StageStruck's blog

DECORATING TIPS FOR WEEK OF MAY 26TH

1. 3 of anything is a collection (kids don't count). If you add to your collection, remember the rule of 1 in and 2 out. For every one thing you bring in, take 2 out.

2. Using tile for important wall areas, such as the kitchen, creates interesting pattern, color, and texture.

3. To find the square foot of your room multiply its length x width.

4. The kitchen is the most lived-in room in the house.

5. Texture refers to the touch, feel of something. For example, there can be nubby texture like that of a wool suit jacket, satin smooth like silk, fuzzy like chenille, and rough like hemp.

6. A quick way to refresh any room is to add lots of texture in the form of pillows, rugs, baskets, quilts, and throws.

7. For more space in a small bathroom, consider replacing the door with a pocket door (one that slides back into the wall).

8. Choose a mattress that is 3 inches longer than the height of the tallest person sleeping on it.

Standard mattress sizes:

Twin 39"x75"
Exra long twin; 38"x80"
Double: 54"x75"
Queen: 60"x80"
King: 76-78"x80"
Cal. King: 72"x84"

9. A cute way to dress up a porch or deck is to put potted plants in a child's wagon. Just roll it anywhere you want on the deck.

10. Consider new ways to use old things. For instance, use old suitcases as tables, a birdbath with a glass top can be used as a sidetable. Tree branches or canoe paddles can be used as curtain rods.

Sheila Swanson
www.MyStageStruck.com

THIS WEEK'S DECORATING TIPS:

1. When hanging artwork, it is a good idea to lay them on the floor first and rearrange them that way. You will know exactly where to hang them without putting tons of nail holes in the wall.

2. White toothpaste can fill in those nail holes in a white wall.

3. It is OK to take your pillows and accessories into the stores to see if what you are planning on buying will go together.

4. When purchasing towels, look for Egyptian cotton. Although it is more expensive, you won't have to buy any more towels for years.

5. Always, always buy prepasted wallpaper. You will thank me later.

6. If you are planning on hanging wallpaper, put down Kilz first. Kilz makes it so much easier to remove the paper when the time comes. You can also paint your walls with Kilz if you want bright, bright white.

7. Popcorn ceilings can be removed. They are there to hide the seams of the drywall. You will have to scrape and scrape it in order to get rid of it, but it can be done.

8. It is important to do the prep work before you paint. Prep work is taping baseboards, electrical outlets, where the ceiling and the wall meet, and anywhere else you don't want to get paint on.

9. When packing up dishes for an upcoming move, use coffee filters between dishes. These are the perfect size for saucers and smaller plates.

10. If you are going to be moving soon, leave the clothes in the dresser drawers. The reasoning behing this is, the clothes have to be put back in the dresser anyway, you might as well just leave them there. That is one less thing to pack and unpack.

Sheila Swanson
MyStageStruck.com

HOUSEHOLD TIPS 

- The trends to watch for this year are: Roses everywhere, text messaging used on fabrics, candles, wall art, see through furniture that looks like wire bicycle baskets, the color yellow, diamond patterns, and geometric shapes on everything.

- Not enough light in your room? Try dusting off the light bulb. You will be amazed at how much brighter the room will look.

- On the edge? If you are going to be using blacke edging in your landscape, go for the flat kind; not the kind that is rolled on top. The flat edging will stay in the ground. The rolled kind just pops up.

- Start your seedlings in an egg carton. If it is cardboard, just plant the whole thing in the ground and it will breakdown over time. The seedlings will be evenly spaced out since they are in individual egg sections.

- Need a tray? Add drawer handles or pulls onto a picture frame and voila! A tray.

- When you change your smoke alarm batteries, wash your curtains. That way you will remember and kill two birds with one stone.

- Planning on painting a ceiling this spring? Wear swim googles over your eyes so that paint will drip on the goggles (which wash off easily) and not in your eyes. Wear rubber gloves and make a cuff in each one. When paint drips it will drip into your cuffs. All you do is let the paint drip out of the cuffs and back into the pan.

- Wrap your paint roller in plastic wrap if you will be taking a break from painting. It keeps the roller moist no matter how long your are gone.

- Don't prune your forsythia when they start to bloom. Do it after the blooms go.

- Keep a wet washrag in a baggie and take it with you next time you go out. It comes in real handy.

Sheila Swanson
www.mystagestruck.com

SPRING = A TIME FOR CHANGE

Want to change the look of your room? Try changing the blades on your ceiling fans! It is easy to change the look of your ceiling fan blades. Most fan companies put different patterns or colors on both sides of the blades. Just turn your blades over and you have a new look.

Old, ugly formica countertop? Here's how to give it a new look: Take a primer like KilZ and over a clean countertop apply this first. Then when dry, apply your paint. Give it a few coats. Then to seal it, use a waterbased finish on it. Add at least 3-4 coats. Let each layer dry before applying the next.

Don't be afraid of using bold colors in your home. Unsure? Then paint the longest wall in the room the boldest color and paint the remaining 3 walls a lighter color. You still get the pop of color but it won't over whelm you. Still not sure? Then add color with colorful pillows, curtains, rug etc.

Sheila Swanson
www.MyStageStruck.com

A FEW HOUSEHOLD TIPS

- Keep an empty laundry basket handy so if company calls and says that they are 5 minutes away, you can stash everything in the laundry basket and hide it away until the company leaves.

- For quick paint touchups, put some paint in an empty brown medicine bottle and label it. When you need a touch up use a QTip or cotton ball and feather the paint on wherever it is needed. No more lugging heavy pan cans just to do a touch up!

- Empty yogurt cups and the lids make great paint cups for kids. Just pop the lid on when they are done so the paint doesn't spill. If you are worried that the cup will tip, place the cups in a muffin tin. Or just mix the paint in a muffin tin and that way they have all their paints in one spot and it is easier to carry.

ARE YOU WARM OR COOL?

Colors fall into 3 types; warm (reds, yellows,oranges), cool (blue, green, violet), and neutrals (black, white, gray, brown). For the warm colors, think of the sun, its warmth, high energy, spicy, happy.  For the cool colors, think of the calm ocean, peaceful nature, serene.

People mistakenly think that green is a primary color. It's not.  The primary colors are those that make up all other colors, including black and white. The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. Green is called a secondary color. It is made up of two primary colors combined. Other secondary colors are orange and purple.

Use warm colors to cozy up a room, and cool to give the look of more space and airiness.

When picking out roof tiles, go with lighter colors because dark colored roofs absorb heat, thus making your house warmer and increasing your heating bill.  It would also cost more to cool your house in the heat of summer.

Sheila Swanson
www.MyStageStruck.com

INTRODUCTION

My name is Sheila, and I am married and have 3 children. I own a company called StageStruck. StageStruck is the only home staging and interior redesign business in Osceola. In addition to home staging and redesign, I also do color consultation and personal shopping for furniture and accessories.

I have been decorating my home and homes of others for 20 years. I recently got involved with staging, and took an online course from the staging diva herself, Debra Gould. I have also taken an online study course from the Sheffield School of Interior Decorating, located in New York. My initial interest was staging and interior decorating, but redesign (vs. interior decorating) makes more sense.

Redesign is decorating with items you already have in your home. When I redesign a home, furniture may simply be moved, or art and accessories placed in different rooms. Redesign can make a room feel cheery, light-hearted, less cluttered, and more serene. It is done for the homeowner, and the home is decorated according to how the family lives in the space. Redesign usually only takes about half a day.

Home staging differs because it is done with the intent of selling the home. It is my job to depersonalize the home so potential buyers can picture themselves living in that space. It is hard to imagine living in someone else’s space with their personal items staring you in the face. Staging can take weeks, or even months, depending on what needs done.

Whether I am redesigning or staging, I like to have the homeowners leave their home for the day. I love to see my client’s faces at the end of the day, and their surprised looks of happiness when they see what I’ve done with their home.

I’m really excited to be a part of the MichianMoms.com Blog! In my future blogs, my readers can expect a variety of home decorating and organization tidbits. Do you want advice on choosing a paint color for your walls? Do you know what the best furniture placement is, so you can make the most of your space? Need advice on how to best organize to cut the clutter? We’ll discuss all these things, and so much more!

Sheila Swanson
www.MyStageStruck.com