Revive your space

You’re never more in love with your new house or apartment than the day before you move in. Think bare, freshly painted walls, waxed floors, shiny windows.

But let’s be realistic. It’s impossible to maintain such perfection. Life always finds a way to fill and dirty every space.

Still, it’s entirely possible to create a home that feels good, a home that reflects your vision for life. Nicole Wear, an interior designer and co-owner of Friday and Company with her husband, real estate principal Calle Holmgren, says ruefully, “I find it fascinating that most people wait until they’re about to sell their house before they make it the home they want.”

We reached out to Wear and a few other home staging experts for decorating tips. There are a few universal concepts. The goal of home staging may be to maximize sales potential, but there are plenty of design principles that can make your living space look fabulous every day.

They all agreed that the first step is simple: take the first step. Even the smallest action is better than nothing. When things pile up, you tell yourself you’ll deal with them later, paint that magenta wall or change the bright ceiling light, like a surgical procedure. So, just do it.

There are countless tricks to getting rid of things you don’t need, don’t have room for, and don’t bring you joy. A quick way to start streamlining is to tell yourself that you’re just putting things in a box or two, not getting rid of them.

All you have to do is:

Make a fresh start.

Even if you’ve lived in your home for years, you can start making progress by cleaning out a room, a closet, a drawer. “When everything looks cluttered, it’s really hard to get started,” Wear says.

Empty it out, give it a good cleaning, and if you can, repaint the walls or doors. “The best bang for your buck,” Wear says, “is paint.” She also suggests examining your trim and keeping it in good condition. Regular maintenance over time is less of a hassle than tackling a huge project. The same goes for clutter. Commit today to getting rid of at least one other thing for every new item you bring into your home, Wear advises.

Find the flow.

The ideal is to move from room to room without feeling like Lucy is opening the closet and falling into the world of Narnia (as thrilling as that experience can be). Rooms within sightline should “coordinate perfectly,” says Angie Meade of Home Simple, the Portland staging company she has owned for 15 years. “Don’t make one room feel like it’s never met the other.”

This means noticing if the colours, patterns and styles from one room to another are radically different. It can be slightly uncomfortable to see vintage florals and old wood in the kitchen leading to a glass and steel dining room.

Consistent flooring helps create a cohesive flow. Rugs laid over hardwood floors can define individual rooms while keeping your space cohesive.

Keep your balance.

Consider the principle of yin and yang with color, shape, texture and height. Variety adds personality, but too much in one place can be overwhelming. If you have a striking black sofa, add pops of black on wall hangings or elsewhere in the room.

The same idea applies to shape. Don’t let everything be square or round. You can encourage this balance, Meade says, with rugs, round or oval coffee or side tables, or a variety of throw pillows. “The idea is to have variety for the eye,” she explains.

When it comes to height, choose the tallest object in the room (a plant, a floor lamp, or a piece of art) and use it to create contrast with other objects so the eye can draw some distance. That said, Meade says a common mistake is hanging art too high. “A good rule of thumb is that the center of the piece should be 57 inches off the floor,” she suggests.

Exercise control.

What you leave out is just as important as what you put in. If you find a pattern you like, remember that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Start small and add more, rather than covering all your walls and ceilings in candy cane stripes.

The same goes for furniture: If you love a sofa from a particular brand, Meade suggests having no more than two pieces from the same collection. “You don’t want something to look like it came from a showroom,” Meade says. You want a “found” look, meaning the accessories and accents reflect your life and experiences.

Embrace color.

Marta Burlinska, owner of Polka Dot Interiors, has been in the staging business for eight years. She is known as “the color lady,” someone who strives to tell color stories in every room.

While many think the best strategy is to use whites and grays for neutral backgrounds, Burlinska excels at using neutrals. “I was influenced by the weather,” she says. “The colors contrast with the gray outside. It’s a Portland thing.”

Meade emphasizes the power of three colors in every room, but adds that “simple white duvet covers and sheets are worth their weight in gold.”

Focus on the little things.

“Think of lighting and accessories as jewelry, accessories for your home,” Wear says. They’re ways to showcase your personality. Meade suggests, “Embrace hooks, especially in smaller spaces and guest rooms. They can be both practical and attractive. Use hooks to hang a cute bag and store winter hats and gloves. Baskets are also a great way to hide away items you need but don’t necessarily want to see.”

Be bold.

Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Don’t be afraid to get creative. “You don’t want to be generic,” Burlinska says. Wear points out how lucky we are to live in Portland with so many incredible local artists, vintage shops, and makers of all kinds. “People are surprised at how affordable local art can be,” she says.

The most important thing is to make yourself happy in the space you are in.

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This article is part of Nester, Willamette Week’s annual magazine. It’s free and can be found throughout Portland starting Monday, September 23, 2024. Find your free copy at one of the stores locations noted herebefore they’re all gone! Or order one through our shop.