It can often feel like the bane of our existence because we have to manage it so much in this logistics heavy industry.
Pardon the pun, but sometimes stock can feel really heavy on our business.
That’s why I am joined today by Brooke Gillham, from National Storage, to talk about how you can increase the flexibility of your storage solutions.
If you’re looking to ease the burden of managing stock levels in your business, click HERE to listen to my full chat with Brooke.
Naomi x
Are you coming to the 2019 National Home Staging Symposium? You’re in luck! Brooke will be there to answer all your questions about storage solutions for the home staging industry!
With a change in season I find myself scrolling images for inspiration. Sometimes people think when winter comes around, you can’t have fresh flowers – totally not the case!
I love a beautiful arrangements of flowers. They can be used to either make a statement or to just add a touch of greenery to a room. Adding a touch of flowers can add a different element to the space, for example, making an area more cheerful, adding a hint of fragrance, adding a pop of colour or to even compliment or enhance the current style/design within the space.
The beauty of it all is there are no hard rules on how or where you choose to incorporate flowers. You can add them in your kitchen, living, dining or even your bathroom. The look you want to create can differ depending on whether you choose long and thin flowers or short and rounded shaped ones. You may find yourself varying the look and feel as the flowers need changing to truly create your own personal touch knowing you haven’t spent a lot of money.
Image from Homemaking cottageImage from Savor Home BlogImage from Hgtv.comImage from Alison Royer
The images included are some of my inspiring shots where the use of flowers complimented the entire design of the room.
Want to find even more gorgeous things to add to your spaces? Come shopping with me in Bali for my Buying Tour in August 2019! Click here to find out more!
Creating the perfect dining space is something we can all achieve and guess what?! It doesn’t need to be done with a big budget!
Many families or households don’t take the time to regularly use the dining table as a chance to get together and enjoy a good meal and great company.
Dining spaces can be designed to accommodate each household’s lifestyle and taste. From a small family breakfast table to a large formal dinner, there are no set rules as to what you can and cannot include in your dining space. As long as your end result is a space that feels inviting and comfortable.
Some examples of items you could include in different dining areas could be:
Something traditional or conservative…
a timeless timber table and chairs
timber buffet styled with simple candles and/or vases
Contemporary artwork or mirror
Something modern or eclectic…
a white timber table
colourful chairs
quirky console table styled with plenty of fun personal touches
modern artwork or unique wall feature
Image via House BeautifulImage via Theinspiredroom.netImage via Douglasfriedman.net
With the styling industry ever evolving and many of us wanting to keep up with these changes, we can be pleased to know that sourcing that ‘must have’ item is achievable. The current market caters for all budgets with less expensive items to very costly, it really depends on what you’re after and what you’re wanting to spend.
Either way knowing you can create a space that has been designed and styled specifically for you should mean plenty of enjoyable times will be spent around the dining table, in style!
Do you own your own home staging company? Why not check out our business resources like Standard Operating Procedure templates? They’re the perfect way to improve your processes and procedures!
Recently I have been working with a client that has given me no end of interesting blog topics to bring to you, this one is about how to choose the right “shade of grey”. Each time this client excitedly shows me a new home furnishing or interior element that is grey they often follow up by saying, “but it’s not the right shade of grey, why can I see brown in it?”.
That’s why I’m going to give you my five rules for choosing a shade of grey for my home or client – they are a simple and a great place to start.
1. Decide before you start whether you are wanting the coolness of a blue grey or the warm of a brown grey.
2. Be careful what light you are viewing the swatches under in the shop or showroom. Depending on whether the lighting is a warm yellow or a cool white light will greatly effect the way you see the colour.
3. Remember that the the human eye is not a machine and that the way you view colour is quite subjective. What is a perfect grey to you may be different for your partner.
4. Colour is also relative, when you are viewing what you think is your perfect shade of grey at the paint suppliers it is one of many colours on the paint swatch. The colours along side your choice will impact on how you view and perceive the colour you have chosen. Where possible use a neutral coloured view finder to isolate the one colour of interest to minimise the impact this can have.
5. Finally, consider the final resting place of the colour. All the elements of the room you intend to paint will effect the final product and result of your “shade of grey”. The lighting, the shadows and the colours and furniture around it. Make sure you test the paint on a large size card on the wall (A3 at least) and live with the colour test for a while before making the final decision.
With winter around the corner there is no excuse to put off updating the colour of your favourite space, maybe to a shade of gorgeous grey.
Do you want to come on the shopping trip of a lifetime? Join me for my Bali Buying Tour this August 2019! Click Here to find out more!
Moving house can be such a stressful experience, what with the packing, cleaning and then unpacking all over again!
But with some careful planning, you can make the process run a little smoother. Follow these simple tips to reduce your stress next time you move:
1. Create a simple record keeping system
Whether it’s computer-generated or hand written, be very specific when recording things on this list. What is in each box and where each box needs to go in the new property.
2. You’ll probably need more boxes than you think
Have plenty of boxes around, you’d be surprised how quickly they fill up. If you go through a moving company, keep in mind that any boxes you purchase but don’t use can often be returned for a credit or refund.
3. Last minute essentials
Have at least one box for each room set aside to use for last minute items on moving day, such as bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies.
4. Protect your breakables
Use unprinted newsprint, packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion household goods.
5. Designate a colour for each room in the new home
You could use yellow for kitchen, orange for dining room and so forth. Apply coloured stickers on the box near the box number. In your new home, place a matching sticker on the door to each room. This is a simple way for the movers to know where to put everything when they arrive.
6. Keep things together when you or the movers are packing boxes
Keep bookends with books, light bulbs with lamps, and extension cords with appliances. Small, loose parts can be attached to the item they belong to with tape or placed in small envelopes — to keep picture hooks with pictures, shelf brackets with a bookcase, a special wrench and bolts with the wall unit.
7. Get excited!
For all the interiors lovers out there think of all the homewares shopping that will NEED to be done to make sure all your existing things blend with you new home once you have moved in. A great reward after a big job is well done.
Want to do your own homewares shopping? Click Here to come shop in Bali with me for my Buying Tour 2019!
Source gorgeous homewares in Bali for my Bali Buying Trip!
Lets face it, sometimes it’s easier to hide our mess behind closed doors – but I really do love open shelving, for so many reasons!
Luckily, open shelving does not have to look like a cluttered mess. When styled right, it can add so much character and interest to your space that you might want to do away with all your cupboard doors!
Check out these great options below.
Modern Desk Accessories design by West Elm
Don’t think of open shelves the same way you think of storage, it’s not about squeezing in everything you can!
Instead, make your open shelves the feature of your room.
By using simple floating open shelves you can create so many different looks depending on what you accessorise the shelves with.
They can totally be functional too, just a more presentable version of what you’d usually store away!
Want to attend our National Home Staging Symposium before spots run out? Get your tickets below!
Research into home buyer psychology tells us that we have just 30 seconds to make a first impression when selling our home.
So you need to nail the look and feel of your property if you want to sell faster and for more money!
If you want to get prepared before the property stylist comes to perfect your space, here are three things to avoid doing during the process:
Declutter
A lot of clients tell me that their homes feels comparatively empty when it goes to market. This is where the idea of cosy vs clutter comes in.
It’s often difficult to differentiate between the two when it’s your own home, however it’s essential not to get this one wrong. The best rule is to try to avoid the “cosy” look when selling your home. Having too many accessories, personal photographs and other items in an attempt to create “cosy” will actually make the property seem cluttered and lose its appeal to the broader market.
Stick to stylish, understated and sophisticated accessories. There’s a fine line though, you don’t want your property to feel cold – but the property stylist can help you bring in warmth with great styling choices.
Living area styled by Naomi Findlay
Not being able to look past your own personal style
This is an area of great concern when you are styling a property for sale. You have to remember that your personal taste is not necessarily that of the market. When selling, you need to appeal to as many people as possible so remember – when you have your home styled for sale it is not about you (I know that hurts but it will help you when you sell, trust me).
This is why bringing a professional in can be the best thing you could do to increase your chances of selling for more.
Keep your styling neutral
Choosing furniture that is the wrong size for your space
The use of furniture that is too big or the wrong shape can drastically affect the way a potential buyer sees your home. It’s all about scale and making the space feel light and airy. If your bedrooms are small, your choice of furniture could either emphasize the tiny space or completely transform the feeling for a potential buyer.
Your home stager can work with you to choose appropriate furniture if yours is the wrong fit.
Are you a home stager? Want to boost your career? Come to the National Home Staging Symposium! Click below!
Naomi here! I wanted to share this story with you to inspire you!
One day I was sitting in my office looking at the beautiful ‘standard flowering cherry blossom’ that has shed its last leaf and formed the buds that will soon turn into beautiful blossoms. I found myself thinking of all the great things I could use photographs of the such a beautiful tree for. Here are some photos I took and converted them to black and white.
Now imagine them framed and above your bed or at the end of your dining table, creating a stunning effect like in the image below.
Get out your camera or even use your phone and try it, it is a very affordable feature to add to any room!
I hope that inspires you to get creative!
All comments you leave below are read and appreciated so please let me know your thoughts.
Are you coming to the National Home Staging Symposium 2019?
When you work in property styling, knowing how to create gorgeous vignettes is essential!
But what are vignettes? And how can you make them amazing?!
Vignettes are small arrangements of bits and pieces usually placed on coffee tables, book shelves, benches and anywhere that can hold specific items to bring texture and warmth to a space.
The ways in which vignettes are arranged is not random, even though it can look that way. In order to have a successful and aesthetically pleasing vignette, it is necessary for the items used to be specifically picked for a particular reason.
A vignette can be as simple as a small house plant next to a book on a coffee table. These items are commonly used in vignettes because plants are not only aesthetically pleasing but they can also create a positive and calming atmosphere in the area.
Coffee table books are often used in vignettes as they are intriguing and can make guests interested in the overall arrangement of the vignette.
Small artworks, candles and magazines are all used in vignettes to create interest and pleasing aesthetics in an area such as a coffee table.
The idea behind vignettes is that you are able to create your own small artwork that you can change whenever you please.
When styling vignettes it is of utmost importance to ensure that all items used are of different textures, shapes and sizes. While vignettes may seem easy to style, it can be difficult to create an arrangement that makes you and everyone who sees the vignette say “WOW!”.
Using different colours, textures, shapes and sizes that all work together is the most effective way to create an amazing vignette, but it is all about trial and error.
Where you put your vignette can also determine if your vignette works or not as well. A vignette may look awesome on a coffee table, but it may look a little too much on a book shelf. It’s all about figuring out what works best in the space.
If you’ve created a gorgeous vignette, tag @NaomiFindlayOfficial on Instagram and we’ll share it with our audience!
Styling a master bedroom in a home for sale can be tricky. The majority of time spent here is for sleeping and for this reason, many people have a complacent attitude when it comes to styling the master bedroom.
But the key is the create a space that oozes comfort, tranquility and space. So how do you create a space that attracts buyers?
Read on for my top style tips…
Having a pleasing master bedroom is more than just the mattress. When it comes to putting your house on the market, it’s all about practicality and aesthetics so choose gorgeous pillows, play with different colours and textures, and use light to your advantage.
The bed is the major part of a master bedroom, and is usually the focal point of the room. Simple bedding such as a white cover is best. This can be dressed up with a throw and pillows of a variety of colours.
Not all master bedrooms have a lot of wardrobe space, and buyers will wonder if there is enough room for clothing so consider adding stylish clothes rails and a chest of draws to showcase alternative storage solutions. As long as the furniture is scaled to suit the size of the room, it shouldn’t look crowded and can in fact make the space feel complete.
Lighting is another key feature that is of utmost importance in the master bedroom. Natural light is always a plus, but it is understandable that this is not always available.
Downlights, side table lamps, tall feature lamps and candles are all great ways to make the room feel more comforting and, most importantly, makes sure the room is well light.
Accessories and art are also great ways to make the room shine and add interest without deterring buyers.
We have scattered some of our favourite master bedrooms below! As you can see, there is no strict formula when it comes to decorating the master bedroom but all designs contain the features mentioned above.
Open plan living spaces are a phenomenon in the architecture industry, and so they should be!
They bring people together and can be used as a space for everyone instead of leaving set activities in set rooms like the kitchen.
Here are our Top 5 Pros of open plan living spaces in the home.
1. They create flow
Unlike in older houses where the dining and living rooms are clearly separated, open plan living spaces allow you to flow more easily through the home.
This is due to the lack of walls between the kitchen, living and dining rooms and also your ability to implement your design choices with more purpose to ensure that each space flows by connecting to each other.
2. They feel bigger
Open plan living spaces can make the whole house seem bigger! They open up the space and bring light in, giving the illusion of a bigger space.
3. Perfect for entertaining
Open plan living spaces are also great for entertaining purposes. Instead of being locked away in the kitchen while all your friends are chatting in the lounge room, open plan living spaces allow you to be part of the conversation as well. These spaces often open out onto a deck or outdoor area. This allows for optimum entertaining, regardless of rain or shine.
4. Perfect for a family
On a more personal note, open plan living spaces can bring the family together, both physically and metaphorically, as it allows space for kids to play and do homework as well as space for the parents to do work, cook dinner and entertain.
5. You can create better design
Because open plan living blurs the lines between living room and dining room, it allows for a much wider variety of furnishings, accessories and overall design theme in the home. Some designs can look crowded and overdone if they are shoved into a small room. Open plan living allows for continuity of design and theme throughout the majority of the house and allow you to fully invest in a style that you love!
Want to boost your career in home staging and learn from experts in your industry? Attend the BIGGEST home staging event in the country at the 2019 National Home Staging Symposium! Spots filling FAST – save your seat here!
