Some Easy DIY Headboards to Make For Bedrooms

The kitchen and bathrooms are really important when you are selling your home...but I feel that bedrooms also deserve to be updated and beautiful if you want to capture the heart of a buyer.  So, here are some ideas that will easily and inexpensively help you with the wow factor in the boudoir - and, the best thing, you get to take these beauties with you when the house sells.

Paint:  It's the cheapest update of all!  So if you have a nice headboard - but it's dinged up and dark and seen better days, whip out your paint brush.  There are a host of primer in the paint type products out there now that make it so easy for you to re-do your headboard.  Try one of the latest crazes - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. This paint, which comes in lots of neutral shades and other colors, does not need any priming.  You just clean your headboard - and paint.  A coat of wax over it will protect it. You can find distributors of this paint Here

Two Headboards...Two Different Ways:  If you are lucky enough to have a headboard with two inset panels, as below, you can remove those panels and insert 1) with foam core covered with batting and fabric or 2) bamboo placemats or blinds.

Less is More and More is More: Below you'll see two more ways to adorn the same headboard.  1) You can do it simply by adding some crown molding to the top, then adding one central onlay (many can be found online as well as Home Depot and Lowe's) and then paint your headboard all one color. 2) The image below that shows a more elaborate way of adorning the simple headboard. If you add finials, more elaborate moldings and corners and other motifs plus two picture frame moldings and two larger onlays - you will have a headboard fit for a queen. Paint it - then dry brush with a light color (white or cream) to show off the extra embellishments.

Feedsack Plus Architectural Salvage:  If you pair up two of the hottest DIY trends today, you can make this beautiful headboard.  All you need is enough feedsack fabric to fit the right size plywood for your bed (feedsacks can be found on Etsy and EBay)  or you can make a simple one yourself by using a linen or linen look fabric, then adding the stripe using fabric paint. Just use batting first over the plywood, stretch the fabric over that and secure to the back with heavy duty staples.  Then add the crowning touch - architectural salvage. These pieces can be found on Ebay as well.  You can opt to put it on as is - or paint it (as below).

Metal scrolled artwork: Have you ever perused the aisles of HomeGoods, Target, or TJ Maxx and laughed at some of the bright, brassy scrolled artwork in the clearance section?  Well - pick up a few pieces and then take them home and spray prime them, then spray paint them!  You'll have a very unusal, yet unique headboard for a guest room in your home.

Poster Frames and Fabric: Another easy headboard idea is this one that uses two poster frames, foam core boards, batting and fabric. Just paint the poster boards a coordinating color - and you're done.

Fabric and Ribbons: Do you have a headboard that you don't like but you don't want to paint it to update it?  Use fabric and ribbons instead.  Just make sure you get fabric that fits the entire length and width of the headboard (you can even use Stitch Witchery or fabric glue to make the headboard slipcover).  Then stitch ribbons for closure.

Stencil It:  If you have a plain fabric headboard, pick out a stencil design like this damask one and use fabric paint to embellish. You can also upholster a plain headboard with fabric that you stencil. If you have a flat headboard like this one below - you can paint it and embellish with stencils as well.  A wonderful stencil company to try is Royal Design Studio - where you will find a fantastic array of designs to choose from.



So - there are a few ideas for you.  Make sure your bedrooms look like beautiful and wonderful spots to rest, relax and read in.  Remember, you want to create an emotional tug on the buyer's heart.  Don't forget to make the bedroom a special place.

If you need some help with creating a beautiful bedroom...or would like more help with making any one of these headboards...give me a call at 631 793-1315.  Happy staging!

Images credits: bhg.com

How and Why a Staging Consultation Can Sell Your Home or Listing

A staging consultation can help sell your home...quickly.  That is, if you listen and do what a home stager will tell you to do in order to get your home ready.  A home stager, like myself, will come in to your home and give you a "to do" list of things you need to change in order to get your home ready for sale. It's the best bang for your buck when you are selling your home.  You get the ideas you need from a trusted professional - without having to pay them for their time to actually do all the work for you.  As long as you are willing to roll up your sleeves and move furniture, paint...remove dark draperies and clutter etc - a staging consultation can be your ticket to home sales success.

Case in point...about 2 years ago I did a staging consultation for Dianne Scalza of Netter Real Estate in West Islip NY.  The home seller wanted to move to Florida as quickly as possible.  I came over and looked at the home and then wrote out a 15 page report on all the things that the homeseller needed to do to improve the look and feel of the home.

The home was dark and cluttered with furniture and lots of accessories

Well, the homeseller didn't believe a thing that I said in the report and refused to do anything about the condition of the home.  There was dark wallpaper and wallpaper borders and way too much furniture in every one of the rooms.  The price of the home was too high as well.  As much as Dianne tried to reason with them, the homesellers wanted such and such a price - in the condition that it was in!

So - the home sat, unsold for a year.  Then more time passed - with price deductions.  Still, no sale.  Finally, the homesellers started to do some of the things I suggested on the Staging Consultation Report.  They didn't remove any wallpaper, but they did do some furniture editing

and re-arranging.

The home sold after the homesellers started to work on it!  Even just doing some drapery removal, de-cluttering and furniture editing etc, the home looked more inviting and larger.  Why the homesellers resisted so such a long time, I have no idea.  Pride, probably...and some laziness.
But had they instituted these changes much earlier in the process, they would have sold the home for a higher price. 

It is so economical to have a Home Staging Consultation for your home.  Most home stagers (like myself) will do written consultation report for anywhere from $250-400, depending on the size of the home.  This will give you a blueprint to follow...a step-by-step action plan written out for you.  If you decide to have the home stager help you with any of it, most will put part of the fee toward the fee for the work.  I also do a "Walk Through" consultation, where I don't write out a report.  The homeowner takes notes as we walk through the entire home - inside and out.  I charge from $150-250 for this service (it depends on the size of the home).  Also - many stagers are also doing "E-Staging," which can be done via email.  The home seller sends pictures of the home and the stager gives their advice for $100 on up.  I am doing that right now for realtor Cherolyn Shaw of Charles Rutenberg Realty.

So think about having a Staging Consultation done for your home before you put it on the market.  It can save you time and money - and it can help you get your home sold...quickly!  Call me at 631 793-1315 if you have any questions.

What Not to do When You are Selling Your Home

"Uninvited Stager" Saturday

Here are some "what not to do when you are selling your home" helpful hints.  If you want to entice more buyers to knock on your door - you need to have the online photographs to be enticing!  Simple enough, right?   But, more often than not, it's just not the case!

1) Always Close the Lid! Seems like an easy thing to do - but most homesellers forget to do this.  I would have closed the doors to the laundry for one picture and angled it differently. Then  I would have staged this bathroom simply and nicely: a picture above the toilet, a faux orchid on the lid, bath soaps and a guest towel on the sink vanity. Then I would have taken another shot of the laundry doors opened - but staged with some clean, fluffy white towels folded, some laundry soap and a plant - plus a nice picture (artwork with a laundry theme).  Make it seem like it's fun to do laundry in this space!

2) OK - it's new construction...but could someone please remove the boxes and close the garage door!

3) Remove Excess Furniture and the Date Stamp on Photos: This room is nice but it looks a bit cluttered. There seems to be very little room between the wing chair and the coffee table. I would think about moving the wing chair to another room. It's also a little too cutesy - looks like my Grandma's house. I would remove some of the floral accessories - it's dated and distracting.  There's no reason for the green rug on top of the carpet (unless they are trying to hide something!) Also - remove the date stamp.  On your camera's menu, you have the ability to turn off the date stamp. 

4) Remove Unnecessary Clutter:  This is a really nice kitchen - but the clutter is distracting. The kitchen table is also full of clutter. It seems as if this is where the homeseller pays the bills.  Just remove it - it's not relevant. When you are selling, you want to show off the countertops - have the buyer think there's a lot of space here to create some wonderful meals.  Also the angle of this photo isn't right.  I would have stepped to the left and then taken the picture.

5) Buy New Bedding and Re-arrange Furniture to Show Off the Best Aspects of a Room:  I would have switched the bed to where the dresser is and vice versa.  Then for a few extra dollars, I would have purchased a neutral duvet cover to hide the polar bear comforter.  Ad a few nice pillows and you have a welcoming look in this bedroom.  I would have de-cluttered the dresser and then I would have taken down the silly window treatments.  This only draws attention to the fact that you have awkward windows in this room - and that you didn't know what to do to them.  Always accent the positive - and eliminate (or rather...disguise) the negative! Also, pet peeve of mine - shut off the flash!

6) Try not to Sell your Home When it's Vacant: There are many reasons why you should always sell your home furnished - one being you see every thing that's wrong with the house...including your bad taste in window treatments!! This picture doesn't make a prospective buyer salivate!  And it looks like there's something wonky going on above the baseboard heating! Buyers have little or no imagination when it comes to figuring out where to place their furnishings.  Having furniture in a room gives them a reference!  In this photo, you don't know what kind of room it is - looks like a living room maybe.  Always sell your home with furnishings - you will sell it faster and for more money.

These tips may seem like small, unimportant things but they do make a difference in getting more people to come and take a look at your home or listing. Nearly 90% of home buyers start their search for a new home on the Internet today. You want to entice the buyer from the moment they see a photo online.

If you are having any trouble selling your home and you need some advice, call me at 631 793-1315 or email me at Linda.Leyble@gmail.com.

It's Shakespeare's Birthday - So Why Not Link Up Some of His Quotes as They Relate to Home Staging!

Happy Birthday William Shakespeare!  People who have known me for a long time know me as a lover of English Literature...especially William Shakespeare.  And as old English majors never die - here are some thoughts about how some Shakespearean quotes might apply to staging a home for sale (and - of course - how some people don't do anything to get theirs ready!!).

From As You Like It..."Can one desire too much of a good thing?"

From "Hooked on Houses," this really appeared as a photo from a house for sale.

Apparently, Elvis has not left the building!

From James Swann, 101 Things I Hate About Your House

Oh boy - why didn't the realtors say anything to this homeseller?? From Ugly House Photos

Hamlet said "Hold a mirror up to nature," but he forgot to give realtors advice

about how to take photos of small spaces with mirrors.



"Nothing will come of nothing," is a quote from King Lear.  So - always sell your home furnished.  Also, don't just give up and sell "as is" - because you will get an "as is" offer or none at all.  We staged the home below in less than a day - for a very modest monthly rental and it sold in 30 days. 

Before...

After - with our "Value Line" furnishings

You can make the most of a small space - it takes clutter control, editing and some creativity but it can be done.  Home buyers want "space." but when you make your small rooms functional and beautiful - they sell. Just remember this quote from Hamlet... "O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space…”

Designer Chad Eisner, created a great space in a small kitchen. From House Beautiful

A small but beautiful bedroom, from HGTV. The horizontal stripes

add a calmness to the room - just like looking at the horizon.

This design also gives the perception that a room is wider

Propero, in The Tempest, said "We are such stuff as dreams are made on," - so you need to give a buyer a picture that's much better than your ordinary life.  They need to see the dream of the lifestyle that they want to live. 

From the Finnish magazine Avotakka, via Hooked on Houses blog

Photographer Mauricio Fuertes, via Inspire to Desire

So "Brush up your Shakespeare, start quoting him now (from Kiss Me Kate) and you'll be a wiser home seller.  Remember, Shakespeare wrote..."People usually are the happiest at home". So when they come to view your home - give them a reason to feel and be happy!
If you would like to create a happy home for buyers to fall in love with, call Linda at 631 793-1315 today.  We have two convenient locations - my home office in Great River and my studio at 325 Main Street in Huntington NY.