Interior Decorating for Value and Comfort

It doesn’t really matter if you’re changing things around to sell the property or just because you want it to look better for yourself; interior decorating is one of the things that the homeowner can do in place of the bigger, more expensive renovations to give the property a little more pizzazz . There’s a variety of little ideas that can have a big impact here, and most of these don’t cost a lot. Here’s a hint if you’re selling the place—do only what the prospective buyer will see. They’re not likely to be impressed by the things that are hidden from their view.

Any real estate agent will tell you that quick fixes and decorating ideas go a long way to making a house clean, fresh and inviting. If you do nothing else, they suggest that you paint the rooms, even if only for yourself. The experts suggest that nothing can make a bigger improvement for the money and there’s no need to get fancy with the kinds that you select either. A flat latex off-white will do on the walls and an eggshell or satin finish on woodwork or trim. A simple coat of paint can give you a whole new perspective on any room in the house—it can catch the eye of a prospective buyer or just raise your mood in the place.

Window blinds offer a finished appearance to the house and they break up the fishbowl effect that naked windows can create. For a little amount of money, you can buy one-inch vertical mini blinds, and the larger varieties are not much more expensive than that. Installing these blinds is easy since you learn the process once and then keep repeating it over and over. If you have a window that opens to the street and a sense of privacy is what’s needed, you can consider a decorative window film that looks like etched glass. The whole process is simple—you clean the glass, cut the film to the shape that you need, and then apply it with a squeegee. This film is sold at home and decorating centers and comes in several styles and designs.

Another good idea is to replace old floor registers with new ones. The old ones often have bent louvers and they tend to rust as time goes on, newer models can give your home a more modern feel. Along the same vein, you also might want to go around replacing old worn receptacles and switches with more modern ones. Here you’ll need to be careful to ensure that all the power to the areas that you’ll want to work on has been turned off before you start.         

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