Design Tips That Can Make Your Small Apartment Look Bigger

Getting claustrophobic in your small apartment? You don’t need to consider moving to a bigger space. If you’ve got some time on your hands, a little bit of renovation can make you feel like you’re in a totally new home for a fraction of the price. Some minor changes and adjustments here and there will grow your apartment significantly. At the same time, you can still enjoy the convenience of having a smaller place – everything is much easier to clean and organize.

Here are some design tips to make your apartment look bigger.

Choose only what sparks joy

Before you get started with your renovations, clear out everything unnecessary in your apartment. The KonMari method is a wise strategy as it involves separating everything you own into categories before decluttering them item by item. This maximizes efficiency, and should not be too difficult to accomplish in a smaller home. In the end, you’ll get to keep only the things that spark joy. You can then proceed to decorate from there – but at least you know that you have only the things that bring you happiness and will continue to only make thoughtful purchases.

Add some mirrors

Mirrors can give the impression of a sense of openness. As they reflect light or the view outside, you may be fooled into thinking that there’s more space than there actually is. Put up big framed or standing mirrors, or even group smaller ones and mount them on a wall for a hall of mirrors effect. Go and scour some flea markets for vintage dressers or cabinets with a mirrored finish. You can even keep the reflectiveness going by placing a mirror atop a coffee table for a unique effect.

Work around permanent pieces

Most rooms have a permanent feature that takes up a lot of vital space. A blog post by HomeServe notes how a lot of homes now make good use of wall space by installing radiator shelves, disguising a room essential and adding a bit more flare. If you want to repaint your walls, carefully take out the radiator before installing it back and painting it the same color. As painting radiators has become quite common, you’ll definitely be able to find special paint to keep it safe amidst high temperatures. Once you’ve got that done, you can think about working around other permanent pieces like building shelves around your headboard.

Get rid of thick curtains

Curtains could serve as a barrier to the view and absorb too much of the light outside. They may also make you feel that you’re shrouded in darkness or in a cave, weigh the space down, thus making the space seem much smaller than it already is. If you still want some form of privacy, consider a more lightweight option like shutters or linen blinds. This will also allow more natural light to enter and flow throughout the entire space.

Keep it monochrome

Home decorating expert Coral Nafie says that too many colors may break up the space. This segmentation could make it seem even smaller. When choosing a color palette, it’s best to keep it monochrome. Try to tone down your color scheme too – cool, or delicate warm colors will make the room seem more open. Coordinate bigger pieces of furniture with these colors to keep it streamlined, and then you can accessorize with smaller pillows, vases, and trinkets.

Multipurpose furniture

To make the most out of your space, think about storage options that will let you keep things out of sight in items of furniture on display. There are a number of multipurpose furniture options that will allow you to free up the space and get rid of unwanted clutter. Think futons that have drawers under, ottomans that have removable tops to store linens, or even trundle beds that have the option for storing goods. The smarter the function, the better.

For more smart and affordable decorating ideas, check out the ‘4 Ways to Create the Home Office of Your Dreams Without Putting a Dent on Your Budget’ for tips and inspiration.

Specially written for NorthernLightsStaging.com

By: Julia Riley

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Design Tips That Can Make Your Small Apartment Look Bigger by Julia Riley for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Photo from Pixaby
Design Tips That Can Make Your Small Apartment Look Bigger by Julia Riley for Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Photo from Unsplash




Black Friday Deals to Get a Global Style Look

My inbox is overwhelmed with Black Friday specials. Some are really worth checking out! I even have a few of my own! It is a great time to get some new things to spruce up your home design. Here are a few of my top picks! But first, I just want to say Thank You!!! Thanks for being here and reading this and wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Gift Card- Interior Design Consultation- 50% Off

From now through  Cyber Monday I am offering a special service of a 1 hour design consultation for 50% off my normal design consultations which are 2 hours. Get a 1 hour online Interior Design Consultation as a gift for yourself or that special someone or give yourself a present! Send me your pictures and we can talk by phone, we can do a video call or walk me through your house using Facetime. Ask me anything.

Get a 1 hour online Interior Design Consultation as a gift for that special someone or give yourself a present! Send me your pictures and we can talk by phone, we can do a video call or walk me through your house using Facetime. Ask me anything. https://www.giftfly.com/shop/northern-lights-home-staging-and-design

Check out my selection of gift cards for my online Interior Design, Color, Home Staging and Vacation Rental Design consultations for your holiday gifts.

30% off and Free Shipping on my Unique Fractal Art

I create one of a kind Fractal Art which I share with you in my store, Northern Lights Home Staging and Design on Society 6. My designs are made into a wide variety of home decor including wall art, clocks, indoor and outdoor furniture, bedding, curtain, pillows wall hangings and more. In addition you can get tote bags, computer and ipad bags, cell phone cover, outdoor gear and more. Now through Cyber Monday, you can get 30% off everything with free shipping!

 My store Northern Lights Home Staging and Design on Society 6.

Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard

60% off Global Style Rugs

I love a great rug to create a focal point and set the style for any room. Boutique Rugs is offering 55%-60% off their rugs and they have some gorgeous designs! Here are some of my favorites. Click on the picture to learn more about each of these rugs.

Black Friday sale, 60% off and free shipping on Bohemian rugs. #boho #globalstyle #moroccan #turkish #livingroom #homedecor #blackandwhite #virtualdesign #interiordesign #interiordecorating #affiliate

Black Friday sale, 60% off and free shipping on Bohemian rugs. Add drama to your decor and the get the look of Bohemian style with these beautiful black and white rugs. 60% off and free shipping through Aug 4. #rugs #sale #bohemian #boho #globalstyle #moroccan #turkish #livingroom #homedecor #blackandwhite #virtualdesign #interiordesign #interiordecorating #affiliate

Black Friday sale, 60% off and free shipping on Bohemian rugs. Beautiful blue rugs to use for Bohemian or modern global Interior Design #interiordesign #bohemian #rugs

What’s Your Global Design Style?

All of these picks are great for modern global style design and telling your own unique and amazing story. Wondering what your Global Design Style is? Take the quiz and find out!

What's Your Global Design Style? Take this fun quiz to find out. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design #globalstyle #designstyle #interiordesign #onlinedesign #stylequiz #interiordesignquiz #interiorstylequiz

Ready to get the look in your home but want a little help to make it happen? Check out my Online and Edesign services. I would love to help you.

Edesign and Online Services. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #interiordesign #edesign #onlinedesign #interiordecorating #colorconsulting #homestaging #globaldesign #bohemian

Edesign and Online Services


 

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design is an award winning company with training in home staging, Interior Design and color consulting. We have won numerous awards for customer service, our blog, youtube channel and Interior design.

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Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard Black Friday Sales on Interior Design online consultations, fractal art home decor and global style rugs.#blackfriday #homedecor #sale #fractalart #designgiftcard

 

 




My House is a Mess and I Don’t Know Where to Start

Is your house a mess and you don’t know where to start when it comes to Interior Design or decorating? Do you wish your house felt like a sanctuary and the perfect place to relax? A place that is beautiful and feels so good there is no place you would rather be? 

Sometimes life gets so busy that it is hard to keep up with the clutter, the mess and before you know it, it has been so long since you redecorated that things look really outdated. You have a situation that feels overwhelming and you just don’t know where to start to pull it all together and create the sanctuary you always wanted. And on top of that, maybe you have a partner with totally different tastes. Or the budget just never seems to be there to really do things the way you want.

Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash
Our house is like a puzzle. Put the pieces together in a new way. Photo by Ryoji Iwata on Unsplash


Our houses are like a big puzzle. Sometimes just putting the pieces together in a new way can make a huge difference! I learned this lesson one winter when I decided to tear out all the carpeting in my older house and replace with laminate flooring. I figured out how to do it by watching YouTube videos. Of course, this required taking every last thing out of each room as I replaced the flooring to make it possible. And then putting it all back! And that is where the light came on for me!

I am a person that likes Bohemian and global style interiors. In general, that means “more is more”, so I have always had a lot of stuff and displayed it everywhere! I liked it, I was used to it and it felt good. But as I replaced the floors and started putting things back, I did it slowly, and re-arranged things. I started to notice just how much I liked it when the important pieces had more space around them and more room to shine. All of a sudden, I realized how much I liked “less is more”!

Less is more in Interior Design. SummerCollection1- Moyo Designs. #madebymoyo
Less is more in Interior Design. Photo by Moyo Studios


So, the moral of this story is that just because you think you really love a certain look, keep an open mind. New ways of doing things and getting rid of a few things might just bring you joy! You could always try taking everything out of a room and putting the most important pieces back in new ways, then layering the accessories and try leaving some things out. You can always store them and trade them out and highlight different things at different times for variety.

Need more ideas on how to get going? My Top Ten Interior Design Tips might help. Download your free report here.

My Top Ten Interior Design Tips by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Ten ways to create a sanctuary that your love. #interiordesigntips #decoratingtips #interiordesign #interiordecorating
Get Your Free Report

 

Ready to make changes in your home but want a little help to make it happen? Check out my Online and Edesign services. I would love to help you.

Edesign and Online Services. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #interiordesign #edesign #onlinedesign #interiordecorating #colorconsulting #homestaging #globaldesign #bohemian


Wondering what your Global Design Style is? Take the quiz and find out!

What's Your Global Design Style? Take this fun quiz to find out. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design #globalstyle #designstyle #interiordesign #onlinedesign #stylequiz #interiordesignquiz #interiorstylequiz

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design is an award winning company with training in home staging, Interior Design and color consulting. We have won numerous awards for customer service, our blog, youtube channel and Interior design.

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How to Flip a House and Make a Profit

Have you dreamed how to flip a house and make a profit? The first step is buying a great property with good potential to make a return on your investment. Then it is important to invest wisely in your repairs and upgrades. Finally, prepare the home for sale by having it professionally staged, create great curb appeal, get professional photos and sell it fast and at the high end of the price range for similar homes before you have any price reductions.

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping
How to flip a house and make a profit.

Invest Wisely

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. One tip is to invest wisely in your upgrades and finishes.#homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

We have all heard the real estate rule of thumb about buying the worst house in the best neighborhood. That strategy gives you the greatest opportunity to make the most profit, as long as the investment needed to fix it up is less than the value of similar homes in that neighborhood in great shape. Do your research on market values for similar homes to know what you can reasonably list it for. Prices can fluctuate so consider that in your calculations.

Before making upgrades, consider what is typical for similar homes in the area so you get a good return on your investment. You don’t want to invest a lot of money installing granite counter tops, for example, if similar homes nearby have laminate counter tops. Consider what the typical finishes are for counter tops, flooring etc. Look at local listings on Zillow and the details for homes for sale to find out.

Of course, you want your house to stand out and look better than similar homes to get the highest price. Great design and color choices can make all the difference without having to spend more for higher cost materials. Do a consultation with an Interior Designer or color consultant to come up with a great plan before you purchase anything.

List High and Avoid Mistakes

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Tip-List high and avoid mistakes, .#homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

There is a range of prices for similar homes in your market. You want the home to look in great condition so you can get an appraised value at the high end of that range and sell fast so you don’t have any price reductions. Time is the enemy of the house flipper due to holding costs. Price it competitively. Give yourself the best chance for success by using professional home staging and avoiding mistakes many home sellers make that cause a house not to sell quickly.

Connect with Buyers

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. One tip is to connect with buyers.#homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

The key to selling fast and for the highest price is making an emotional connection with buyers so they can envision themselves living in your for-sale home.

Make an emotional connection with home buyers.
Make an emotional connection with home buyers. Home staging by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

Hire a Professional Home Stager

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Tip- hire a professional home stager.#homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

The best way to connect with buyers is to get a consultation with a professional home stager and have them stage it for you. They are experts at decorating a home to highlight its best features, downplay the flaws and connecting with buyers so they can envision living there. They can give you paint color recommendations, stage it to appeal to your target market and give you tips for living in the home if needed while it is for sale. They can often use your existing furnishings and belongings to stage it and save you money on furniture and other rental fees if you plan to live in the home while it is listed. See my article on what to look for to find a great home stager to help you.

Don’t sell it Vacant

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Tip- Don't sell it vacant .#homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

If you are not living in the home, you may be tempted to skip the cost of staging and sell it vacant. It is hard for any buyer to make an emotional connection with an empty house. They look a little sad and lonely! Buyers have a hard time visualizing how big the rooms are (they often look smaller with nothing in them to give a sense of scale), if their belongings will fit, how to arrange furniture and the purpose of different rooms. Without furniture and other things in the rooms, there is nothing to focus on except potential flaws. Vacant homes often stay on the market much longer, leading to price reductions.

Stage for your Target Market

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Tip, Stage for your target market. #homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

Who is your target market? Is it a young family with children that are interested in your location near schools? A single professional? A retired couple? Look at who lives in your current neighborhood or is moving in. Check on Zillow to see how close the house is to different schools and what ratings they have. Stage your house to appeal to that target market. For example, to appeal to a young family with children, at least one bedroom should be decorated as a child’s room. A professional home stager will do this research and stage it to appeal to that market.

Increase Your Selling Price with Color

How to flip a house and make a profit. One tip is how to increase your selling price with color.#homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

Before selling, consider your paint colors, inside and out. Did you know that the right paint colors in the right rooms attract buyers and can increase the sales price? The wrong colors can also reduce the price buyers are willing to pay. To find out more, check out my free report,  Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale.

Top Paint Colors for a Speedy and Profitable Home Sale by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
Click on the picture to get your free report.

Great exterior colors and a memorable front door color can also make a big difference in helping your house stand out and be memorable with buyers….in a good way!

Color Consulting
Great exterior colors and a memorable front door color can help your house sell fast and for more. Design and color selections by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

Get Professional Photos

How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Tip, get professional photos. #homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

The first step to getting buyers to look at your property is to outshine the competition online with great photos. Your home stager or realtor can recommend a professional real estate photographer to take photos of your beautifully staged home to attract buyers online.  Check out my tips on how to prepare for your photoshoot.

Get Buyers in the Door with Curb Appeal

Make sure you have great curb appeal with a neat and clean yard, and a welcoming front door.  Your online photos may get buyers to the property, but without great curb appeal they may just drive by and never make it inside. Here is a handy guide on how to increase your curb appeal. A great front door color, beautiful door mat and pots of flowers or outdoor art can make a big difference. Consider highlighting “outdoor living space”, which is a great selling feature to attract younger buyers.

How To Increase Curb Appeal When Selling Your Home from First Fence Company

You can do it!

Making smart choices on your home purchase and upgrades, spending a little money on home staging and great photos will help you sell fast and for more and cost less than your first price reduction if the house sits on the market.

If you would like help planning for your colors and finishes or with home staging before listing, try one of my in person or online home staging, color or design consultations. 

Best of luck to you in your house flipping adventure!

 


Edesign and Online Services. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #interiordesign #edesign #onlinedesign #interiordecorating #colorconsulting #homestaging #globaldesign #bohemian


What is your global design style?
Take the quiz

 

Call 907-362-0065 today

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Northern Lights Home Staging and Design is an award winning company with training in home staging, Interior Design and color consulting. We have won numerous awards for customer service, our blog, youtube channel and Interior design.

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How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping How to flip a house and make a profit by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #homestaging #remodeling #interiordesign #colorconsulting #countertops #paintcolors #houseflipping

 

Online Home Staging Consultation
Online Home Staging Consultation

Virtual Staging
Virtual Staging

Interior Design Consultation-Online
Interior Design Consultation-Online

Not your average color consultation. Having problems picking the right color because you are stumped by so called “undertones”? Are the paint colors you have selected shifting blue, green or another color once they are on the wall? Not sure how to pick the right white? Wondering what paint colors will go with the countertops you have selected for your kitchen or bath remodel? Wondering if that countertop will go with your existing flooring or other fixed finishes? Not sure how to find the right paint colors to go with that rug, piece of art or furniture that you want to use in your design? I can take the guesswork out of all of these things by using color measurements. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Certified Color Strategist.
Not your average color consultation




Best Interior Designs of 2018

Searchmetry  wrote an article, “30 Interior Designers show off their best Interior Designs from 2018” which considers Interior Designers to follow in 2019 and the most important factors they focus on. They asked Interior Designers nationwide about their favorite design projects.  Northern Lights Home Staging and Design was honored to be one of the designers selected and to receive their Best Interior Designs 2018 award.

We were asked to submit our three favorite design project and discuss why they were our favorites. They then selected 27 designs for the article.

They selected my global design for a Turkish Style living room for the article.

“This Edesign project was one of my favorites because it embodies many of the design trends for 2019, including getting away from gray and celebrating color, mixing colors, patterns, and textures, mixing metals, and mixing vintage and modern styles.
This design uses Sherwin Williams color of the year, “Cavern Clay” with modern art and furniture and a traditional rug, accents and lighting.”

Awarded one of the top Interior Designs of 2018 by Searchmetry. Turkish Style Living Room Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. #edesign #cavernclay #colorconsulting #Interiordesign #bohemian #interiordecorating #paint #colors #homedecor #homedesign #moderndecor #colorfuldecor #interiordecor #decorating #interiorstyle #colorstrategy #interiorpaintcolors #colortips #interiorcolor #colorfuldecor #bohemian #global #99664
Awarded one of the top Interior Designs of 2018 by Searchmetry. Turkish Style Living Room Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

As a result of the article, we all received our badge of honor:)

Best Interior Design award- Northern Lights Home Staging and Design #99664 #awardwinning #bestinteriordesign #edesign #interiordesign #colorconsulting

To find out more about this particular design, see my blog article on Ways to Use Sherwin Wlliams 2019 Color of the Year, Cavern Clay.

Interested in learning more about Edesign? See my article on How Can I work with and Interior Designer on my Budget. If you would like help creating a beautiful Interior Design for your space, give me a call!


 

Want to learn more? Sign up to get our monthly award winning blog articles and get a free report in appreciation. Visit our award winning Youtube channel. Never miss a great idea!

One of the top 100 home staging blogs on the webNorthern Lights Home Staging and Design Award Winning YouTube Channel

See our latest post from our award winning blog!

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Wondering what your Global Design Style is? Take the quiz and find out!

What is your global design style?
Take the quiz

 

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Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design is an award winning company with training in home staging, Interior Design and color consulting. We have won numerous awards for customer service, our blog, youtube channel and Interior design.
Northern Lights Home Staging and Design is an award winning company with training in home staging, Interior Design and color consulting. We have won numerous awards for customer service, our blog, youtube channel and Interior design.



Northern Lights Home Staging and Design named Best of Houzz 2019

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design is recognized as a 2019 “Best of Houzz” by Houzz.com – the leading online platform for home remodeling and design.

Out of 2.1 million home professionals from across the United States and around the world, Northern Lights Home Staging and Design earned Best of Houzz 2019 in Customer Service. The Houzz website has 40 million monthly users, and the Best of Houzz Service award is based on the number and quality of positive client reviews received in 2018.

“Best of Houzz is a true badge of honor as it is awarded by our community of homeowners, those who are hiring design, remodeling and other home improvement professionals for their projects,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. Homeowners from around the world use Houzz.com to find remodeling inspiration and to connect with top-rated Interior Designers, home stagers or color consultants like Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

“It’s a great achievement and I am really honored to have achieved the award the last four years in a row!   I hope if provides peace of mind to potential clients that my work and service is endorsed by Houzz.  I thank all my clients for leaving great reviews and making this possible”Mary Ann Benoit- Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Check out Northern Lights Home Staging and Design’s five star reviews on Houzz.

Check out our publications 

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design awards and credentials  




What’s Your Global Interior Design Style- Greek!

Greek Interior Design Style Elements

The colors of Greece. Photo of Santorini by MariaMichelle from Pixaby.

Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy and clean. If you like lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia and gold accents, and a clean, de-cluttered, rustic look, Greek Interior design might be perfect for you! Designs tend to be simple, symmetrical, classical, and relaxing. Less is more.

Greek Style Living Room- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design. Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy and clean. If you like lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia and gold accents, and a clean, de-cluttered, rustic look, Greek Interior design might be perfect for you! #globaldesign #greek #greekstyle #interiordesign #edesign #onlinedesign #virtualdesign
Greek Style Living Room- Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

  • Color- Lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia and gold accents.
  • Design elements- whitewashed or exposed stone walls, blue shutters, Greek key pattern, columns (Ionic, Corinthian or Doric designs) incorporated into architecture, furniture or accessories. Moldings with classical details.
  • Accessories– Antique oil jars, glazed pottery, colorful glass. Greek columns holding sculptures or statues, plants or framing architectural elements.
  • Fabrics– Lightweight, sheer and white or neutral colors. Hang sheer white curtains on the windows or use sheer white fabric as a canopy over a bed. Varying shades of blue, often incorporating the Greek key pattern or stripes.
  • Architectural elements– exposed  wooden beams, stone walls, columns, and arches.
  • Flooring- stone, marble or limestone, ceramic tile, stained concrete. Area rugs with stripes, flowers or the Greek key patters are common.
  • Furniture-wooden furniture with carvings and soft simple lines. Modern furniture often incorporates the Greek key pattern.

Greek Interior Design is simple and elegant, inspired by nature, and looks light, bright, airy and clean. If you like lots of white with beautiful vivid blue, green, fuchsia and gold accents, and a clean, de-cluttered, rustic look, Greek Interior design might be perfect for you! #globaldesign #greek #greekstyle #interiordesign #edesign #onlinedesign #virtualdesign

 

Greek Interior Design Style Elements to Try

To get the look, you could go all out and incorporate all the elements of Greek Interior Design, or you can add some key elements to your existing decor. Try  lamps, pillows or rugs incorporating varying shades of blue reflecting the colors of the sea and the sky typically used in this style. Incorporate art using shades of blue that have natural elements related to plants or the sea. Try furniture, accessories or rugs with the Greek key pattern.   Here are some products you might like. Click on any of the pictures learn more.   Some contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase, they give me a small commission but it does not change your price. This allows me to take time to curate these products for you for free.

 

Are You Inspired?

These are just a few ideas of how to capture this beautiful style in your home. For help in putting it all together, other options to create this beautiful style, or help with your Interior Design or color needs, call 907-362-0065 today for a design consultation. Find out more about my services.

 

Wondering what your Global Design Style is? Take the quiz and find out!

What's Your Global Design Style? Take this fun quiz to find out. Northern Lights Home Staging and Design #globalstyle #designstyle #interiordesign #onlinedesign #stylequiz #interiordesignquiz #interiorstylequiz

 




Out with the Old- Ten Ways to Make Your House Beautiful in 2018

It’s a new year. Why not make a resolution to make your house beautiful! But how! Here are ten ways to make your house beautiful in 2018.

ten ways to make your house beautiful
ten ways to make your house beautiful

Make a Plan

You are much more likely to get the end result you want if you start with a plan. Many people just start buying things they like, hoping that it will all work together in the end. This usually does not work. A designer can help you come up with a great and affordable plan. It starts with understanding your own style, what you want and how your design will enhance how you live in your space.

Tell Your Own Story

It is easy to see pictures in a magazine or online of a room and think, “I want that”.  To have a beautiful house you love and will be unique, you need to tell your own story! Those pictures may serve as inspiration, but the items may not fit well in your space, fit your lifestyle, or work with things you own. Find things you love and are meaningful to you, give them a place of honor and build the design around them.

Buy what you Love

It is better to buy what you love, even if it is more expensive and it takes longer to get all the pieces you want than to rush to finish your design project with cheaper items. The things you love will make you happy over the long term. Try to find classic items that will stand the test of time, rather than something trendy. Trends fade quickly as will your interest in it.

Be Brave with Color

Color makes magic happen, affects the way you feel and is easy to change. Painting is an inexpensive way to make a dramatic difference. Get help from a color consultant or Interior Designer to determine the perfect colors for you that work with your finishes and furniture.

ten ways to make your house beautiful

Let there be light

Add magic to a space with layers of light. Find beautiful fixtures that add overhead lighting, mixed with lamps at mid-level and task lighting. Accent lighting on art and under cabinets look great.

Edit

We often collect so many things that nothing has a chance to shine. Get rid of the things you do not love.  Give the things you love a place of honor and enough uncluttered space around them so the eye is drawn to them and you can appreciate it. You can always put the other things away and change out the items you want to highlight for variety.

Be Patient

A great interior design perfectly suited to you happens in layers and takes time. Be patient.

Create a sanctuary for yourself

Your space should not only look good but feel good, give you a place to re-charge and feel like your favorite place in the world.

Services of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Change it up

Using more neutral colors for the walls and furnishings allows you to change the other colors in the room such as accent pillows, art and accessories as often as you like for variety.

Break the rules

If it looks good, feels good and you love it, do it!

 

Ready to make your home more beautiful? Call 907-362-0065 today.

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design awards and credentials

 

 

 




My Life as a Home Stager

Ever wondered what life as a home stager is like?

How I Became a Home Stager

Many years ago I got a degree in Interior Design, and although I used it on some jobs and always loved it, my life took a different path and I became a wildlife biologist. Three years ago, I decided I wanted to start some type of creative business. Working for the government as a scientist was not exactly feeding my creative spirit!  One day when taking one of those fun quizzes on Facebook, called “What is your true profession”, the answer I received was “designer”.  I started playing the “what if” game in my head, wondering what my life would have been like if I had stuck with Interior Design as a career. And then I thought, why not now?  I decided it would be the focus of my new business, Northern Lights Home Staging and Design.

While researching how to start a design business, I came across information on home staging. I really knew nothing about it and the whole concept of decorating a house to sell sounded fascinating. I thought it would be a great aspect of a design business.

Home Staging Training

After researching various home staging courses, I decided to take Debra Gould’s Staging Diva course because it seemed to be the most focused on how to successfully run a home staging business, rather than just teaching how to decorate. And I am so glad I did!

The course was fantastic and I continue to stay connected with Debra and other stagers from the class through coaching and conference calls. Part of the journey I love is the wonderful generosity, community and friendships I developed with this group of amazing creative people. Some have taken me under their wing and served as mentors when I was just getting started, and others I continue to collaborate with, developing products, articles and brainstorming ideas to make our businesses better.

Life as a Home Stager

After starting Northern Lights Home Staging and Design, I found my life as a home stager is fun and rewarding, and it feeds my creative soul with the great benefit of helping others. I love walking through a house during a home staging consultation, and on the fly determining all the things that can transform the house, make it look beautiful, connect emotionally with buyers, and help my clients. It is like an improvisational home staging dance. I also love staging vacant homes, where I have a blank slate and can do whatever I want! I love working with occupied homes, where I can see the story of the home owner, and bring out the beauty that is there by bringing a fresh eye, highlighting the important things the house wants to show. When you listen, the house speaks to you and tells you what makes it special. I love it when I am done with the staging and the home seller says “Wow, I wish we had been living like this all along…maybe we shouldn’t sell”!

Unexpected Benefits of Becoming a Home Stager

And there were some totally unexpected benefits as well. I have another business, a bed and breakfast which I started in 2002.  Once I started learning how home staging is an amazing a marketing tool that connects with buyers, I wondered if I could apply the same concepts to my bed and breakfast. I did some experimenting and found that it at least doubled my bookings and income and helped me attract my ideal customers. It transformed my business. And, doing this added a specialty niche for my staging business to help others with vacation rental properties with home staging.

My life as a home stager- Mary Ann Benoit of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design
My life as a home stager

From my home staging course, I learned or was inspired to learn all kinds of new things including designing my own word press websites, creating video for advertising, how to write a blog and create a newsletter, how to publish articles for magazines and do radio interviews. I also was inspired to continue my education and become a color expert and strategist, and add color consulting to my list of services. The home staging training opened so many doors to learning that helped me in numerous aspects of my life. And I think it is just the beginning!

It all gives me joy. And like any business, while there are times when business can be slow or clients can be difficult, it is all worth it and I am so happy this is what I am doing. If you are someone that has wondered about being a home stager, I say, GO FOR IT!

My life as a home stager
Mary Ann Benoit- President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

 

Staging Diva Home Staging Graduate
Staging Diva Home Staging Graduate

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Northern Lights Home Staging and Design awards and credentials




Empire Radio Now with Mary Ann Benoit

Empire Radio Now Interview with Mary Ann Benoit

I got a call from Empire Radio Now in New York to do a live interview on their online radio station for the “Professionals Roundtable”.  Exciting!! Here is a transcript of the broadcast, I hope you enjoy it.  You can hear the broadcast here.

Empire Radio Now Interview with Mary Ann Benoit
Mary Ann Benoit is the President of Northern Lights Home Staging and Design at northernlightsstaging.com.

Please give a description of your company and the products/services you offer.

Company: Northern Lights Home Staging and Design provides Home StagingInterior Design and Social Media Advertising for homes and vacation rental properties. We serve south-central Alaska but also do virtual consultations nation-wide.

We offer:

  • Home Staging for homes and vacation rentals-Decorating for sale homes to appeal to buyers and help sellers sell their house faster and for more. I also offer this for vacation rental properties to help owners attract their ideal clients and increase their bookings and income.
  • Interior Design and Redesign-Whether you are starting fresh in a new home or working with what you already have, I love helping the average home owner make their space something special that they love and works with their lifestyle.
  • Color Consulting for Interior Design as well as home staging projects. Whether it is paint, furniture or finishes, I can help you pull it all together.
  • Social Media Advertising- Once I have staged a for sale home or vacation rental, I help advertise the property by creating Facebook pages, video and ads to get the word out on what makes the property special.

Tell us about your background of your business and yourself.

My Background

  • Many years ago I received a BA in Interior Design in Washington DC. While I did some design work and enjoyed it, I was young and wanted to travel and explore the world and other options.
  • I worked a variety of jobs as a fire fighter and fire lookout for many years in Arizona. Then I took another path and followed my love of animals, and got a second degree in wildlife biology.
  • In 2001, I came to Alaska to work as a Wildlife Biologist.
  • In 2002, I also started a bed and breakfast, Arctic Paradise B&B.
  • I have always been an artist and create Jewelry, stained glass and do performing arts such as dance and music.

Business Background

  • I started Northern Lights Home Staging and Design 3 years ago.
  • I took the name Northern Lights because I want to inspire that feeling of awe and sense of magic that people experience when they see northern lights in my Interior Design.

What inspired you to pursue your profession?

Childhood love of design

  • I always loved the idea of transforming a space and making it beautiful. I dreamed of designing and building my own house even as a kid and used to endlessly sketch my dream house.
  • Over the years even though I was working in another field, I still loved Interior Design and indulged my passion for it in my own home and for friends and family.

A Facebook Quiz- “What is your true profession”, changed everything. The answer was “Designer”.

  • I considered the path not taken and wondered what life would have been like if I had taken my first path.
  • Then I decided I can just do it now! Why not? It did not have to be one or the other.
  • In researching how to start an Interior Design firm, I discovered home staging which seemed really fun. I took a home staging training program and then started my Home Staging/Design business.

What advice do you have for people considering starting their own business? 

Just do it. Follow your passion. It is never too late to start. Starting a business is easy; it just takes time and hard work to make it successful. Dont give up. Your turning point could be tomorrow!

Where do you see yourself in the near future?

I plan to highlight some new exciting additions to my business including:

  • Vacation Rental Staging– I realized by experimenting on myself and my Bed and Breakfast, that home staging and design can have a dramatic impact on increasing bookings and income and attracting ideal clients. I have started offering consultations and social media advertising for vacation rental property owners.
  • Color Consulting– I have always loved color and the magic it brings to a space. Recently, I went through training and became a certified color expert. I look forward to helping home sellers and home owners pick paint colors as well as use color to pull their design projects together.
  • I will also be promoting my services for nation-wide virtual consultations for staging, design, and color. So wherever you are, I would love to help you. Just visit my website, give me a call or send me an email and let’s get going on your project!

Call 907-362-0065 today

 info@northernlightsstaging.com

Why work with Northern Lights Home Staging and Design