December Newsletter

December 8, 2007 by becky.

    Holiday Staging Ideas

 By Becky Harmon

Perhaps you’ve shopped for family, sent out Christmas cards, strung outdoor lights and hung the last ornament on the tree. There is nothing left in the idea file or bank account for anything else.

Perhaps you are an agent with several homes on the market and you need to add a touch of the holidays to them without going overboard…you don’t want the home to look like the Griswalds (from Chevy Chases’ Christmas Vacation). On the other hand, you don’t want to be a Scrooge either when it comes to decorating.

So, for those world-weary, exhausted and overworked individuals looking for a little inspiration:

Here is a list of easy, inexpensive, quick-fix holiday decorating ideas direct from…my house.

1. You can shop for decorations at your grocery store produce department. Cranberries will last from Thanksgiving till New Year’s Day and beyond. They look festive in any clear glass container. You can layer them with things like coffee beans. Sprinkle a few drops of pure almond extract to the beans for a luscious amaretto scent. Tall glass cylinders can be purchased at craft stores for about $10. Place a 3” candle on top. (see illustration) Large wine goblets can hold cranberries and a tea light candle. You can carve out a votive-sized opening in an artichoke for a lovely candle holder. Bowls can be filled with small Granny-smith apples. They smell delightful and stay fresh for months.

2. Find free decorations in the backyard. Clippings from any evergreen tree or bush look great on the fireplace mantle with red candles. Holly, juniper and pine trees can be found in any neighborhood. Magnolia branches can be accented with white candles for a formal dining table display. Berries from nandina bushes can be placed with greenery for color. A little real greenery mixed with artificial can add freshness to the arrangement. A walk in the woods with pruning shears can yield a basket full of Mother Nature’s abundant offerings. A clipping or two from any wispy tree arranged in a vase can be surprisingly adequate to accent a large picture on a fireplace mantle.

 3. Your concrete angel by the front door can be dressed for the occasion with a wreath on her head. (see illustration) That yard bunny can be ready for the holidays with a wreath around his neck. If you don’t have a wreath the right size, a piece of garland will work. Place a small wreath around the neck of an old-fashioned teddy bear for a nostalgic look any child would love. Even the shorebird gets a wreath necklace.

 4. You can tuck a string of 10 tiny white lights inside an empty wine bottle for an unusual night-light. (see illustration) The bottle must be green, not clear, and the lights must be on green wire.
5. Place several starfish on a wreath with a raffia bow. It’s great for a beach house. Use white starfish as ornaments on the tree. Fish netting can be arranged over the tree skirt to complete the look. Starfish also look beautiful in a basket on a casual dining table. Nautical charts can be photo-copied and laminated for interesting placemats. You can get navigational charts at any boat supply store.

The best places to go for additional inspiration are the Christmas home tours in traditional neighborhoods. They feature many creative examples of the use of natural decorations. Also, collect the Christmas issues of popular decorating magazines for a wealth of inspiration.

That’s it for now. So, get busy making your easy, inexpensive yuletide expressions of the season. I think Martha Stewart would be impressed.
************************************************************

January Calendar….
*Redesign and Staging Certification Class–January 14th thru 18th
See the “Class” page of the website for more info. www.transform-us.com

*One Day Staging “Cram” Seminar —January 23rd, from 9:30am till 3:30pm.
Queens Harbour Yacht and Country Club, Jacksonville
This seminar is packed with the latest strategies on staging to sell your home.
“STAGING WORKS!”, exclaimed Lee Osbourne. “I went home after you spoke, staged my house, used your ideas and sold it to the first person that saw it.”…
Lee, of the well-known Watson and Osborne, PA., Closing Attorneys, was a guest speaker along with me at several abbreviated seminars. He took notes and immediately implemented the strategies and sold his house.

Also, the seminar is a great way to experience a part of the extended certification class for a tiny investment. This one-day seminar is 75% off. The regular price of $500. is slashed to $125. for agents and designers…$250. for everyone else. This includes breakfast and lunch, speaker notes and a paint color chart. The cost will be rebated back to you if you decide to go further and get certified.

Merry Christmas

Becky Harmon is the President of Transformations Staging School and can be reached at www.transfrom-us.com or e-mailed at becky@beckyharmon.com.

Posted in Newsletters | Print | No Comments »