Fireplace Fixings

 

One of the greatest parts of winter is curling up in front of the fireplace on a cold snowy day. However, now that we are in the spring season, your fireplace may just seem like a useless waste of space, but it doesn’t have to be. Why not transform your fireplace for the new season and use it as a focal point for your room? Your fireplace is one of the greatest places to display antique treasures or fresh flowers from outside. It is very easy to create a unique fireplace that brightens up your space for the new season.

A fireplace design I created. Although this isn’t a perfect design picture, it shows an example of some spring pieces you could use to brighten up your space.

The first thing you should do is search through your home for really cool pieces. Check the attic for old windows or even antique picture frames. Check your basement for old bottles or vases. Check your bookshelves for old books to incorporate into your design. Once you have gathered your treasures you can begin to play with what you have and decide what would work well together for your space. This is also where you can decide if you want to purchase any additional items. (a great place to find fireplace finds is at garage sales or local thrift stores–don’t be afraid to make a quick stop at either to find old treasures that will surely make your fireplace unique).

An amazing spring fireplace design using many different unique pieces to create a beautiful focal point for the room. This design is from Worthing Court blog. 

When looking at actually putting your finds together there are a few tips you should follow:

1. Pick one large item for a centerpiece. It can be a window, a picture, a frame with a wreath, a clock, or even an old piece of metal with an interesting design–it all depends on what you love and what you have.
2. The next step is to decide what pieces you have to go with your main focal point. This could be really cool glass bottles, lanterns, vases, candle sticks, plants, or even a small statue.
3. The third step is to put it all together to create a fireplace masterpiece. When putting your fireplace together there are a few different techniques. You can create a symmetrical fireplace design with similar items on both sides. However, there is also the option to make it unsymmetrical, but have a design that flows nicely. The second option might take a bit longer, but play around with the items you have and see what design works best for your space. If you decide to go with a more creative design, finding a way to tie in the color you used on both sides can help with the flow of the layout. Another tip for this is to try to even out the size of the items across the mantle. You should try to avoid having all of the big items on one side and little items on the other side–this creates a fireplace that looks unequal and unfinished.

A simply beautiful fireplace design created by Jeanette. (Check out her blog here!) This is an example of an effective fireplace design that doesn’t use symmetry. Notice the colors and the size of the items used here–creates a nice flow.

This fireplace design from House Beautiful shows the use of symmetry in a fireplace design. This can be a very effective method which will create a completed look for any fireplace.

Creating a fireplace design for spring can be a very fun and rewarding adventure. It is a great time to find those special pieces you have laying around your space and put them all together to create a masterpiece. The process is not difficult and you will be amazed with how much a spring fireplace can brighten up a room and create unique focal point for your room. Good luck designing and happy spring!

If you have any questions for me please feel free to leave a comment and I will answer as soon as I can. If you have any ideas for me or my business or would like to share a picture of a space you need staged or have staged yourself, please feel welcome to do so

Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog and follow me on twitter (@StageYourSpace) to read my latest blogs and follow my journey.

“Your home should tell the story of who you are and be a collection of what you love” ~Nate Berkus

Stage your Space for Spring

A new season is upon us–Spring. With spring comes spring cleaning, blooming flowers, and a boom in the housing market. If you are one of the many who are listing their house to sell or just want to freshen up your space for the new season, I might be able to help you out with a few tips.

1. The first (and most dreaded) step to preparing your home to sell or just for the spring season is cleaning. Removing the clutter from your home makes a world of difference. You will be amazed with what even an hour of cleaning can do. My suggestion is to go through your house and make a list of everything that needs to be done. Then start with the toughest projects and finish with the easier tasks. You have the most energy when you start cleaning–use it to your advantage!

   

   A cluttered room looks messy and chaotic

   

   A de-cluttered room with good organization creates a welcoming and fresh feel.

2. Once your house is de-cluttered, you can move on to the second step–rearranging furniture or adding new pieces to your home. Without all of the clutter, your rooms will have a little extra space which will allow you to look at your room layout and perhaps find a new layout that will help freshen up your space. If you have a little extra money in your budget you could even find a few new pieces of furniture to exchange for some old pieces. This can make a huge difference in your space!
3. The third tip I have for you is to change up your room accents. Find a color scheme and stick with it. Too many colors is distracting and too few is cold (see my blog post on color). This is one of the best times of the year to add color to your home. Bright greens or purples are fun accents to use to transition your home into the spring season. Even adding a simple vase with some fresh flowers will bring a room to life. 

Even though the list is not huge, these three tips will make such a huge difference in your space. Although there are so many more things that go into selling a house, you now know how to get started. It may seem like a lot of work, but I promise the end product is worth it. Your Space will be ready for Spring in no time 🙂

If you have any questions for me please feel free to leave a comment and I will answer as soon as I can. If you have any ideas for me or my business or would like to share a picture of a space you need staged or have staged yourself, please feel welcome to do so

Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog and follow me on twitter (@StageYourSpace) to read my latest blogs and follow my journey.