Some tips on getting your house ready to sell

The New York Times published an article today on getting your house ready to be marketed that may have some useful tips if you're thinking about listing your house.  Bright, light-filled spaces sell.  But more importantly, using the right paint hues and lighting will help create the right ambiance allowing buyers to imagine themselves in it.

Drawn to European decor

Something about European decor that I find cozy yet minimal.   The colors are always warm and inviting, even in white, neutral rooms.

a flat in Madrid

a bedroom in a Madrid flat

Nottinghill, London

Paris, France

Paris, France

Sweden

Mirror, mirror on the wall...

Lately, I have been scouring thrift stores and finding special pieces for the house.  We've already got our major pieces of furniture but I love personalizing the house with unique finds.  I like to brag a little bit about how I can find amazing pieces and refurbish them.  Living in Houston, we often see cookie cutter homes and furnishings from popular stores, which I try to stay away from.   With some patience and an eye for internal beauty, you can find good quality pieces and turn them into unique treasures.   A tip to keep in mind is not to buy everything you like but know where the piece would have a place in your home.  Otherwise, you can risk turning your house into a museum or cluttered mess.

I have to thank whomever threw away or donated this mirror but I found it at a local thrift store for nearly nothing.  I dug through a pile of rubble to find it but I saw its top from a distance and knew I could turn it into something special.

Here is the beauty for only $8.

If you can't see its potentials, here is an inspiration image of what I plan to do to it.  

image via Country Living

Before and After

What I love about refurbishing items is that you're not only being environmentally conscious but you're also putting your personal touch on it.  Like this lamp I found at a secondhand store.  I took some existing paint that we had from previous paint jobs, added a shade found in the closet, and voila, a one-of-a-kind piece that you'll never see anywhere else.

Hanging family photos

If you're like me and can't decide which walls in your house to hang your photos on, try this:

I like to group all my photos together on one wall to make a bigger impact.  And this method allows me to switch out photos whenever I have a new favorite.  It's also a way for my husband and I to showcase our photography.  

Some other inspirations I saw on the web.

images via Analog Dialog

One man's trash is another man's treasure

As I learned from stylist Emily Henderson that brass is also back.  I recently stopped by a secondhand store on the way home and found this set of 7 solid brass candle holders for a mere $4.99.  The box looks like it's from the 70s.  I'm pretty happy with my find even though I know they're not worth much more. And after soaking it in lukewarm soap water for about 15 minutes, my brass candle sticks are clean again.  To make them a little shiny and to protect the brass, I rubbed them with some olive oil.  Simple and natural.  They're going to look great at the dinner table over the holiday season.

Here's the before and after:

By the way, I saw this set on ebay on sale for $60 and this set on etsy for sale as well.  

I also saw this image of painted brass candle holders used as a serving tray and now I am re-thinking about giving my brass candle holders a paint job.

image via Apartment Therapy

Gold mirrors over the mantle

I know I am late in mentioning this but gold is in! I have seen so many gold accents in the homes from mirrors to lamps to coffee tables.  I have been searching for a vintage gold mirror to go over our mantle but haven't really found one to fall in love with.  I've been searching craigslist, antique stores, consignment shops for a mirror with an organic shape.  It doesn't have to be in gold because I can easily fix that with some paint or gold leaf.  

images via Lonny