Brilliant Ideas for Creative Work Spaces in Your Home

Working from home and distance learning has slowly transformed to a more permanent situation for families across the country.  Can you believe it’s been almost a year since our temporary anecdote of self-quarantine began? (GASP!)  As time has gone on, so has life.  Homebuyers today are showing tremendous grace to the makeshift dining room offices and the random desks in the living room.  However, what if you could enhance your home by transforming under-utilized spaces into functional work spaces?  Not only could you move your office out of your dining room, but you could wow homebuyers AND show off the functionality of your home.  We have rounded up some brilliant ideas for creative work spaces in any home that are inexpensive and can be completed in a weekend.

The “Cloffice”

First off – The “Cloffice”.  This is the 2021 trendy term for an office in a closet.  Closets make great work spaces.  They already have plenty of storage solutions available and they allow you to close the door to work when 5 o’clock hits (which is a must for mental health).  There’s two ways a “cloffice” can be achieved.  First off, if you have a large walk-in you can simply add a desk like this:

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If you don’t have that large walk-in (which let’s face it - many of us don’t), you may have a closet in a guest room or a basement that you could completely transform into your new “cloffice”.

Photo by: Nesting With Grace

Under the Stairs

If you have stairs in your home, there’s probably a large likelihood you have some dead space underneath that could be utilized.  This makes a great nook to create your home office area.  Just a simple trip to the home improvement store is all it takes to transform this space into a functional work space.

Photo by: Adore Magazine

Where There’s a Wall There’s a Way

If you’ve got an empty wall in your home, you can create a functional work space.  Whether it’s a big space or a little space we’ve got you covered. 

Floating shelves are a great way to utilize a small space.  You can easily create one with a board and shelf brackets.

Photo by: DIYHairpinLegs.com

If you have a larger wall space, this option is both temporary and inexpensive for creating multiple work spaces in one place.  AND you can take it all with you when you sale your home.  It’s a win-win!

Photo by: Jones Design Company

This “Murphy Desk” is a great solution to a tight space.  It simply can be closed up when not in use.  The functionality and the inexpensive price tag makes this a winner in our books.

Photo by World Market.com. Similar product - here

Dining Room Solutions

If you simply do not have anywhere else to go in your home, there are ways to make your dining room functional for an office space while still keeping it true to its original purpose.  These ideas will help minimize the office clutter and allow you to still have that family meal on occasion.

If you have a china cabinet/hutch in your dining room, this is a functional option to store office supplies and files out of sight.  This may mean packing up Grandma’s china for this temporary solution BUT Grandma will be proud of you for reimagining the space for these unprecedented times.

Photo by: iheartorganizing

Don’t have a hutch?  Consider using rolling carts or file boxes and create a rolling office.  When at work you have your supplies and when 5 o’clock comes you simply roll your office under the table.  Out of sight out of mind.

If you have an old hope chest/toy box, you can create an office in a box.  Martha Stewart has a great tutorial on how to convert this empty chest into functional office storage.  AND it can double as a cute bench when you’re off the clock.

Photo by: Martha Stewart.com

Get creative, start re-evaluating the spaces in your home to become more productive both in school and work. And when it’s time to put your house on the market, you will have creative, intentional spaces to show off to buyers. If you need some assistance, we are here to help! Feel free to contact us for a redesign consultation. We also provide online consultations if you live out of the area or feel more comfortable with the virtual format. We would love to help you re-imagine your work/home life spaces!

*Disclaimer: This page contains  affiliate links which means Staged by Design® may earn commission if you use links provided

Best Curb Appeal Ideas for Any Budget

First impressions never get a second chance! According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 93% of home buyers use online websites to search for their ideal new home. This means photography play a huge role in whether or not a buyer likes the home. And what is the first photo in a listing? Generally, it’s the exterior of the home. We have created a list of the best curb appeal ideas for any budget to ensure your home is picture perfect and generates a profitable first impression!

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN

One of the first steps to a great first impression is cleaning the outside of the house. This can be done very simply with a good pressure wash. If you don’t own a pressure washer, you can easily rent one or hire a professional. Not only does the siding need to be cleaned all the way around the home but also the front porch area, deck and any walkways around the home. And don’t forget to clean those windows. And while you are at it, remove those screens altogether!

PLANT SOME COLOR

Plant some nice colorful flowers in your flower beds, front porch containers and/or window boxes. If it isn’t springtime, there are some great options that can last through tougher conditions like pansies and fresh greenery. To show off those new beautiful flowers and to present a clean landscape, we would also suggest a nice new layer of mulch in your beds around the front of the home.

PAINT

As we have mentioned before, paint is money in a can! Consider sprucing up the front of the home by painting your front door, trim and/or shutters. This presents a clean finished look to the house and tells the buyer you take pride in the appearance of our home.

SHOW OFF YOUR ADDRESS

Make sure your house numbers are clearly visible and easy to read. This may seem silly but when a buyer is looking for your home you don’t want them to accidentally pass you buy because they simply can’t see your house numbers. If your numbers are in good condition, consider cleaning and/or giving them a spray paint to make them stand out. Otherwise, consider purchasing a new set of numbers to install.

LIGHT IT UP

If your porch lighting is outdated or rusted, replace it. Below are some very affordable options on Amazon. Before purchasing anything, make sure to pay attention to the size and shape of the base plate of your existing light fixture and buy accordingly. Another source of light that should be addressed are any lamp posts that may be in your front yard. Make sure the glass is clean, the bulb is bright and the paint is refreshed. Before addressing these lighting concerns, check with your HOA to make sure they do not have any stipulations as to what kind of light can be used on the exterior of the home or if they can repair lamp post if needed.

Top left, Top right, Bottom left, Bottom right

MAKE IT WELCOMING

Adding a new doormat is an easy way to make your home inviting. Buyers spend quite a few minutes standing on the front porch waiting for the realtor to get the lockbox to open for the key. For these few minutes the only thing the buyer has to do is study your front door. Seeing a clean entry with a clean welcoming door mat is appealing to any buyer. You may also want to consider another rug just inside the home for buyers to step onto when entering the home and a place to take off their shoes.

ADDRESS YOUR MAILBOX

If your mailbox has seen better days, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint. If it’s beyond the paint cover-up, just replace it with a new one. Once again, you will need to check with your HOA if there are restrictions to what kind of mailbox can be used.

These quick updates can do wonders for your curb appeal. The goal is to draw buyers inside your home. Showing them you care enough about the outside tells them you care enough about the inside too. Remember, first impressions never get a second chance. Take that first step and book a home consultation online with us - we would love to shine the spotlight on your home and get it market ready!

*Disclaimer: This page contains Amazon affiliate links which means Staged by Design® may earn commission if you use links provided

Staging Toolkit for Realtors

Real estate doesn't stop because of a global pandemic. Clients need to sell regardless based on circumstances prior to the coronavirus outbreak. Whether it's during this crazy time or just a normal day outside of coronavirus mania, we thought it might be handy to supply you with a basic staging toolkit for realtors that can help prepare a house for sell when professional staging is not an option. (Click on pictures below to purchase straight from Amazon)

The finishing touches really do count when transforming a house to a home. The same is considered when staging a home to sell. There are little things you as realtors can keep on hand to assist in staging a property and making that buyer feel like that house is home.

Door Mats

First impressions are a must. Buyers on average make up their mind if they like a house within the first 15 seconds of entering a home. Why not make the most of those first few seconds by placing new clean mats at both the exterior and interior entrance?

Towels

Who doesn't love a brand new towel?? White towels are a must. They scream crisp and clean and go with every type of decor. We like to place towels on every towel bar in every bathroom to soften it as most bathrooms come across as cold and empty. And don't rule out a good gray towel if your bathroom has a lot of white in the hard surfaces. This will bring a pop of color to the bathroom but still keep it neutral..

Shower Curtains

Shower curtains also add to the softening of a bathroom. White shower curtains, again, shout crisp and clean and they go with all decor. We've also recommended a fun ombre one as well to bring in that ever-so-popular gray.

Bedding

White bedding gives a bed that hotel feel. Are you sensing our crisp and clean theme?? It's simple, neutral and creates a wonderful focal point for professional photos. Gray is also a great neutral backdrop if the room is light in color. Used together, you can fold one at bottom to create a nice layering of textiles that feel like luxury and comfort. And don't forget that white bed skirt if needed!

Lamps

Lighting is key to showing a home. Not only do we suggest using the highest wattage, non-energy efficient light bulb you can, but we also suggest layering lighting with lamps in darker areas. This will help buyers see the house better at night and on darker, cloudier days. Here's some great lamps to keep on hand that will never lose trend and will work with almost every style.

We hope this staging toolkit for realtors will be helpful to add some light touches to your properties. We are always available if you need to call in the big guns - we are still staging vacant homes using all the necessary precautions to keep your client and ourselves safe from COVID-19. Feel free to give us a call (703-552-4545) or book a virtual home consultation online and we will be happy to partner with you to SHINE a SPOTLIGHT on your home.

*Disclaimer: This page contains Amazon affiliate links which means Staged by Design® may earn commission if you use links provided