kitchen

Tips for Staging Your Home

posted in: Staging your House | 0

Here are a few simple tricks for staging your home to sell quickly.

Make a great first impression with the curb appeal:

Keep windows clean, lawn cut, porches and decks clear of garbage, leaves and clutter. Add planters or hanging baskets with red flowers, for a nice added welcoming touch.

Pare down living room furniture, remove extra tables and chairs, keep simple pieces that are the right scale for the room, not too big or small.

Make sure to steam clean furniture to remove any unsightly stains, and add Monochromatic oversized pillows to your couch to add some comfort and flair in a subtle way.

Colours that work best depending on the colour of your couch would include greens, pinks, yellows and orange. A nice corresponding pop of colour to draw the eye!

Remove personal photographs from your walls. Art should be simple and neutral, potential buyers have to be able to see themselves in the house.

Create a minimalist Kitchen, remove everything from the counters, and the dining table, except for a bowl of lemons somewhere that adds a freshness and natural fragrance.

Rub cut lemons inside your kitchen sink right before a showing to add more fragrance without being over powering or, bake cookies or bread right before to make it smell homey.

Bedrooms should be clutter free, no products on shelves or dressers, bedrooms should have clean linens, preferably a crisp white or neutral colour.

Bathroom counters should also be clutter free, no personal products on the counters, clean them up, add fresh towels, maybe some nice essential oils or scents.

Open up the curtains and use mirrors where you can to brighten and maximize each room.

Winter Blues

Beat the Winter Blues

posted in: Mental Health | 0

Tips for Beating the Winter Blues

This time of year, we often get the Winter Blues.

Not to be confused with a clinical form of depression known as S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

You can beat the Winter blues, with a few little adjustments to your everyday.

Of course, the best thing to do is to start by clearing the clutter in your home.

A clean organized home can beat those Winter blues by greatly reducing your stress. It just feels good!

Other things you can do:

Make your environment brighter:
Open up those curtains, trim trees and bushes, let the sunshine in!
You can also use brighter bulbs or some people like to use a sunlight box.

Eat Happy:

Certain foods like Chocolate can help enhance your mood to relieve anxiety.
(with Valentines Day, that’s an easy solution in February)

Otherwise don’t over do it with treats: Candy and Carbrohydrates provide temporary euphoria, but could ultimately lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Instead, brighten your moods and maintain balance with Leafy Green, and Brightly colours fruits and Vegetables. Citrus can be a great happy pick me up.

Essential Oils:

Like foods, scents can improve your mood. There are many to choose from, and easy one is Citrus, again to uplift your mood.

Exercise:

Get outside and go for a walk! It’s proven that at least 35 minutes of walking 5 days a week, especially in bright daylight can prevent seasonal depression.
Get out with a friend, even walk to your favourite Café for a delicious treat. It’s social, it’s keeping your body in motion and getting a does of vitamin D and fresh air all in one.

Crank up the Tunes :

Studies prove that listening to upbeat or cheery music significantly improves mood both in short and long term.

Help Others:

Volunteer ! So many local non profits are always in need for of volunteers.
Call up your local Food Bank, Check out Local Charities and find out how you can be of service.
You’ll feel great about yourself which is a huge reward in itself.

Finally,

Self love.

Give yourself a little TLC… Love yourself, give yourself some positive self talk and pampering. It does wonders for the soul!

Woman Hugging herself
Self Love
Messy apartment

15 Tips to Organize a Rental

posted in: Renting | 0

I’m very excited to share this with you!

In January I was asked to contribute to an article on Rent.com

 

See the Article here:

https://www.rent.com/blog/what-to-get-rid-of-today/

 

When you’re working with a small space, you have to use every inch wisely.

You have to make careful choices about your furnishings and keep clutter to a real minimum.

That means for most of us, you have to purge, donate, reduce, recycle and organize.

 

This article is great everyone, whether you rent or own, are in a large or small space. These ideas are relevant.

Click on the link above to read the complete article and more great ideas from Rent.com.

Find me mentioned in Tip #11.

 

donate kitchen items

tulips

Living your new normal

posted in: Welcome | 0

I am really excited to share my first ever blog entry, I thought I would start by saying Welcome and Happy Spring!

As the weather gets warmer and we see more sunshine, there is a common feeling of wanting to dust ourselves off in search of some renewal. Peeling off the layers of winter clothes and finding our sandals lifts the weight of winter and entices us to find time to refresh ourselves and our space.

We are in the midst of some extraordinary events this year. It is uncertain how things will unfold over the next few months or what the new normal will look like, so I say “Why not find ways to make things a little more positive!”

In an effort to stay strong and optimistic, this is a great opportunity to make the most of our time at home. Redirecting your focus to those projects that have been put on the back burner for months will give you a sense of control in a world where we don’t control a lot right now. Start small with a drawer or cupboard that has been bugging you for a while and see how quickly the momentum builds.

  1. Pull everything out and sort through making ‘keep’ and ‘no longer need’ piles.
  2. Put all the keep back into the space in an organized and logical way, optimizing function.
  3. The no longer need pile can now be sorted through for garbage, recycle and donate.

Easy-peasy…done!

If you are stuck and need some help I offer virtual organizing sessions so that I can help you while respecting the rules and guidelines that are in place during this time of self-isolation. Contact me at in**@************ek.com or 250-661-8076 and we can figure out your needs together. Tune in here, every week as I share some of my favourite tips and tricks for living your best life with less stress and greater peace of mind.