As we say good-bye to 2016, and hello to a New Year...

Wow, has another year gone by already?! I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support throughout this past year, and thank my incredible team here at Beyond The Stage Homes, for making this one of our best years yet! With homes selling for higher prices than ever, home sellers are as savvy as ever, and certainly kept us busy with as we helped them to showcase their home to receive top dollar for the sale! With our expanded design team, we are better equipped to manage all of our client needs.

So what made this year so fantastic? Here are just a few things that happened at Beyond The Stage Homes - thank you for being a part of it!

The year began with another outstanding Home Seller’s Workshop, and Beyond The Stage Homes continues to draw crowds to these informative seminars, providing useful tips for preparing your home for sale.

January - Shauna Lynn Simon and Jennifer Roth attended the RESA Convention in Las Vegas, where Shauna Lynn was featured as a guest speaker. This is the largest industry event in North America.

January - Shauna Lynn joined the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre as a volunteer mentor to local entrepreneurs.

April - Shauna Lynn joined Roger’s Daytime as a regular guest, sharing tips for around your home each month.

May - BTSH sponsored the KW MS Walk once again, and helped to raise much needed funds for the Grand River MS Society chapter.

June - SLS Academy, the training division of Style Corporation, took their training online, and has been building a strong community of home stagers ever since.

July - Received 1st place Diamond Award for the Waterloo Chronicle Reader Awards Interior Design/Furnishings Category 2016

August - Shauna Lynn Simon and Jennifer Roth attended the RESA Canada Convention in Toronto, ON, where Shauna Lynn was featured as a guest speaker again!

October - Received 1st place Diamond Award for the Record Reader Awards Favourite Interior Decorator 2016

September - BTSH was proud to sponsor the Inspiring Women’s Event, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce

November - Shauna Lynn was announced as the Canadian Representative for the National Board of Directors for the Real Estate Staging Association.

November - Shauna Lynn and Jennifer returned to Conestoga College and Sheridan College to speak to students about the exciting field of Home Staging, and how to pursue a career in this area.

November - BTSH was proud to sponsor the Sleep Tight PJ Party for the second year!

December - SLS Academy announced as a Finalist for the RESA Awards Most Innovation Product/Service

What does 2017 have in store?

The Beyond The Stage Homes' story continues in 2017 with bigger and better adventures. We will continue to create beautiful spaces, and provide clients with answers to the questions that they didn't even know that they had! 

In January, Jennifer Roth and myself will attend the 2017 RESA Convention at M Resort in Las Vegas where SLS Academy will be exhibiting. 

We look forward to what the upcoming year will bring. We are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to share our passion for the home with Waterloo Region, and hope to continue to for years to come.

We wish you your best year yet!

All the best, from Shauna Lynn and the entire BTSH team!

10 Low Budget Home Staging Hacks to Use in Everyday Life

Our home staging clients often tell us how much they wish that they had brought us in sooner, before they decided to sell the house, so that they could have enjoyed some of the changes that we made! They especially love seeing some of our home staging tricks and hacks first hand, so we’ve decided to share some of our favourites with you! You can put these low-cost ideas to use in your home, regardless of whether or not you are selling.

1. Use baskets to hide cables
It’s not a fancy trick, but it can be incredibly effective. Hide routers, cables, and other messes using baskets. NOTE: some items (such as routers) need room to vent, so be sure to account for and allow for this.

Consider adding a shelf under your desk to get the cords and cables off of the floor.

2. Zip tie your lamp cords (and other electronics)
In staging, there is nothing worse than seeing a long dangling cord behind a table. By zip-tying these, they can be cleaned up and out of site. Wind up extra slack in the cable or cord not needed and tie. You can bundle the cord close to the table top and tie, or tie the cord to the table leg at the top and bottom, and bundle the cord at the base. It’s easy for cables and chargers to become a bit of a mess as well. Group your office or tv cables together and zip tie in a few spots to keep them from getting tangled. It’s also a great idea to label your cords (close to the plug) so that you can easily unplug one when you need to without needing to do serious detective work to find the right one to disconnect. There are a variety of cord labelling systems available for sale, but it doesn’t need to be fancy - you can these create with any labels or tape that you have in your household already.

3. Use painters tape or masking tape to hang art on plaster walls
This will prevent the wall from splitting when you puncture it with the nail. Simply place a small piece of tape (approximately ½”) where you want to hang the nail before hammering.

4. Disguise your everyday products
Hat boxes are an attractive way to hide your everyday toiletries, and come in sizes large enough to fit your lotions and sprays easily!

5. Freshen your furniture with touch-up markers
While it’s not the most glamorous fix, this is a trick that is often used in home staging, and works great for giving furniture a quick touch-up from nicks and scratches. When you’re selling your home, even though you are not likely selling your furnishings, showing care of these items will help to show pride of ownership in your home.

6. Get rid of your fireplace's brass trim
One of the biggest things that can show a fireplace’s age is a brass trim! Pick up some black barbeque paint and cover the brass for an instant update!

7. Fix outdated backsplashes
Have an out-dated backsplash but can’t afford to replace it? Painting it will give it a fresh new look! This is intended as a temporary solution, but with the right paint, it can last for a few years. Not recommended for floor tiles.

8. Yes, you can paint brick!
Paint brick to give an instant update, whether on the interior or exterior of your house. Again, you’ll want to ensure that you are using a paint designed for this type of surface; you’ll be amazed by the finish.

9. Need a table runner? 
Create a “make-shift” table runner from an old drape with a few tucks and folds (if you don’t intend to use the drape again, you may wish to cut it and add some hem tape to create a proper seam).

10. Get a custom closet for less!
Hang all similar colours together with matching hangers and add baskets to your shelves. Use space saving hangers for best results – your closet will look and feel much more organized and spacious!

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If you have outgrown your house, and are considering moving in the Waterloo Region (or surrounding areas), you may be intimidated by the extreme seller’s market. Reports have indicated it will not be shifting any time soon! With the increased demand due to a growing population, homebuyers are finding it challenging to find the perfect home that fits all of their needs within their price-point. Then, if they do find a home that works well, it’s often met with a bidding war. Perhaps you have already put yourself out there, and have lost several bids on ideal homes. You may be frustrated that you'll never be able to find what you need, for the price that you want. If you’ve considered the option of staying in your current home, and taking on some renovations, you are certainly not alone! You might be wondering if it’s better to stay in your home, and what your options are, should you stay.

BEFORE

AFTER

There are a number of considerations to make in order to help you to make the best decision for you and your family:

Step 1: Create a list of what you “need” in a home.
Step 2: Create a list of what you “want” in a home.
Step 3: Assuming that budget is not an issue, evaluate whether or not your home is capable of providing you with what you need. For example, if you are on a narrow lot, and need a double car garage instead of your single, it’s likely not possible to create the home of your dreams.

On the other hand, it might just be a matter of utilizing your current space better. You may need to approach a designer/contractor for this to fully determine what you can and cannot do (HINT: anything can be done, but are you willing to spend what is needed to achieve what you want). A designer can help you to determine how you might be able to better utilize various spaces within your home. If renovations are needed, a contractor can help you understand the considerations and implications for this.

Another alternative you may want to consider is expanding your current space. Evaluate if your property lot is large enough to add additional space. If you think it can, consult with a designer and contractor to create a plan for adding space, and maximizing not only the new space, but the original rooms in your house as well. This will create a smooth and consistent design and flow throughout your home. As well, a contractor can help you to determine what can be done, and how much it will cost you.

BEFORE

AFTER

Iain Kent of Eagleview Construction has noticed an increase in homeowners opting for additions to their home this year. “We’ve heard over and over again from homeowners that they love their current neighbourhood, but have run out of room in their current house and can’t find anything in the area that meets their needs and budgets,” says Kent. “Additions can be a great way to add that much-needed living space, but can come with a hefty price tag. A typical addition can run anywhere from $75,000 to well over $200,000 depending on the amount of space being added, the types of rooms being added (kitchens and bathrooms tend to be more expensive than other rooms) and the types of finishes desired.”

Now, before considering a renovation of this magnitude, you should always consult with your mortgage professional, real estate agent, and financial planner. Stephen Green of RBC Financial has seen this option weighed a number of times, but sometimes it is simply better to sell to get what you need. “If you do you have sufficient equity to draw from in your current residence it may be worth pulling that out towards the renovation, provided the final value actually does increase. This is where both your mortgage professional and your real estate agent can come in the play. If both your real estate agent and your mortgage professional deem it not to be a good decision to renovate, it might be the right time to list it and find the home that does everything. Sometimes the time and effort of a renovation is far more tedious than simply buying the house that is already what you want,” says Green.

Kent has noted that, despite the effort, many are still finding an addition the more desirable option. “With the growing trend of families wanting to live more centrally, many of the homes in the older areas of town are smaller than what modern households might require, and to find a bigger house in the same area might either be completely out of the budget or simply non-existent, says Kent. “Whatever the case may be, many clients are choosing that renovating and adding an addition to increase their livable space is the best option.”

Now, if you have deemed that you are ready and prepared to take on the renovation, you may be looking at your bank account, and wondering the best way to fund it. We asked Green about this, and he said, “If you are looking to do a large scale renovation, first ask your mortgage professional if there is an option to withdraw equity from your current home. Any line of credit that is secured against a property is always at a lower rate because there is security against it. If the value goes up from the work you have completed, you could then possibly move those funds into a mortgage portion to work at paying down principle. Another option is to go with a regular unsecured line of credit and then wrap it into your mortgage after the fact.”

Any renovation, large or small, should be given careful planning consideration in order to ensure a successful execution. In addition, local qualified contractors are finding themselves booked months into the future in order to keep up with market demand. Once the decision has been made, you’ll want to start the planning process and consult with a residential designer to help you to plan your renovation, and secure the materials that you need in order to keep the project on track.

As a bonus, we’ve provided you with some tips to help you to live through the renovations:

• It will get messy – There is no sugar-coating this! You might think that you’re prepared for this, but most people are creatures of habit and a disruption like this can be difficult to cope with at times. Despite best efforts to maintain a level of cleanliness, you will need to be prepared to lower your daily standards of clean.
• Backup plan – With any renovation, there is always a margin of unknown and this could mean delays. If you have a tight timeline for when you expect things to be finished, ensure that you have a backup plan in case things go wrong.
• Find off-site storage – Review long-term versus short-term storage options and consider purging any items that will not be included in the new design instead of storing these unnecessarily.
• Protect your valuables – No matter how professional and careful your hired contractors are, accidents can happen. We recommend moving valuables off-site, to a secure facility such as your off-site storage, safety deposit box, or a trusted family member or friend.
• Find a safe haven for your pets – Change can be stressful on your pets, not to mention that the dust and debris throughout the process can be dangerous if accidentally ingested. If possible, find a temporary home for your furry friends.
• Consider finding a temporary residence – While this may seem like an added expense, it could mean savings for you in the long run. By finding a temporary residence, you will enjoy a more convenient lifestyle, allowing you to be more comfortable and productive, while allowing your team of workers the freedom to come and go from the work site at their discretion. When living in the home during renovations, your workers will ensure that you have as comfortable of a living space as possible at the end of each day, but this takes time to tidy and clean, and those are billable hours. If you have any allergies or sensitivities, regardless of how clean the home is kept during renovations, you may find that your body will react adversely to the presence of dust, fumes, and other renovation materials.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Top Designer Picks for Home Decorating "Must-Haves"

When you’re planning a room, it’s easy to forget the details. In order to complete the look of a room, and make it feel like your own, you need to invest in some of the finishing touch pieces to add that final design layer. This is where we find a lot of our design clients get stumped, unsure of what to get, or how to put it all together, so we’ve put together a list of our best “must-haves” for every home!

Daisy Pillow Cover by Birch Lane (Wayfair.ca)

Some key elements to completing the look in your home:

Decorative pillows – you can never have too many of these! It’s fun to change them up by season, with warmer colours in the winter, and more vibrant colours in the spring and summer. Don’t be afraid to add a little bling to a room, such as an elegant bedroom, with some jewels on your pillows. And one thing that we absolutely love to do is mix patterns for a more layered look.

Elvie Indoor/Outdoor Lumbar Pillow by August Grove (Wayfair.ca)

Luanna Synthetic Throw Pillow by House of Hampton (Wayfair.ca)

Comfy Throws – these serve double duty at a great accent piece draped over a chair, sofa, or bed, and are perfect for curling up with on a cold night. They’re also a perfect way to add a subtle hint of colour to a room!

Higgin Lounge Throw by Brayden Studio (Wayfair.ca)

Whitney Throw by Birch Lane (Wayfair.ca)

Area Rugs – especially in a gathering room, area rugs will help to “ground” the room and pull the conversational seating together. For larger rooms, area rugs can help to break up the space to create two distinct areas, with separate purposes, within a room. Ensure that the area rug is large enough to extend at least slightly under each piece of furniture in the room, to avoid it “floating” in the room. 

Platinum Venetian Silver Area Rug by Kalora (Wayfair.ca)

Zunheboto Hand-Tufted Light Grey Area Rug by Meridian Rugmakers (Wayfair.ca)

Rugs can also be placed in front of a fireplace to create a cozy place to cuddle up in the winter, while adding some luxury to the space.

Straight Edge Taupe Area Rug by Fibre by Auskin (Wayfair.ca)

Wall Art – if you have a fear of commitment to art, get over it! And no, don’t try to tell me that you don’t want to put holes in your wall – that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do! If you really dislike the holes, you can explore the option of the 3M Command Hooks and Strips. Other artwork hanging solutions can be found in our January Blog “Hang Artwork Like a Pro”. Wall art can range from framed paintings and pictures, to canvases, to metal wall sculptures, mirrors, decorative clocks, and whatever else you want to display.

Aspen Forest 1 Painting Print on White Wood by ParvezTaj (Wayfair.ca)

Heck, you can even hang small accent furniture pieces or accessories on the wall if you want to! Adding a variety of styles of wall accessories will add texture to a room, and help to really complete the space by filling the eye-level areas for a cohesive look and feel.

Sunburst Brass Wall Décor by DwellStudio (Wayfair.ca)

Corner items – we all have that empty corner in a room in our house, and clients are often perplexed with what to do with these areas. They’re often considered fairly non-functional space, though an attractive shelf could fix this.

Corner Shelves by Zipcode™ Design (Wayfair.ca)

63" Display Corner Unit by DanyaB (Wayfair.ca)

Courtdale 71" Corner Unit by Varick Gallery (Wayfair.ca)

But what’s to say that every space needs to be functional, can’t it just be pretty? Create a decorative vignette with a large vase, plant, or other floral display.

Grass and Bamboo Floor Plant in Decorative Vase by Nearly Natural (Wayfair.ca)

Or add some fun boxes or trunks, stacked to add some height.

Torrance 3 Piece Trunk Set by Aspire (Wayfair.ca)

An old wooden ladder can work great in a corner on it’s own, or used to hang magazines, towels, plants, or other display items.

4 ft Barn Wood Rustic Decorative Ladder by RusticDecor (Wayfair.ca)

Factory Ladder by Hip Vintage (Wayfair.ca)

Large Mirror – These are a great way to reflect light to brighten a room, add the illusion of space, and fill a decorative need in a room, whether hung or leaning on a wall.

Large Rectangular Paneled Mirror with Antique Gold Leaf Frame by Majestic Mirror (Wayfair.ca)

Montrose Mirror by Howard Elliott (Wayfair.ca)

Statement piece – there are really no rules to a statement piece. As indicated in its name, it’s intended to make a statement, and create an impact for anyone that enters the room. This could be achieved by its size, colours, historical significance, or simply its overall uniqueness. It should be eye-catching, and most importantly, something that you absolutely love. It’s not necessary for every room or home to have a statement piece, but it adds a great element to a room, in addition to creating conversation amongst your guests.

Infinity Tunnel Coffee Table by Nova (Wayfair.ca)

Antique Replica RCA Victor Phonograph Gramophone by EC World Imports (Wayfair.ca)

When designing your room, don’t be afraid to add personal elements, and items that make you smile, for whatever reason, to create a room that you’ll be sure to love.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Your BTSH Team: Marina Hermann

If you’ve ever called the BTSH office, you’ve probably talked to Marina. She is the Executive Assistant – a.k.a. the glue that holds the BTSH team together. Most of her work happens behind the scenes, as she keeps the office organized and the team operating efficiently. Her attention to detail and positive attitude have been an asset to BTSH since she joined the company two years ago.

“Before BTSH, I always worked for big, public companies as an Executive Assistant to the President and the CEO,” she said. “I worked for Hewlett-Packard for seven years, then for ARISE Technologies Corporation for 14 years, but I was ready for a change.”

Marina started at BTSH at just a few hours each day, but quickly took on more hours and responsibility as Shauna Lynn recognized that she was capable of handling a much larger workload. Her position was expanded from part-time administration to a full-time executive support role. She now has her hands in just about everything, including organizing the monthly home seller workshops, SLS Academy, Shauna Lynn’s scheduling, coordinating communication with clients, vendors and realtors, and much more.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the help and support that Marina provides. For over two years now, she has helped us to transform our office, which now runs like a fine-oiled machine! She helps to keep everything in order, and ensures that we stay on track while allowing us to do what we do best – designing and staging houses,” said Shauna Lynn, owner of BTSH.

As a side project, Marina and her husband used to flip houses. They purchased run down places, then spent a few months fixing them up to sell at a profit. Because of this experience, she is able to help out with stages, de-stages, and finishing touches on jobs as needed.

“When I saw the job posting for this position, I thought it would be a great fit for me because of my experience in administration, but also my love for interior design.  It was the best of both worlds!” Marina said.

Marina now handles the administration of the entire BTSH office and is a valued member of the team!

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Why Your Empty House Won't Sell

While it is possible to sell an empty house, it is rare. If you have ever tried to sell a vacated house absent of its furnishings, you have likely experienced this first hand - numerous buyers passing on the home, and feedback that makes no sense to you. What do you mean the bedrooms look small? The living room isn't an awkward layout! Since you have lived in the house, you know how great it looks when it’s fully furnished and decorated, and you understand how each room should be set up. The trick is in helping your buyers to understand this.

Unfortunately, the ability to visualize a space is a skill that not everyone has. In fact, only about 10% of your prospective buyers have this ability to properly visualize a space beyond what they see in front of them. This means when you are selling a vacant home, you’re missing out on 90% of potential market! Vacant homes will often take much longer to sell than a properly staged home (72% longer in fact, according to RESA®’s 2014 survey). Not only does furnishing a home properly help buyers to understand the optimal placement for their furniture, but it will allow them to connect on an emotional level as well. It’s not just about having furniture in a house in order to help buyers to visualize it, but it’s about merchandising the home, and selling the experience of living there.

To do this, each room needs to first be clearly defined. This means showing buyers what the intended purpose and use of each room in the home is, whether it’s a bedroom, an office, a dining room, or a gathering room. Defining this intent, and showcasing this one use for the space, will allow buyers to flow more easily from room to room when viewing the home, without having to stop and think in each room about how they would use it.

What is home staging? Home staging is a complete process for preparing a home for sale. The goal of home staging is to clearly define the space, show proper scale, and create an emotional connection for buyers. This is achieved through updates and repairs, eliminating distractions from the home, proper furnishing, arranging, accessorizing, and essentially, merchandising of the space.

Have you ever ordered an item online, and when you received it you realized that it wasn’t quite the size that you thought that it was? The online site probably gave you the dimensions for the item, but you didn’t fully understand its size from the photo that they provided you with. Now, you’ve probably seen something like this, and perhaps have even done this yourself when taking a photo:

You take a commonly known object, and place it next to the item that you’re trying to show the size of. Now lets take this back to your empty house. Vacant rooms will often tend to look smaller than they actually are to your prospective buyers, especially since 92% of these buyers are first viewing your property online (National Association of REALTORS® 2014 REPORT), and these photographs can be deceptive in vacant rooms. By showing that a queen size bed with nightstands fits in a bedroom for example, or a full size sofa in the sitting room, you’re helping buyers to understand how they could furnish the rooms, and you are giving them an incentive to come and visit the home to see for themselves.

When viewing an empty home online, it is especially difficult for your buyers to connect to the home and feel invited in, and they are less likely to even visit it. Why do you think that homebuilders prepare a model home for their buyers? They understand that their buyers want the experience of being able to walk around the home, instead of just viewing a black and white floor plan. In fact, most homebuilders will tell you that most of their buyers purchase the finishes that they have shown in their model property.

As home stagers, it is not uncommon for the buyers of homes that we have staged to contact us to purchase the items that we used in staging it, or to help them to purchase items similar to those that we used. They loved it so much when they walked through, that they wanted to buy it all!

A house that is not properly furnished will distract buyers, thus disrupting this natural flow. Buyers want to easily flow from room to room in a house. In an empty house, each room requires additional time (and energy) to discuss the proper use, the size of the room, what will fit, what won’t fit, and where to position it. They’ll then need to attempt to visualize what all of that will look like, which is challenging to 90% of the population. Making your buyers do this much work usually leads to a longer time on market, price reductions, and a whole lot of avoidable stress on your part.

Help your buyers connect with the home by having it professionally staged. This will help to answer all of your buyer questions, so that the only question remaining is how soon can we write up an offer? At Beyond The Stage Homes, we specialize in staging your vacant home. We offer the largest independent inventory selection in the Region, with great rental terms (ask us how to get your second month of staging rentals for FREE)!

Did you know? The investment in home staging is always less than the first price reduction. In addition, an investment in home staging means less time on the market, and therefore lowers your carrying costs for the house.

Contact Beyond The Stage Homes today to find out how to get your property sold!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com 

Light It Up!

By Jen MacEwen

Light it up, make the switch!

How many times have you noticed those (ahem…) beautiful builders choice old-school ceiling lights in hallways, equally questionable pendants above a kitchen island, and/or an underwhelming dining room chandelier?

I’ve been there, I’ve lived with these lighting selections for a time, but once I settled into my space and got a feel for how I lived and worked in it, I formulated a design plan, and finally upgraded!

Lighting has come a long way in affordability and design in the last few years. The wide assortment of styles and equally attractive price points has made switching out to upgraded lighting an easy choice.

In the past, lighting was viewed as more utilitarian than an integral part of a design plan. For me, lighting is the icing on the cake, the cherry on the sundae… well, you get it! I love great lighting and take joy in selecting the perfect pieces to add that little bit of interest, bling, whimsy, whatever that space is calling for!

While there has always been a wide variety of beautiful selections at your local lighting stores, price points were usually pretty intimidating. If you were looking to add a light as a focal point, it was more likely for a formal dining room where you needed a bit more drama. These days, however, look no further than your local home improvement store for current, and affordably priced selections for all areas of your home, as shown below:

Consider looking for a fixture that adds and serves double duty by adding pattern to your ceiling and walls when lit. The pattern projected from this kind of light (whether intentionally or otherwise) can serve as a beautiful focal point as shown on the ceiling below. A few years ago, I purchased a large pendant light from a popular furniture store that I lovingly referred to as my “dandelion light.” To my surprise, when turned on, the light reflected through the large flower-shaped ends, making the walls display a wallpaper-like pattern. This was simply a happy accident, but any quality lighting store will be able to assist you in finding such a showstopper!

While I’ve been known to break a few rules, these are some great guidelines for proper lighting placement (unless you prefer to not see the person across the table!) Generally, chandeliers should be 30 – 40 inches above your dining table, approx. 12 inches narrower than the table and always centered in the middle of the table… oh, my OCD! Lastly, if your ceiling is over 8 ft tall, add 3 inches to the hanging height per additional foot of ceiling height.

If we need to get into the nitty gritty of the way lighting affects the feel of a room, another design tip is to add three layers of lighting; ambient, accent, and task. Let’s clarify these three types specifically…

Ambient refers to general lighting, mainly ceiling type lighting, that work to serve as the main lighting for a room and more of a utilitarian application. Secondly, accent lighting refers to fixtures that provide that extra bit of warmth to a space by adding an extra layer of light (specifically, floor and table lamps), it also can serve other purposes such as highlighting art, accessories, or other room features. This is my favorite type of lighting, as this layer makes things feel that much more cozy and inviting while also bringing the design to another level (and/or allows the clients own design personality to come through). Lastly, task lighting is the final layer that serves the specific duty of offering additional light needed for completing tasks such as kitchen prep or homework. This type of focused lighting can be provided as under cabinet lighting and desk lamps. All three of these layers serve specific purposes and are equally important in good design.

Dimmer switches are another great way to add interest to a room. They can help to control the intensity of a light, allowing you to adjust it as needed, whether dimmed for a romantic dinner, or full wattage for the best visibility during cleaning. This simple adjustment can make a big difference in the ambiance of your home and can work wonders by adding a touch of warmth when needed.

I couldn’t complete this blog without mentioning a specific part of lighting that has recently been a point of contention between the masses (well, maybe only us designers). The energy saving, eye fatiguing, cold feel of energy efficient bulbs compared to the less environmentally friendly, warm glow of the incandescent lightbulb. There's nothing worse than a beautiful lighting plan complete with the blue light of an energy efficient bulb! Luckily, advancements are being made with these bulbs and the way they light, and I'm happy to say I have stopped stockpiling the old incandescent kind (my closet is full!).

So take a look at your homes fixtures. Perhaps it’s time to for an upgrade?

For more information regarding our residential design services, contact us today!

Phone: +1 (226) 240-0766
Email: info@btshomes.com
www.beyondthestagehomes.com