Vacant homes don't show well.  Whether they are old, new, renewed, renovated or in great shape, they sit an average of 166 days empty. Staged, they sell in a month or less. WHY? Because people buy homes that speak to their hearts. A potential buyers doesn't look at a living room and say, yes, I would like to buy this home because the room is 14x19'.  They want to walk into a space and see themselves living there - People buy homes because they fall in love with them. They want a story of HOME.

Here's a cute house that we took from vacant to home.



By staging a vacant home, you create a guideline of how the home can be used and celebrated.  From furniture layout, function to styling - A potential buyer becomes part of the story and see themselves in the home - They become part of the story of HOME.

If you think FALL decorating is popping a few pumpkins here and there around the house, gentle reader – Allow me to help you reconsider.  As our seasons rotate and change, so should a bit of your home décor. Why? Because when you shake it up, rotate it out and embrace a change in your home – You change too.  By giving your space a seasonal rotation, you engaged in your home's spaces and celebrate your most important place in the universe.  Your home will return the favor by making the occupants and visitors happy and look at things renewed.

#1 - Refresh Your Textiles:

#4 - Harvest Finds.

So listen up  - your days of grabbing the plastic wrapped bed-in-the-bag are over!  Sure they’re cute and sassy and that set you saw in the Sunday paper will look totally fantastic with your freshly painted ‘Tranquil Turquoise’ bedroom.  And why not, it’s all there in a zipper locked bag, like a "seal-a-meal dinner".  Plus you have that 20% off coupon...  Hold on extreme coupon clipper, because your need to say bye-bye to bed-in-a-bags,  Why?

• You can't stick your hand in that zipper locked bag to see if the material is so scratchy it will cause injury while sleeping.
• It may be illegal to remove a tag by law, but there is no list of ingredients - who knows what that bedding is made from.
• Your Bunco friend is scouting the same set.
• You deserve better!

So here are some tips on how to buy and style a blissful bed and move on beyond a bed-in-a-bag.

PHOTO: Parachute Bedding

1. Quality is Key. The best sheets, cases and duvets are made of Egyptian cotton.  It's not about high thread count, but instead the quality of the cotton. Egyptian cotton has long fibers and produce sheets that are thin and sumptuous, yet extremely strong and long-lasting.  

2. Create A Tactile Sensation with Luxury Products.  There is nothing better than slipping into the blissful caress of cool cotton sheets, the envelope of voluptuous fluff of a down duvet, and the warm, cozy comfort of a cashmere throw. Luxury is yummy. 

3. Layer Your Bedding.  Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom. Make it look as good as it feels. Start with basic hued fundamentals: Sheets, cases and duvets in one color. Build in shams not only to layer the bed, but protect the sleeping pillows.   Add a decorative stamp of a accent pillow or two, and a throw for a pop of color and texture to complete the bedding layers. Layers create visual interest, dimension and texture.

4. Final Touches.  Restful colors, the flicker of a scented candle,  every light in your room with a dimmer switch, and an organized space, will create a cozy, relaxing room. Your resting and sleeping space should look, feel and smell blissful.