See below some quick tips for the exterior of your property:

See below some quick tips for the exterior of your property:

• Mow the front & rear lawns
• Weed the gardens
• Trim the edges
• Chop and trim any over grown trees and shrubs
• Remove any rubbish that's lying around. Old pot plants, unused toys etc.
• If you have a pool, please make sure it is clean.
•  Remove pool cleaning apparatus out of sight
• Get rid of the cobwebs
• Clean your windows
• Make sure your blinds and curtains are clean and present well from the exterior of the property.
• Do any necessary paint touch ups. How about a bright red front door?
• Clean and freshen up the veranda.
• Make sure all door hardware is in good working order. You don't want your knob to fall off do you!
• If time permits add some colourful flowers, they will instantly brighten up your garden.
• Why not put 2 pots either side of your front door - Instant wow!

                                     

Outdoors in the cooler weather

Generally we tend to neglect the exterior of our homes and the outdoors living spaces in the colder months.

• Make certain that the gardens and lawns are manicured and weed free. 
• Trim back all those dead branches.
• If your garden is lacking colour add some colourful plants.
• If you have a swimming pool keep it pristine, a dirty pool is very off putting to a potential buyer.
• Clean the windows and get rid of the cobwebs.
• For inspections add some bright cushions and throw rugs to the outdoor entertaining area. Instant Wow.
• Remember your buyer is judging your home from the outside. First impressions really do count

 Inviting

Tips from Nat Winter

What are your hot tips for styling a home? 
An inviting home, that flows well can be created by keeping a similar theme running through the house from inside to out, downstairs to upstairs, bathroom to living room. A trick of the trade is to use books to stack items on top, or trays to cluster items together on a coffee table, dining table, sideboard, side table or bedside. An easy styling tip is to display three objects at different heights.

How can people create a beautiful look on a budget?
If I’m working on a budget, I find a hero item that may (or may not) be more expensive and I mix with inexpensive items. To do this, try using my tips above with small items like vases, candles and trays. 
A few quick tricks I use are…

Recover an old sofa or outdoor set using Ikea linen curtainsWait for the mid and end of year sales at your favourite storesJoin sites like Temple & Webster for great deals on furniture and homewares Shop at Kmart, Target and Adair’s on sale Have a big clean out of the old and sell it on Gumtree, before buying something second-hand to replace it.

For more information from  Nat click here

 
Image Via Pinterest

Some ideas to keep you organized

                             

                                                        Pretty cool !

                                                                  One for the kids

                                                     Now for the garage

A few key pieces

When styling the poolside for sale, think outside the box. I love this yellow surfboard really adds a pop of colour. 

Along with a few key pieces  and accessories, greenery never fails to inject life, colour and texture into a poolside area. 

Ask your local nursery which plants work best near your swimming pool, but as a general rule of thumb, Banksias, Agaves, Native Fuschias and Palms are popular picks for Australian pool areas.

Clever Idea Indeed!

                                                  What a great idea!

A rustic pallet is the perfect skinny surface on which to hang jars that house makeup tools. Plus, it acts as a design element first, storage second. Get the tutorial at Skinny Meg » - GoodHousekeeping.com

Property styling to sell

Before: Property styling, or home staging as it is known in the US, is becoming increasingly popular.

After: Sellers turn to professional stylists to improve the chances of selling a property.

                                                

With the growth in popularity of television shows like The Block and Selling Houses Australia, styling has become a lot more common, says Juliana Gowen, senior stylist at property styling specialists, Urban Chic in Sydney. “People realise the economic advantage of professionally presenting their property.” 

Home stagers can improve the selling chances of any home from luxury to budget. “Once it was only reserved for high-end market homes, however now we regularly style properties right across the board,” says Gowen. “Real estate agents are also very pro styling these days as it increases the level of interest in the property helping them them sell more easily while achieving a higher price for their client. It really is a win-win for all concerned.”

Gowen says that the art of property styling is showing potential buyers how the space works so that they understand easily how they could live comfortably in a particular home. They may even be swayed to choose a property lacking something on their wish list. “Buying a home is very much an emotional decision and if it feels right the buyer will often compromise on some of their requirements. Professional styling can achieve all of the above.”

Empty properties offer the best potential for styling she says but don’t be put off your selling objective. “Styling works particularly well where the property has been vacated and the stylist is able to co-ordinate a complete new look. We are often told by vendors, ‘Now my home looks this good I’m not sure I really want to sell it.'”

Source; Domain. Click here for more information

Decorative touches

  

Placing statues, sculptures and urns between trees or in the centre of the lawn adds a charming decorative touch to your outdoor area. For a formal garden, look for classical Greek or Roman figures, or for a Victorian feel, pretty statues of cherubs or angels should do the trick. In addition, wooden signs and wrought-iron artworks are right at home in an outdoor setting. Why not hang some wind chimes from tree branches to create a calming ambiance, or put a sundial among the flowers to conjure up the image of a traditional English garden?

A beautifully designed planter or small water feature can add an elegant look to an outdoor area and bring some colour and greenery to an empty corner. And, if you’re keen to attract native wildlife to your garden, include a bird bath or feeder – these come in a variety of styles ranging from traditional to modern and are often quite inexpensive.

Don’t forget that less is more – avoid crowding your yard too much. Add just a few attractive accessories for an easy and inexpensive way to turn your outdoor area into a warm and welcoming space that everyone can enjoy.

Source: Country Home ideas, click here for more information

Paint Statement indeed!

Paint is the safest first step in adding some personality to your home. The mantra “it’s only paint” is all you need to start your venture. Choose a wall and take a leap of faith. If you’re a little more adventurous, make your paint work for you in a more creative way; a swirl, large stripe, pattern or writing could be your next step.  If you are not feeling that adventurous add a large clock and there you go an instant statement.

       

  

Rug up for Winter with Guest Blogger Shaynna Blaze

Freedoms guest blogger Shaynna Blaze 

I love when the seasons begin to change. Driving through the streets or walking in the park, I can’t help but notice the bursts of colour in the landscape, and it always puts a smile on my face as I discover new inspiring shades. Autumn signifies the end of the warm balmy days, the air turns crisp, the daylight hours become shorter and we start to take our living and entertaining indoors.

Autumn may bring a cool change, but is balanced with the visual warmth on the trees and the ground as they fill with falling leaves of bold russet, reds and golden hues of yellow, orange and brown. This palette is what makes this time of year so visually rich, and using these colours in your home will turn your interior into a welcome relief from the cold outside.

The entry to your home is all about creating a warm welcome, and in autumn you want to feel like you are stepping into a cosy environment. Take the lead from the rich browns of the bare trees and use a colour like Taubmans Endure Chocolate Brown, which will give life to a small area. Contrast with Taubmans Endure Crisp White to create a fresh appearance.For other rooms such as lounge and living areas, draw inspiration from the falling autumn leaves to create a cosy winter interior palette that will instantly transform the space. Using a bold red, such as Taubmans Endure Red Alert or orange, such as Taubmans Endure Two To Tango, signifies passion while also creating a sense of intimacy in a large room. Mix with timber furnishings, as the earthy tones won’t create a stark contrast against the walls and will inspire a serene mood within the room.

 Yellow can be a tricky colour to work with as bright colours can overwhelm a room. Look for yellows that have a depth to them such as Taubmans Endure Golden Orb, as this toned down hue will create a cosy mood within a space. Alternatively you can use pops of bright yellow such as Taubmans Endure Lemon Zest, in your accessories and furnishings to remind you of the warmth of the sunshine that will return after the Winter months.