by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor, Home staging tips, How to
Curtains You may love curtains or hate them but did you know there is a proper way to hang them and size them up? There are many reasons people use curtains but sometimes they don’t hang them correctly. Let me share some pictures of the best way to hang...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor, How to
Building a home or updating it can be a fun process. But when it comes to picking home exterior colors that make you happy, it can turn out to be stressful! That is why one client reached out to me. She and her husband were building their home and all the colors...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor, How to
Back porch A back porch is a way we can relax and enjoy the outdoors especially when it is screened in. Back porches let you hang out with friends on a sofa, have some drinks or eat outdoors. But if you are not sure how to set up your furniture, then it isn’t...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Moving soon? After the initial shock of it all, you may start to panic. You may be excited for the new job or new location, but scared at the same time. You may have kids who have to move as well and that can get complicated too. So what do you do after you realize...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home Selling, Home staging
So you’re having an open house. You’ve done everything you can to get your house ready to sell. You’ve staged it, hauled out stuff, sold things and cleaned it all up. Now you have to show it. But what do you do with your family when you have an open...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Do you wish you could have your own coffee bar at home? Over 60% of people in the US are coffee drinkers. I personally do not drink coffee and have never gotten into it. I love the smell of coffee but coming from European-born parents, tea was the drink of choice in...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Selling your home but wonder if you should call the home stager or realtor first? You made the decision to sell your home and you have a laundry list of people to call. You know you need to find a real estate agent, handyman and more but you’ve also heard about...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor, How to
Do you want to update your guest room but don’t know where to get started? My client had the same issue, but since we worked together on previous projects, she knew I could help her as a Certified Interior Decorator. Guest rooms can be tricky on how much you...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Some homeowners don’t believe home staging can help them sell their home or that it’s not needed (gasp!). I have seen many online pictures that prove they really could use some help and I wonder if anyone ever suggested it to them. A real estate agent may...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor, How to
Do you dream of transforming your home into a winter wonderland? Most of us decorate the inside of our home with a Christmas tree, stockings and perhaps some holiday decor on the dining room table. But have you ever thought about decorating your bathroom? Specifically...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Home staging blog posts are a great way for homeowners to get some great staging tips. But there can be so many that you as the homeowner can get overwhelmed. That is why I created a list of the top 10 home staging blog posts to help you focus on the ones that will...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Many people have fallen for the farmhouse look after Joanna Gaines started her Fixer Upper show on HGTV. Her designer eye helped families in Waco, Texas get the same look. If you love the farmhouse look too, let me share some of the items you need to make it look like...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
As you prepare your home to sell, you know there are certain steps that need to be taken. Decluttering, cleaning and finishing projects around the house need to be done so that buyers don’t have anything to pick on when they see your home. But your home is in...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Looking to decorate your home in that mid-century modern vibe but don’t know how to get there? When it comes your decorating style, we know what we like and what we don’t like. We don’t always fit into one decorating “category” but...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Many homeowners don’t know where to start when it comes to getting their house ready. That is why they call me to help them. I helped one homeowner who started the process and then called me to get the final details in place. Initially, the homeowner knew her...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
When it comes to the Fall season, visions of reds, oranges and yellow come to mind because those are the tree leaf colors that start to come out when the weather cools down. But there are other colors that I’ve noticed in retail stores that also exude the Fall...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Many homeowners don’t know which pictures to leave on the wall when selling their home. Some don’t even know they have to worry about it. But you should take a look at what is hanging on your walls. We’re going to cover what you should hang on your...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Why should you stage your home? Real estate is a very visual market. Only 10% of buyers can envision their furnishings in a home. The rest (90%) have a very difficult time deciding the furniture layout in each room. If you stage your home to sell, you can visually...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
When it comes time downsize to a new space, there are a few things to consider: the size, location and cost. Once you get an idea of your budget, it normally locks you into location and the size of the new home. In the case of my client, he was moving into a senior...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Moving into a new house can be an exciting time especially for a family. But once you live in the new home for a while, you may realize certain spaces don’t work out as well as you thought. Maybe your family grew or maybe you aren’t using the rooms like...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home Selling
4 Common Mistakes A Homeowner Makes When Selling Their Home by Kasia McDaniel | Home Staging Tips https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/4-Common-Mistakes-Homeowners-M-3d468aebf6644.m4a Have you just received your military orders or you got...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Habitat for Humanity works with individuals to provide low cost homes in the Sandhills area. Volunteers and local donations help fund the construction of the home and at the end, they do a Dedication Ceremony for the eligible family. It is a great way to get involved...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
If you want a white wall color in your home, be aware that not all whites are the same. Let me share the differences you should be aware of before painting your home. I had a conversation with a homeowner who was building a new home. We picked all the wall colors and...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
My latest home staging project started out with the homeowner and buyers not knowing how to use/stage two rooms in the house. The house was recently renovated and repainted. One room was a dining room and the other was a living room. But we know that dining rooms tend...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
If you love to read, then you probably have at least one bookcase in your living room, another in your bedroom and possibly another one stashed in a family room. Let’s face it, bookcases are fantastic places to store your books or books for your kids. Bookcases...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Furniture Rearranging If you have lived in your home for any length of time, chances are you get tired of seeing the same set up. Styles change and so do our tastes and that’s ok. If you have pieces that are neutral in color, you can change up the accessories...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
A living room can come in many different shapes and sizes. Because of that, you need to optimize your layout and create a focal point so that the eye is drawn to the room. You don’t know how many times I have heard from real estate agents that they have an...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
As your kids grow up, their style and bedroom changes. So why not do a kids bedroom makeover using things you already have? My kids love it when “Mommy the Home Stager” cleans up and updates the look of their room. I don’t do it often but sometimes...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
If you are moving to Moore County, NC or any other rural area, you might think that buying some land and building a house is a great idea. A lot of military families move here and are stationed at Ft Bragg. They, along with others new to the area, sometimes...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Our life can get very cluttered and sometimes we don’t even notice it until it is time to sell your home. One area to look at is the bedroom nightstand and how much stuff we actually accumulate over time. A nightstand is very functional but since it is a flat...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
What are typical home staging costs when selling a home? As a home stager, I get this question a lot. Homeowners worry they have to spend thousands of dollars to get their home ready. There are a few things to consider and some tips you can do yourself to cut down the...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
As a home stager, I move furniture around or rearrange items and often hear clients say, “Why didn’t I think of that? Of course that looks better over there!” One of the reasons is because you see your room every day. When a fresh set of eyes comes in, they are...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Moving and kids are probably two of the most stressful words in the English language. Put the two together and you may have World War III on your hands. I know because I had to endure that stress. You would think the world was coming to an end because we were moving...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
As a home stager, I sometimes have to cringe at the advice homeowners get from people on how to make their vacant home more appealing. A vacant home can be tough to sell for so many reasons which I covered in another blog article. However, one real estate agent told a...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
What is clutter? When a real estate agent or a home stager says, you need to do some decluttering. What does that mean exactly? Well it can mean a lot of different things to different people. Clutter is “a collection of things lying about in an untidy mass.” As a...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Shut the front door The front door comes in so many options. Color, size, window, no window etc. It can also make or break an entrance. Your budget will dictate whether it is a fiberglass, wood or steel door. However, if you are thinking about replacing your front...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
As a home stager, I get this question a lot. While a home stager tends to stay away from trends, you want the home to appeal to the target buyer whether it is a home for a family of kids, a retired couple or a single person. Each home is unique and you want to show...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Staging your home for the holidays Is your home on the market during the holiday season? Are you tempted to decorate the home one last time before you have to move? This is totally normal and of course you want to make one last memory in your home before you move out....
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
Wish you can take a page out of a lessons learned book on home remodeling? Some lessons are hard to learn and can be costly when you are remodeling. If you are remodeling a whole home or just a room, there are a few design tips to keep in mind to save your...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Summer time is the biggest moving season for the military. If your home is on the market, your buyers will be looking for a home to settle into before the school year starts up again. Your outdoor spaces can get a leg up on the competition so keep them tidy and...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Let there be light! Lighting in a room can sometimes be challenging. There are 3 types of lighting you need in each room; general, task and decorative. We are going to cover task lighting and learn how to choose the right kind of lamp for the task at hand. Whether you...
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Bring industrial decor pieces into your home Notice a new trend entering your latest trip to the home décor store? You may have seen more metal mixed in with the wood furniture or saw some different looking light bulbs. Those are part of what is called the Industrial...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging
Seriously, it’s a garage! We all need a space to get away. Some Moms would love to retreat into a spa tub and kids love to play in a dedicated playroom. But for Dads, sometimes, the only place they can retreat to is the garage or if they are lucky, a man cave....
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
As a homeowner, moving can be quite a stressful event. And when it comes to selling their homes, a homeowner might do some home staging on their own to get it ready. However, when home staging is done correctly, a buyer should not be able to tell the home was staged....
by Kasia McDaniel | How to
Landscape your way with a simple plan You love your home but the landscape is something to be desired. You have all of these ideas yet never have time or energy to implement them. You don’t want to spend money on plants that may or may not survive. I get it. But...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Why a home should not smell at all When selling a home, one major turnoff to buyers is smell. You may have heard that baking cookies for your open house can entice buyers to buy your home. But I am afraid to say that does not work. In fact, it can make some buyers run...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
How Airbnb can be an additional source of income Airbnb is a unique way to enjoy a major city without having to go to a hotel. This can especially be important when you are trying to attend a major event and find that all the hotels are booked. President Obama’s...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Tips for empty nesters moving out Do you have grown children who have “left the nest” and repurposed those rooms into an office or a gym? After a few years, you realize your home is too big for you and you want to downsize to a smaller home and...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home staging tips
Homeowners Don’t Sell Yourself Short According to Militarybases.com, there are 10 military bases in the Washington DC area. Thousands of military members move every year into this area. While the bulk of the moves are in the summertime, a large chunk still move...
by Kasia McDaniel | Home decor
As a home stager and someone who lives in a home that has a partially open floor plan I understand the pros and cons when tackling this kind of space. However, this setup is not for everyone. Some homeowners want an open concept but don’t know how to...
