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4 Tips For Hanging The Perfect Wall Art

May 9, 2018 by naomi

One aspect of decorating that many people struggle with is choosing and hanging wall art. If you’ve left the walls of your home blank because you’re afraid of making an error, or if you’ve hung photos and prints only to be disappointed by the results, keep reading! By following a few best practices, you can use your artwork to transform your space with these 4 simple tips.

Hang only what you love

Choosing artwork for your home is highly personal subject, and this is where we let go of any rules, save for one: You must love the works of art you hang on your walls. They should speak to you. Never choose a painting or print just because you think it matches your room — it’s a sure-fire way to be disappointed in the end.

Original paintings can be expensive, but if you have artistic friends or family, you can frame some of their original pieces for a really sharp, custom look. You can also purchase prints, enlarge favourite photos (black and white portraits are very chic), or find some incredible antique signs or other interesting objects to hang on your walls for interest. You just need to love it.

2. Don’t skimp on the frames

If you choose to hang traditional wall art, it’s worth it to spend a little more for professional framing. This will protect your investment, as framers use acid-free materials and UV-rated glass to make sure your artwork doesn’t deteriorate. Framing is also an opportunity to unify your look. For example, you could have several very different paintings in style or subject, but if they’re all in similar frames, you add instant cohesion to your room.

3. Keep artwork in scale with the space

The biggest mistake most people make is hanging a picture that’s too small for the space. If you put a beloved, page-sized portrait on an expansive wall, it will be totally lost and ignored. To figure out how large a picture to hang on your wall, measure the width of the space (say, the area between two windows) and multiply that number by .57. The result is the ideal width of the painting you should center in that space. This bit of arithmetic is based on decorators’ tried-and-true proportions, but you of course have a little leeway. You can also group smaller photos together to reach this number — just be sure to account for additional spacing between each.

4. Hang artwork at eye level

Many people hang their pictures too high on the wall, thinking that there’s a lot of space to fill toward the ceiling. This is not the case! The centre of your artwork should be at eye level of the average person — if you live with someone, split the difference. The one exception is with lettered signs, which are typically designed to be seen from a distance and can therefore be hung higher than eye level if you like.

If you stick to these four simple rules, you’re sure to be pleased with how your works of art transform your walls.

Want more tips? Get your FREE Crash Course in Home Staging below!

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How to transition from your corporate job to running a home staging business

January 12, 2018 by naomi

If you have a passion for styling homes, building your own home staging business can be one of the most rewarding careers out there. There’s the creative freedom, working your own hours and dealing with the clients of your choice. In theory, it’s an easy decision to change your career overnight, but I know that the transition from full time work in a corporate setting to running your own business is a little more complicated than that.

To help make it a little easier, follow these 4 steps to ensure your transition from working a 9 – 5 to running a home staging business is a smooth and successful one:

Set your work hours

I’ve heard people say that the main reason that they want to run their own business from home is because they can work only when they want to work. It IS true that you can set your own work hours when you work at home but it does NOT mean that you don’t have to have set work hours.

When you have a job that you go to outside your home, you are required to be at that job at a specified time on specified days of the week. When you have a work at home job or business, you need that same kind of structure. You need to set regular working hours. The freedom that a work at home job provides is that you can choose the hours…but you do have to choose!

A ‘hit or miss’ work schedule…or rather, the lack of any work schedule at all, simply will not work. Time is of the Essence! YOUR time!

Let your friends and family know your work schedule

The benefits of running your own business means you can be at home to see the kids off to school and be at home when they get home. You can put a load of laundry in and it can run through the cycles while you are working. But you must enforce a work schedule for yourself and insist that your family and friends also adhere to it.

A job out in the brick and mortar world tells your family and friends that your time is spoken for during your working hours. When you work from home, expect your spouse to see you as being free to run errands. Your friends will see you as being available for long telephone conversations, lunch or for a coffee klatch.

You can see the problem. The best way to accomplish using your time to your own best advantage with your business is to make a schedule and tell your family and friends what that schedule is.

You don’t have to be rude but you do have to be firm. Make it clear to all. “I will be working between 9 AM and 3 PM Monday through Friday. On those days and during those hours, I am NOT available to run errands or take personal phone calls or entertain company.” Then stick to it!

Create your own brand

When running your own business, you need to work on creating your brand. A brand is more than a name or a physical feature, it is the perception that customers have about your product or service. It’s your promise to your audience. In general terms, it’s an idea or image of a specific product or service that consumers connect with.

Whilst in the order of things a logo usually comes first, the trick is to then grow your brand from there.

When establishing your brand first work out what the vision, values and personality of your company are. Consider your audience and define them. What’s their age, gender, occupation, location and personality traits? When doing these exercises, also remember that this is not about defining you or describing what you like, you need to put yourself in the shoes of your potential buyers to see what they desire.

Figure out your competition

In the age of technology, you can do a million and one things to switch up your business and create a unique element of interest that set you above other home stagers in your area. All that you have to decide is what ideas you are going to pursue!

This could be creating your own Youtube channel where you share advice or film the home staging process of a property. It could be starting a blog to engage your audience and direct traffic to your website. There’s even options like offering warehouse tours and creating an online op-shop for old furniture stock – get creative!

Are you ready to start your career in home staging? Click on the image below to claim your spot in the first course now!

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Staging Designs | Home Stager of the Month

December 5, 2017 by naomi

At IIHS we love having the opportunity to showcase the work of our Shine members as one of our many membership perks! This month, our Home Stager of the Month is the lovely Dimitra Oldham from Staging Designs.

Dimitra has been in the industry for almost a whole 9 years and has been running Staging Designs in Sydney since 2013!

What made you get into the industry?

After a long career in the Corporate Sector in senior management, we moved the family to the US where my husband took up a new role. I was at home with my little one who was a year old and my daughter was at pre-school.

I always had a passion for property and had worked in a buyers agency in Australia helping clients find their ideal property, so I knew how important it was to have a well presented home for sale. I came across Home Staging and after doing some research I completed the Home Staging course.

At first I set about helping friends and then worked with a local stager. Whilst I was in the US, Home staging was starting to hit the shores of Sydney. So naturally when we decided to come back to Australia it was a no-brainer to build my business here.
Staging was in its early days back then so it was a slow start, but I kept persisting with it. During this time I was also helping investors renovate their properties to increase their returns, so that kept me quite busy too.

Of course now staging has really changed the way property is sold today which fortunately is keeping us extremely busy!

What is your favourite part of working in home staging?

I absolutely love helping clients transform their property and really fall in love with it again. It is great when the client sees the completed home for the first time and they realise the potential their home had. Most clients say ‘I should have had you in sooner so we could enjoy it a little’. But at the end of the day ensuring that our clients get the benefit of the full potential value from their home is the best part.

I also love that no two days or properties are the same. Each property is different and presents its own possibilities and challenges. Seeing the look on the clients faces when we have completed our recommendations..is priceless… and the satisfaction I get that moment, never gets old! That’s what keeps me doing this everyday!

What advice would you give someone wanting to enter the industry?

Watching the home renovation shows people get the impression that it’s easy and fun. And yes whilst I do absolutely love what I do and have fun it is also a lot of hard work. To build a successful Styling business you need more than just a creative eye. It’s about building relationships, solving complex problems, being flexible and adaptive, learning to run a business, requires some real estate understanding and can also be quite a physical job.

The best advice I can give is find someone you can work with so you can get first hand knowledge of what’s involved. If its what you want to do then educate yourself in Home Staging as this is very different to just Interiors training.

To get in touch with Dimitra, head over to Staging Designs at www.stagingdesigns.com.au.

IIHS Success Story: Jaculin Dodson

November 2, 2017 by naomi

Here at IIHS, we strive to make a difference in the lives of our students that goes beyond the course content. It could be through giving you the tools you need to succeed, or the confidence you need to make positive changes in your lives. Each year, we are so proud of the growth and determination we see in our students and we’re over the moon to share some amazing success stories of some of the best home stagers and stylists from the IIHS community!

So without further ado, we would like to introduce…

Jaculin Dodson – Peony Property Staging

How has your business grown since studying with IIHS?

“I’ve always had a passion for interiors and for property. While on maternity break with my children, I knew that I didn’t want to get back into the corporate world and I wanted something that would give me the freedom to be around for my growing family and that also fuelled my passion.

I came across the International Institute of Home Staging, as being a Newcastle based girl, had followed the growth of Naomi’s Silk Home business with much interest.

I took my leap of faith and bought my ticket to attend the first Home Staging Symposium in 2015. My business was a dream at this time and after attending the Symposium in Sydney, I was inspired and fired up to make this a reality”.

Home stager success — Image from Peony Property Staging

What has been one of the best parts of becoming a member of the IIHS community?

“I signed up as a Shine/Professional Member at the Symposium and also enrolled in Course 1, The Art of Home Staging and to be honest, I haven’t looked back. I completed my studies in the Art of Home Staging and then enrolled in Advanced Home Staging and Business Development.

My business growth has been incredible since I studied and I took on Home Staging as a full time job. I have moved from being home based, to storage sheds and a desk in a collective office, to recently taking on my own warehouse and office in Newcastle where I now operate all facets of my business. I’ve taken on staff and the plan is to bring my husband into the business next year!

I will not ever look back and I’m so glad that I took that leap and went along to the IIHS Symposium and studied with IIHS”.

What are the goals you have for your business and how did studying with IIHS help you achieve these?

“I am wanting to continue to grow and increase my capacity to service more agents and clients in the local area.

I am a believer in investing in myself and in my business and aside from the IIHS Course, I have also attended a number of other events organised by IIHS including travelling to Bali for Business & Balance Retreat!”

We are so proud of you Jacci!

You can find out more about Peony Property Staging here: http://www.peonystaging.com.au/

If you would like to follow in Jacci’s footsteps and take a step closer to getting your dream job, you can enroll in our last home staging course of the year here.

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IIHS Success Story: Jessica Dwyer

November 2, 2017 by naomi

So without further ado, we would like to introduce…

Jessica Dwyer – Right At Home Staging

How has your business grown since studying with IIHS?

“For me personally, I did not want to go out into the real estate market trying to sell my services without having any formal training behind me. I came from a corporate environment with no experience in Property Styling or owning my own business, so commencing studies with IIHS gave me the framework l needed to start my business.

From the smallest things l would have struggled with – things l would never have thought of, to larger things like templates or reading materials – the IIHS Course really helped put things into perspective.

Right at Home Staging is a regional business, so its taken a little while for the concept to be embraced, but its really started to pick up for me and l have no doubt that being an IIHS student and professional member has given me the right skills and confidence to stay focused, positive and professional.”

Home stager success story — Image from Right At Home Staging

What were the biggest things you learnt from studying with IIHS?

“Everything! As mentioned above, l had no experience in running my own business or property styling, so l really felt that the course and materials were such a good starting point for me. I think things would have been a lot more difficult for me if l were trying to start this business without the course or support of IIHS.”

What are the goals you have for your business and how did studying with IIHS help you achieve these?

“The goal was to become a reputable property styling business for my area. I can’t even imagine how this would have happened without the support of IIHS. IIHS has given me so much more confidence and for that l am so grateful. It’s a pleasure studying with IIHS, the feedback on each assignment is always valuable and getting support from other members is also priceless.”

Congrats Jess, we’re so proud of you!

You can find out more about Right At Home Staging here: www.rightathomestaging.com

If you would like to follow in Jess’ footsteps and kickstart your career in home staging, you can enroll in our last course of the year here.

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IIHS Success Stories 2017

April 24, 2017 by naomi

Does your idea of a dream job feel unattainable? Do you wish you could quit your 9 – 5 and start your own business? Imagine doing what you loved for a living every day! For 3 very talented women, this became their reality and so it does for many people who complete an IIHS Home Staging Course!

Homing staging is booming and it’s much more than just redecorating people’s bedrooms. Home staging is all about looking at what’s on trend, designing property aesthetics and staging properties for the market that will sell at the best price possible. So, why should you start your home staging career in 2017?

Three of our most successful students are here to tell you their story.

JESSICA DWYER – RIGHT AT HOME STAGING

2015 Symposium Success Story

March 16, 2016 by naomi

As the National Home Staging Symposium 2016 is right around the corner we are reminiscing of the excellent turn out we had last year!

If you are unsure if you should come to the symposium or not, this success story is one that will definitely make you buy your tickets straight away!

Gary and Lynette Landy were considering jumping into the home staging industry before they attended last years summit, but after they were convinced that they had finally found the right career path for them.

Dynamic Home Transformations

“Prior to attending the summit we had decided, a few months earlier, to start up our own staging business. Gary had completed a course with Melissa Marro (USA) & is a qualified Home Stager. Lynette has a Diploma of Interior Design, which encompassed an additional unit of Property Styling.

Our history is, Gary was a retired, very senior, policeman of many, many years service & Lynette had a background in Insurance (many years ago); Property Management & office management. After a very trying 2013 (health wise) we decided to take our lives in a very different direction. Our decision to get involved in Property Staging / Styling was twofold really. Firstly, Lynette had completed her Diploma of Interior Design and we had previously had numerous investment properties that we had renovated, leased, decorated and sold.

When we arrived at the 2015 Summit we were quite unsure of ourselves & whether the documentation we had printed to hand to Agents & potential clients was appropriate. Research on the Internet only provides so much information – and almost all of this is based outside Australia!

There were a number of things we took away from the Summit that have made a huge difference to us.

Firstly, it gave us the confidence to go forward and promote our business. We had the opportunity to ask questions of those running the Summit & the Guest Speakers, which proved to be invaluable. For example, it was our intention to commence marketing to Agents by arriving at the office & requesting to speak with the Sales Director. We were then hoping to be able to attend their weekly sales meeting & present our Company. At the Summit, we spoke with Andrew Robinson (Estate Agent) and Andrew Dart (Director – IIHS) that this would be the wrong approach. Their advice was that we attend Open for Inspections & seek to gain an appointment with each individual Agent directly. This has actually worked!!! Not every time but we did manage to speak with a number of Agents over coffee.

Another very important aspect that we took away was that we needed to maintain continued contact with the Agents. Yes, that is common sense but sometimes it takes someone else to highlight it to you. This task alone has meant numerous opportunities for us to advise and quote.

Finally, what is probably the most vital aspect we came away with was that there are others who have been in exactly the same position as us. We met many others at various places in their staging business, either just starting out or having been doing this for some time, who were eager to talk and listen. Knowing we were not alone in this endeavour (even though logically you know there are others out there doing the same thing) was comforting. The fact that there is an Australian Membership available for us to join so we can continue to learn, share the successes of others, understand the issues that we can be confronted with is very empowering to us.

So attending the Summit in July 2015 gave us the confidence that what we had commenced with regards to our documentation printing & business plans were in fact on track with where we needed to be. We are stoked that the information we came away with at the 2015 Summit has meant that our business has grown from a fruit pip to a ripening peach. There is nothing that will stop us attending the 2016 Australian National Home Staging Symposium”.

Make sure you check out Dynamic Home Transformation here!

Uncategorized

Hang only what you love

2. Don’t skimp on the frames

3. Keep artwork in scale with the space

4. Hang artwork at eye level

Set your work hours

Let your friends and family know your work schedule

Create your own brand

Figure out your competition

What made you get into the industry?

What is your favourite part of working in home staging?

What advice would you give someone wanting to enter the industry?

Jaculin Dodson – Peony Property Staging

How has your business grown since studying with IIHS?

What has been one of the best parts of becoming a member of the IIHS community?

What are the goals you have for your business and how did studying with IIHS help you achieve these?

Jessica Dwyer – Right At Home Staging

How has your business grown since studying with IIHS?

What were the biggest things you learnt from studying with IIHS?

What are the goals you have for your business and how did studying with IIHS help you achieve these?

JESSICA DWYER – RIGHT AT HOME STAGING

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