tastes and interests change, our families grow, everything changes. Why should our space stay the same? If it does, is it still supporting us to live our best life?
Aligned Design- Our perfect space supports our growth.. Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Our Perfect Space Supports our Peace and Well-Being
A sense of well being is one of the highest states of mind we can achieve. Our space can support that. When we have too much clutter, or things that no longer serve us it can feel overwhelming and chaotic. Getting rid of things and re-organizing helps bring a feeling of peace and renewal.
Aligned Design- Our perfect space supports our well-being. Photo by Avia Venefica.
Our Perfect Space Supports our Self Care
We all need space and time to nourish and care for our physical, mental and emotional needs. Our perfect space can provide that whether it is a quiet comfortable place to read and learn, a place to meditate, room to lift weights, dance or do Tai Chi, the perfect spa like bathroom, or whatever supports you.
Aligned Design- Our perfect space supports our self-care.. Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Our Perfect Space Connects us to Nature
Wherever you live, whether in the city, suburbs or country, feeling connection to nature and life beyond ourselves is important. Biophilia, which translates to “love of life,” describes our connection with nature as a biologically-driven need to interact with other life such as animals and plants. Our perfect space can support that need through color, accessories, art and, sounds, smells and more. Learn more in my article, Feel Good with Biophilia, or The Colors of Summer- Bring the Outside In.
Aligned Design- Our perfect space connects us to nature.. Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Our Perfect Space Connects us to our Environment
Our environment includes more than just the natural world outside our walls, and the parts we bring inside. We have a connection to the physical space and building, and the objects around us. The arrangement of things and how we interact with it can affect how we feel. Feng Shui is the study of time and space and considering it helps harmonize natures forces within your space and the surrounding environment. This can help improve your health, wealth and relationships.
Aligned Design- Our perfect space connects us to our environment. Feng Shi Graphic by Énora LB.
Our Perfect Space Supports Getting to Know Ourselves
Many of us do not know ourselves well, and maybe are scared to. When was the last time you took 4 hours of silence to be with yourself and allow the monkey chatter in your brain to turn off so you could allow meaningful information a chance to make it through? Taking time to get to know yourself is important. Our perfect space can support that by providing comfortable, quiet spaces for our personal growth.
Our perfect space supports getting to know ourselves.
Our Space Supports our Transformation
Are you on a journey to transform your life and BE the best you can be your best self, so you can DO the things that create the life you want to HAVE?
Transformative design can support that journey by providing space for learning, evolving and aligning your self with your higher purpose.
If you are interested in transforming yourself, I highly recommend Jim Fortin’s Transformational Coaching Program, called TCP. It has been an ongoing journey and learning experience for me. You can read about my first round of this program in my article, Lose Weight, Quit Smoking, Get Healthy and Peaceful Without Pain.
My philosophy of great Interior Design, which I call Aligned Design, considers three key factors; art, science and energy. The intersection of the three is where the magic happens.
The “Energy” is all about connection and is what I described above in ways our perfect space can support us.
Connecting to yourself, your story, who you want to be and what you need in your space to support that journey (transformative design). Connecting to the energy around you in and surrounding your home (Feng Shui) and to nature (biophilia). This connection creates another level of “feeling good” that is hard to put into words, but when you feel it in your space you will love that it is there.
The “Art”, is what most of us think of as “Interior Design”, and includes beautiful furnishings, decor, lighting, finishes, color and architectural details, all artfully arranged to look beautiful and function perfectly with our lifestyle.
The “Science”, is about using color science to take your color to the next level. Color has power and affects the way your design looks and how you feel. Science contributes knowledge and products for sustainable and eco-friendly designs that help you stay healthy and protect our planet.
It is important to consider all three together at the same time, as they all affect each other.
Your home is like your body, a system that works together. To be healthy, you need to consider all the parts as a whole.
Start with an Aligned Design plan that considers the art, science and energy of your home together, and then implement as time and money allows.
Go from being a Perfect Space Seeker to Loving Your Home!
An Aligned Design consultation to create a holistic plan is a great first step to map out your journey to a perfect space.
Imagine what that would feel like.
Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.
Several years ago I was listening to Tony Robbins online inspiring people to discover their “life’s purpose”. I decided at the time that mine was to create beautiful things (whether it is a home interior, piece of jewelry or stained glass, a piece of music or a dance) and share it with others to give them (and me) joy.
That was my inspiration in starting Northern Lights Home Staging and Design i 2014. For those of you who do not know me, I am also an artist (stained glass, jewelry, alcohol ink, fractal art), musician and dancer. All these things give me joy, and I hope I can pass a little bit of that on to you.
When I create a beautiful space for you, whether it is to sell your home or to live in it, I want you to say “Wow!!!” and feel some of the magic you might experience if you saw northern lights. That is my goal and how Northern Lights Home Staging and Design got it’s name.
At the time, I silently thanked Tony Robbins for helping me put into words what I knew to be true about myself.
Now, five years later, I am looking back and wondering, is this still my life’s purpose?
The answer is YES!
And that makes me happy, because it makes me feel as if I am aligned with my true purpose, what I am meant to do. Are you? One of my favorite quotes is from another dancer and I truly believe this.
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
Martha Graham
So, while I still believe my life’s purpose is to create beautiful things, I realize that the outward beauty has more depth and layers than it used to. Whether it is in one of my Interior designs, pieces of art or a dance, the magic comes from a beautiful intersection of art, science and energy that goes into each creation. The more I learn about each aspect and grow as an artist, the more interesting and beautiful my creations become. To me anyways:) And hopefully to you!
Create Beauty in your home
I would like to show you how to create beauty in your home by aligning art, science and energy. An Aligned Design consultation to create a holistic plan is a great first step to map out your journey to a perfect space.
Imagine what that would feel like.
Curious about your Interior Design style? Take the quiz and find out.
In my last five articles I have been exploring the 2021 colors of the year of different paint companies and comparing them in the same Edesign I created for a master bedroom. I started by exploring Benjamin Moore’s Agean Teal and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I found that PPG had a color palette of 3 colors of the year instead of one as you can see in my article Ways to Use PPG’s Colors of the Year. I admitted I felt a little let down that they did not just commit to one color.
Then I checked on Behr’s Colors of the Year and found they had a palette of 21 colors!! Talk about non-committal. I highlighted 3 of my favorites in my article, Ways to Use Behr’s 2021 Colors of the Year.
Here, I will explore using Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year. They have two colors, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray. Pantone does not create paint colors. They create ink used in graphics, but their color selections influence many of the colors of products you will find available such as art, accessories, bedding and furniture.
Pantone says these colors are “A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting”..
I am a little surprised at their pick of Ultimate Gray…..I feel like gray is our past and we have moved on. I am also surprised at their pick of Illuminating. It feels like the color of a yellow safety vest or a yellow warning light at a traffic signal, rather than one I would pick for accessories in my home. “Uplifting” is not a word I would use to describe it. Well, I am up for a challenge. Let us see what we can do with this combination!
The Design
In this design, I used the color data to create a room that would look like Ultimate Gray on the walls, if Pantone made paint. The closest real paint color I could find to match this was Benjamin Moore, Tucker Gray, CW-705.
I think this bedroom feels relaxing, serene but with a little bit of energy and sweetness that comes from the cheery pops of yellow. I do like yellow and gray together, although I think this yellow is a little too saturated for my taste. I prefer a yellow with a little less chroma.
In my previous designs I have played with more saturated wall colors to show what you can do with color and how it feels. Sorry, I can not bring myself to try this color on the wall….I am not going to go there!
Master bedroom Edesign using Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year by Northern Lights Home Staging and DesignMaster bedroom Edesign using Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Here are some of the pieces I used or alternative ideas for my designs. Some contain affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission for sharing this with you at no additional cost to you if you purchase anything.
Which Color of the Year is Your Favorite?
I enjoyed working with all these colors, and think they could each work nicely to create a relaxing master bedroom, although Big Cypress feels a little more energizing than relaxing. Of all the colors, I like Aegean Teal and Euphoric Magenta the best, how about you?
Pantone’s 2021 Colors Illuminant and Ultimate GraySherwin Williams HGTV Home PassionateBehr’s 2021 color Euphoric Magenta Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Color of the Year Aegean TealBehr’s 2021 color Voyage PPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Mystic Aqua.Mystic Aqua but with my my own rebel color scheme:)Behr’s 2021 color Royal Orchard Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year Urbane BronzePPG’s 2021 Color Palette with TranscendPPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Big Cypress.
Are You Inspired?
When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better.
Are you ready to create the perfect space for you? Try my Aligned Design consultation. It is a wholistic Interior Design and Color consultation that considers art, science and energy to give you a game plan for your whole home. I use the art of eco-friendly Interior Design mixed with color science and consider Feng Shui, transformative design, biophilia and color psychology to make your space feel great and support the life you want to live.
Once you have your game plan, we can work on specific rooms with one of my Edesign packages.
The designs above are examples of full service Edesign, where you get a floor plan, a concept board, a 3D render and a complete shopping list with set up instructions. Or, be brave and try some new color with an expert color consultation.
What’s Your Global Design Style?
The designs in this article are examples of global style design. Are you curious what your global style is? Take the quiz and find out.
How to Use Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the YearHow to Use Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year
A Seller’s Market is the Perfect Time to Spend Money on Home Staging
If you are like most people selling your home in a seller’s market, where there are few houses for sale and lots of buyers, you would think spending money on home staging is a dumb idea.
After all, why spend money on staging when you can reasonably expect it will sell quickly. Why spend money on fixing things or remodeling? Why spend money on painting, or even cleaning?
I see it all the time. I live in a small town that has limited housing, so it is always a seller’s market. I am amazed sometimes at the listing photos I see online.
I get it. What you are really saying is why spend any money at all if you do not have to. You do have holding costs like mortgage and utilities after all and will have to pay your realtor and closing costs.
“That is an interesting belief that will cost you.”
Think about it. The supply of houses is limited. People are looking to buy. They want the best house they can get for the money. If there are five houses for sale, and they all look just OK, including yours, you will likely still sell quickly but at what price? About the same as everyone else with a similar OK house.
What if your house looks amazing compared to the other similar homes? Everyone is going to want it. What will happen? Can you say bidding war?
What do I mean when I say amazing? Your house is clean, repaired, beautifully staged and move in ready. You have professional photos showing it off online. Everyone will want it and they all know everyone else will want it too!
OK, I hear your gears grinding from here…. but how much will it cost me to do all that compared to how much more I will get on my home sale? I am glad you asked.
In my experience, if people spend .5 to 1% of the home’s value on getting their home ready for market, which includes the painting, repairs, cleaning, and staging, they often get 10-20% more on their home sale.
For example, I recently staged a home in a seller’s market. The realtor was concerned that the seller would be lucky to get 20K less than they wanted to list for in the house’s current condition. The owner knew they needed to move their things out and get it cleaned. They were not considering doing much more. The realtor suggested home staging.
We started with a consultation in which I recommended painting over some colors I knew would not be appealing to buyers, installing some missing lights, removing most of the existing furniture and personal items , having it cleaned, having the yard work done and for me to stage it. I believe the maintenance and painting probably cost them about $500. The consultation, staging and accessory rentals cost about $1500. So, the owner spent about $2000 to prepare it for market.
So, what happened? After I staged the home, the seller received 2 over asking price offers within 24 hours and 15 offers in 7 days. They sold the house for 30K over asking price! So not only did they make up for the 20K the realtor thought they could not get to meet their asking price, but they also made an additional 30K. That is 50K more than expected, because they spent 2K on preparing and staging.
Note this was a small house, so costs to prepare or stage and prepare larger houses can vary quite a bit based on the size and what they need. At the same time, larger houses have a much higher sales price and greater opportunity for the seller to make even more on the sale.
Spending money on home staging is kind of like going on a diet. You have to put up with a little short-term pain of spending some money up front to get the big pay-off in the end. Or instead, maybe I should say home staging is like going on a healthy diet….you know it is the right thing to do to get a return of perfect health, and with home staging to get the return of your best sales price. It is simply hard to get started!
So, are you going to hang out eating cookies all day or do what is good for you?
So Are You Going to Eat Cookies All Day?
Get your online home staging consultation or staging service today. Click on the pictures to learn more. For in person consultations or staging, call for a custom quote
Become a Home Stager
Interested in becoming a home stager? I recommend the Staging Diva Home Staging Training program!
7 Things to Consider Before You Rent Out Your Home to Vacationers
Some families own a second home that’s rarely used, and others travel frequently enough that renting out their residence can become an income source. With numerous websites available that give you access to millions of vacationers and short-term renters, there’s a high chance that you can find someone to rent your property while you’re away. To attract visitors to your home and get the best return on investment, you should consider upgrading and sprucing up your place. Here are a few upgrades to include, as well as other considerations to make during the process.
First things first: Can you even rent out your place? Some areas won’t allow you to rent out your property, and those that do might only allow longer rentals, such as gated communities that require a six-month minimum lease for renters. Check on the rules about short-term vacation rentals in your area before you consider going this route.
Location
Location is a big part of why renters choose to stay somewhere. If you’re looking to buy a vacation property, focus on areas that are central or in proximity to the city’s hottest tourist attractions and hippest neighborhoods. If you already own a home, highlight the best of what the neighborhood has to offer. Your listing should emphasize things to do nearby and walkability to restaurants and shops.
Photo courtesy of Pixaby
Pricing
Figuring out how to price your property is tricky because you want to attract visitors who are looking to spend less than they would at a hotel, but you also want to profit from the arrangement. It’s not just the mortgage that you need to recoup, but HOA fees as well. When your listing is still new, it’s important to have an attractive price for renters who are unsure about a new property with no reviews. As you build up a solid reputation, you can price your property higher.
Listing
When renters search for homes to stay in during their vacation, they first look at the location, number of bedrooms, and price. Beyond that, there’s more that can draw renters to your listing. Be sure to make your listing stand out by posting quality photos taken in good light and showcasing the best features of your place. Five-star reviews can also go a long way toward getting renters to trust you. The happier your first guests are, the more likely they’ll leave good reviews so that your listing gains popularity and you can charge higher rates in the future.
Amenities
Renters want the comforts of a home away from home. A nice fridge, dishwasher, laundry in the unit, A/C, heater, parking spots, and high-speed internet are attractive features that make guests enjoy their stay. If your place has a pool and/or hot tub, then you’ll have an even easier time attracting guests.
Design
Unless you’re renting out a rustic cabin in the mountains, you’re probably better off with a clean, modern design inside your home. Potential upgrades include new wood flooring and panels, countertops made of granite, quartz or marble, upgraded lighting fixtures to replace old lamps, new doorknobs and faucet handles, and a fresh paint job. Great design and color are key to attracting your ideal guests and increasing your income and bookings. Know who your target market is, what they want and decorate to attract them. You can also opt to redecorate the home by settling on a theme or style and choosing design elements that complement that style. Enlisting the help of a professional designer or color consultant can make a big difference in getting the results you want.
Mind Your Business
An important part of gearing up to run a vacation rental is setting up the proper business structure. There are many different business structures, but the one that typically works best in the vacation rental industry is a limited liability corporation (LLC). An LLC is more flexible and protective than a traditional corporation, it can be used for property purchases, and any debts will belong to the business solely. If you opt to set up an LLC, a formation service can quickly and easily guide you through the step-by-step process to put your mind at ease.
If your home is sitting around unused for part of the year, why not make some income from it? The key is to own property that’s comfortable for you while being inviting for guests. With the right upgrades — in addition to enlisting the help of a home stager like Northern Lights Home Staging and Design — your home will become a desirable rental property.
Written by guest blogger Dennis Kane of the WinterizeGuys. Dennis and his brother Ron are experts on what it takes to protect your home and family from winter weather and they created their website and new book to help keep you warm!
Need Help Desgigning Your Vacation Rental or Bed and Breakfast?
Why not try my online Vacation Rental Consultation. Find out everything you need to do to create a beautiful space that attracts your ideal customer, increases your income and bookings and gives you great photos for your online marketing.
Ways to Use Sherwin Williams HGTV 2021 Color of the Year- Passionate
In my last few articles I have been exploring the 2021 colors of the year of different paint companies and comparing them in the same Edesign I created for a master bedroom. I enjoyed exploring Benjamin Moore’s Agean Teal and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I found that PPG had a color palette of 3 colors of the year instead of one as you can see in my article Ways to Use PPG’s Colors of the Year. I admitted I felt a little let down that they did not just commit to one color.
Then I checked on Behr’s Colors of the Year and found they had a palette of 21 colors!! Talk about non-committal. I highlighted 3 of my favorites in my article, Ways to Use Behr’s 2021 Colors of the Year.
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams lists their 2021 Color of the Year: as Passionate, which is part of their 2021 Delightfully Daring Color Collection. They hope to inspire homeowners to have confidence using bold colors to create emotion and have fun!
Is this color too exciting for a bedroom where most of us prefer a calm, relaxing atmosphere? I thought I would play with it in my master bedroom Edesign in comparison to the other colors of the year and see what happens. With a name like Passionate, I hope it would work in a bedroom:).
I experimented with a couple different ideas, to see how it might feel with a more dramatic look, and if I could create a relaxing room with a color like this.
Design 1
My first design feels dramatic and colorful, but still feels warm and cozy, I think.
Master bedroom Edesign using Sherwin Williams HGTV Home color Passionate by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Design 2
Design 2 is more dramatic with the high contrast of black and white against the deep red walls. The red walls still give a feeling of being enveloped, a sense of coziness, but the black and white rug might be too bold to inspire relaxation. What do you think?
Sherwin Williams HGTV Home Passionate- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Design 3
This monochromatic color scheme feels relaxing to me. The addition of pinks and blushes creates a softness that balances the rich dramatic wall color. This shows me that you can create a relaxing space, even with rich red walls if you balance everything else correctly, creating both drama and calm at the same time. An interesting combination!
Sherwin Williams HGTV Home Passionate- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Which Color of the Year is Your Favorite?
I enjoyed working with all these colors, and think they could each work nicely to create a relaxing master bedroom, although Big Cypress feels a little more energizing than relaxing. Of all the colors, I am not sure if Aegean Teal or Euphoric Magenta is my favorite, how about you?
Sherwin Williams HGTV Home PassionateBehr’s 2021 color Euphoric Magenta Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Color of the Year Aegean TealBehr’s 2021 color VoyagePPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Mystic Aqua.Mystic Aqua but with my my own rebel color scheme:)Behr’s 2021 color Royal Orchard Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year Urbane BronzePPG’s 2021 Color Palette with TranscendPPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Big Cypress.
Are You Inspired?
When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better.
Are you ready to create the perfect space for you? Try my Aligned Design consultation. It is a wholistic Interior Design and Color consultation that considers art, science and energy to give you a game plan for your whole home. I use the art of eco-friendly Interior Design mixed with color science and consider Feng Shui, transformative design, biophilia and color psychology to make your space feel great and support the life you want to live.
Once you have your game plan, we can work on specific rooms with one of my Edesign packages.
The designs above are examples of full service Edesign, where you get a floor plan, a concept board, a 3D render and a complete shopping list with set up instructions. Or, be brave and try some new color with an expert color consultation.
What’s Your Global Design Style?
The designs in this article are examples of global style design. Are you curious what your global style is? Take the quiz and find out.
Cyber Week Deals on Home Decor and Interior Design
Looking for some great holiday gifts online so you don’t have to go shopping in the stores and can socially distance?
Interested in giving the gift of something beautiful with one of a kind art or some design help to someone you care about?
You’ve come to the right place!
At my store on Society 6 I have some great Cyber Week Deals going on with 50% off my wall art, 40% Bed, Bath and Home Decor and 30% off everything else!
50% Off Wall Art
My wall art is available in framed prints, canvas, metal art, wood and wall hangings.
40% Off Bed, Bath and Home Decor
My Bed and Bath department has a variety of bedding, shower curtains, pillows, towels, rugs and more. For Home Decor, check out my curtains, pillows, wallpaper, clocks tapestries and more.
30% off Everything Else
What is everything else? One of my favorites are face masks. How often can you give a gift that can save someone’s life?
Check out my eco-friendly fashions at my store on Vida. Get 15% off everything with the code JOYOFSMALL.
What is Fractal Art Anyway?
You may be wondering what the heck fractal art is? It is a captivating art form with the brilliant colors, intricate designs and perfect symmetry that I create on my computer!
Creating fractal art is like traveling through a kaleidoscope that has no beginning or end. When traveling, you find a place you want to stop and stay a while. While there, you can manipulate the color, texture, light, shine, spectrum, hue and other elements around you until you have created the perfect place, and then you save it as an image. It is impossible to ever find that place again if I did want to replicate it…it would be like finding a single drop of water within the ocean. That is why each piece is one of a kind.
Here is an example of what I mean. Let’s go on a little journey together through the “kaleidoscope”.
Ready to create your perfect space and do something amazing with your new art and home decor? For Cyber week get 1 extra hour of design time for free, worth $125 on this 5 hour consultation that includes an online wholistic Interior Design and Color Consultation for your whole house. Receive this extra 1 hour when you order by 12pm Alaska time, December 5. Learn More.
In my last few articles I have been exploring the 2021 colors of the year of different paint companies and comparing them in the same Edesign I created for a master bedroom. I enjoyed exploring Benjamin Moore’s Agean Teal and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I found that PPG had a color palette of 3 colors of the year instead of one as you can see in my article Ways to Use PPG’s Colors of the Year. I admitted I felt a little let down that they did not just commit to one color.
This week I decided to check on Behr’s Color of the Year.
Oh for the love of God, can you believe they have 21 colors!! Talk about non-committal. No, I will not be doing 21 renders to show you those.
I decided to highlight my three favorites, Voyage, Royal Orchard and Euphoric Magenta, because I like the way they look and I like what they represent (soothing and spiritual, restorative and secure, and gracious and creative). They fit with my philosophy and new Aligned Design system, which combines art, science and energy to create a perfect space for you.
I have included a list of products I used or something similar for each design. Note they contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for sharing with you at no additional cost to you.
Royal Orchard
Royal Orchard is part of their “Quiet Haven” palette. They say “Deep hues have a reassuringly sublime and dependable nature, delivering the effect of a peaceful oasis in your home.”
I like it because I believe this shade of green is prevalent in nature, and one of my goals in my designs is to bring the outside in and help people feel more connected to nature with biophilia. I think this creates that feeling of a “peaceful oasis” in your home. To continue that theme I used other greens in the furniture, plants, natural materials such as metals (mirrors, wall art) and wood (lamp). The fabric on the chair reflects a plant theme. I have also included some of my framed fractal art called spring (not visible in this part of the room. The area rug highlights metallic details in cream, gray, silver, and gold.
Master bedroom Edesign using Behr Royal Orchard by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Voyage
Voyage is part of their Calm Zone palette. They say “Soothing blues and greens create a restorative escape offering ease and solace”. I agree and blues and greens are some of my favorites to work with as they are also colors of nature and help bring the outside in.
They describe this shade as “soothing and spiritual”. Lately, I have really been considering the energy aspects of color and feng shui and how it all works together to create a space that feels great and helps support you in BEING your best. This color works with this idea. It is part of my Aligned Design system the considers art, science and energy in all my designs.
Master bedroom Edesign using Behr Voyage by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Euphoric Magenta
According to Behr, Euphoric Magenta is part of their bold and saturated “Optimistic View” palette. With this collection you can “add a touch of playful fun to eclectic and global decor styles.” Since I am all about global style design and love rich color, I picked this one to highlight:)
Master bedroom Edesign using Behr Euphoric Magenta by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
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Which Color of the Year is Your Favorite?
I enjoyed working with all these colors, and think they could each work nicely to create a relaxing master bedroom, although Big Cypress feels a little more energizing than relaxing. Of all the colors, I am not sure if Aegean Teal or Euphoric Magenta is my favorite, how about you?
Behr’s 2021 color Euphoric Magenta Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Color of the Year Aegean TealBehr’s 2021 color VoyagePPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Mystic Aqua.Mystic Aqua but with my my own rebel color scheme:)Behr’s 2021 color Royal Orchard Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year Urbane BronzePPG’s 2021 Color Palette with TranscendPPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Big Cypress.
Are You Inspired?
When your space is better, you are better. When you are better, the world is better.
Are you ready to create the perfect space for you? Try my Aligned Design consultation. It is a wholistic Interior Design and Color consultation that considers art, science and energy to give you a game plan for your whole home. I use the art of eco-friendly Interior Design mixed with color science and consider Feng Shui, transformative design, biophilia and color psychology to make your space feel great and support the life you want to live.
Once you have your game plan, we can work on specific rooms with one of my Edesign packages.
The designs above are examples of full service Edesign, where you get a floor plan, a concept board, a 3D render and a complete shopping list with set up instructions. Or, be brave and try some new color with an expert color consultation.
What’s Your Global Design Style?
The designs in this article are examples of global style design. Are you curious what your global style is? Take the quiz and find out.
In several articles I explored the 2021 colors of the year of different paint companies and compared them in the same Edesign I created for a master bedroom. I enjoyed exploring Benjamin Moore’s Agean Teal and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I was excited to see what PPG’s color of the year was.
But wait….they didn’t have one!! What??? No, they had a color palette for 2021 but not a particular color of the year. Honestly, I felt let down.
I guess I don’t like the idea of a color palette, because I don’t want to be told or encouraged to use a series of colors together. I like to decide that for myself!
The PPG 2021 Color Palette includes Transcend, Mystic Aqua and Big Cypress, which are meant to work together.
Here is what PPG says about their 2021 color palette:
Transcend: A mid-tone oatmeal-colored hue that draws on earthy influences and nostalgia.
Big Cypress, a shaded ginger with persimmon undertones, is the equivalent of a big, comforting hug for your home.
Misty Aqua, a watercolor cerulean blue, provides an unexpected pairing of freshness against the other warm, earthy tones.
I like the Misty Aqua. Transcend or really any beige makes me yawn. Big Cypress reminds me of the desert, and I am not sure it makes me feel like my home got a hug.
I am trying to have an open mind here and just get over the fact they didn’t just pick one color. I find it a little annoying, as if they are trying to sell me three paints instead of one.
I am not sure why they paired these colors together. Looking at the color data, they do not really fit into any traditional color scheme in relation to hue angle. They are not similar in terms of chroma or lightness to create a harmonious pairing. I don’t really get it, but will see what amazing and beautiful design I can create anyway! Here goes.
Master Bedroom Design
Design 1- Transcend and the PPG 2021 Palette
In this design, I used Transcend as the main color on the walls, and used the two other colors as accents or supporting colors. I used a shade of Mystic Aqua on the bed. The larger pillow shams and the lamps tie in Big Cypress. The area rug has some Transcend and Big Cypress colors in it and also a lighter shade of Mystic Aqua. My design celebrates circles and curves, mixes modern pieces with antiques, and mixes soft fabrics with glass, metal and pottery. I used my fractal art from the “Jenna” collection which has some of the Mystic Aqua color in the pillow shams and accent pillow, the wall art, and on one of the antique chairs. My fractal art celebrates curves and spirals. To learn more about spirals and fractal art, see my blog article What Does Your Art Mean?
.Design 1-Master Bedroom Edesign with PPG’s 2021 color Transcend on the wall. Design 1- Master Bedroom Edesign and Jenna Fractal Art by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.
Design 2- Big Cypress and the PPG 2021 Palette
In the design below, I used Big Cypress as the primary color on the walls with the other two colors as supporting colors. I changed the area rug to one that contains colors similar to Transcend.
Design 2- Master Bedroom Edesign and fractal art on the chair by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design using Big Cypress as the wall color
Design 3- Mystic Aqua and the PPG 2021 Palette
In the design below, I changed the wall color to Mystic Aqua, and changed the bed upholstery to a color similar to Transcend.
Design 3- Master Bedroom Edesign and fractal art on the chair by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design using Mystic Aqua as the wall color
Design 4- Mystic Aqua and my own color palette
In the design below, I did my own thing. I liked Mystic Aqua the best of the three wall colors. I developed my own palette using various shades of blue/greens and yellow, it’s opposite on the color wheel.
Design 4- Master Bedroom Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design using Mystic Aqua as the wall color and my own color palette.
Which Color of the Year is Your Favorite?
I enjoyed working with all the colors of 2021, and think they could all work nicely to create a relaxing master bedroom, although Big Cypress feels a little more energizing than relaxing. Of all the colors, I think Aegean Teal is my favorite, how about you?
PPG’s 2021 Color Palette with TranscendPPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Big Cypress.PPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Mystic Aqua.Mystic Aqua but with my my own rebel color scheme:) Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Color of the Year Aegean Teal Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year Urbane Bronze
Are You Inspired?
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