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Home decoration

Help needed to 'dress' my house

60 replies

Doinmummy · 20/08/2015 00:52

I've made the monumental decision to sell my house . I'm downsizing so that I no longer have to live with the hell that is living with lodgers.

But I need help to dress the house. The photos that the agent took look awful . I seem to be up against posh , shiney kitchens and blingy bedrooms.
I really need to sell quickly as my nerves can't take much more of sharing any more. Before anyone says , getting new or better lodgers isn't the answer as I would hate even the nicest of people living with me.

TIA

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Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 20/08/2015 00:58

Take your own photos and see where you are lacking. Go to junk shops, or check the garage, find photo frames, and wall art, stick to one colour per room. Look for vases lamps etc

Ohhelpohnoitsa · 20/08/2015 01:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doinmummy · 20/08/2015 08:16

I thought I'd de cluttered but looking at the photos the bedrooms need another sorting out, so I'll get onto that straight away.
I'm disappointed as the agent said my house would be snapped up but it's been nearly a week and haven't had any enquiries yet.

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Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 20/08/2015 09:46

I know when i looked every house was cream, they all blured into one .. so that doesnt really work

Ohhelpohnoitsa · 20/08/2015 12:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Doinmummy · 20/08/2015 23:47

Is it worth me putting a link to my house details to get honest opinions ?

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onehellofaride · 20/08/2015 23:58

Agree with pp no clutter or personal items such as photographs. Clean and tidy so that people can look at it and imagine their things in it and them living there.

If you link we give you an honest opinion Smile

onehellofaride · 20/08/2015 23:59

*we can

Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:02

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51244330.html

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Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:05

I'm having a glass shower screen fitted to get rid of the dreaded shower curtain

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huzzahhuzz · 21/08/2015 00:11

Testing

onehellofaride · 21/08/2015 00:14

I think it's mostly things that need to be moved/hidden. The first picture of the lounge it looks quite cluttered with the photographs and the items on the coffee table. Maybe move the bin in the kitchen and bathrooms out of the camera view when the picture is being taken, likewise the laundry bin in the bedroom.

I would possibly move the table from the stairs and empty the smaller bathroom more and put some flowers in there.

It is a lovely house though and I hope you sell soon Flowers

Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:21

Thankyou . During our 'normal' daily life there's usually more stuff laying about so I thought once I'd hidden all of it the house would look ok . The camera never lies though !

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huzzahhuzz · 21/08/2015 00:23

Ah it works, ok my twopenneth worth then...

The lounge looks large and welcoming...

If you can be bothered I would redecorate the hall stairs & landing only as it's a little dated (feeling a bit awful now...) Big mirror on the landing, ditto in cloakroom.

Bright flowers in kitchen and replace the plastic bin with a stainless steel one, same goes for the kettle. Can you dress the kitchen window somehow?

Re landing - upgrade the curtains they could be a bit dated... Take the table best away to create more space.

Master bed - widthways mirror above the bed.

Bed with flatscreen... Looks a bit squashed in. At least hide the clutter? May not be that easy of course...

Bed with rose/ flower bed spread - picture on the wall?

Garden - decking and planting look good. Get a picture with the table 'dressed' and the patio doors open but add some colourful planters next to the doors.

Let us know what you do OP!

Millliii · 21/08/2015 00:25

Your house looks lovely, just needs a bit of dressing.
Can I ask where you got your sofa from please. Its just what I want.

Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:31

Fabulous ideas Thankyou.
I hate the hall decor but if I take the border off then all the paper will come off with it . Would it look better if I painted over the whole lot ?
The flat screen tv room is DD's . We're going to rearrange it and lose all the clutter. I'll also get brighter bedding .

The room with flowery duvet is one of the lodgers . I gave him neutral bedding but he insisted on using his own !
I'll def get a new
Kitchen bin and kettle

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Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:32

The sofa was from a local independent shop, it's a good 6/7 years old but so comfy and had worn really well.

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Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:36

What would you put in place of curtains on landing window ?

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huzzahhuzz · 21/08/2015 00:46

Maybe just a simple pole with a voile draped over it... Or maybe look at Next homewares / Dunelm for inspiration?

And maybe get a shiny bogbrush too? :)

Great house ... I'm sure it will go quickly. Good luck with your new place!

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 21/08/2015 00:49

Can you rearrange the living room so the table and chairs are out? The one sofa looks too far away from the tv - which isnt central ... maybe put that in a corner? You need to have pics taken on a sunny day - would really help ... need pic of the study. Whats the land to the left of the house? Is it yours?

Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:49

The bloody bog brush sticks out like a sore thumb !!
I think I'm so used to seeing things in my house that I don't actually 'see' them any more . It's really helpful to have new eyes looking for me.

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Garrick · 21/08/2015 00:52

It looks unloved. Nice house, though, I think you mainly need to fork out on vegetation!

Congratulations on labelling the photos! Drives me mad when vendors don't.

Lounge/diner is fine. Second picture looks like an oddly empty expanse of carpet. I can see it isn't really (from the first photo) but could you plop a rug down, just for the picture from that end?

The little table in the hallway makes it look cramped.

Cloakroom: Put something on the shelf above the loo - a pile of folded towels or a vase of flowers - and a picture or mirror above. What's opposite the loo? Would a mirror reflect something nice?

Kitchen looks good. I second the new bin & kettle, and would suggest a row of potted herbs on the window sill.

Much bigger mirror on the landing to break up the wall expanse and add depth.

Bedroom 1 needs a single softener: bedside rug, picture/mirror on wall, or vase of flowers.

Bedroom 2 looks good imo: all co-ordinated and easy to imagine lying in bed watching TV.

Bedroom 3: Put a black & white throw over the lodger's pink bedding! Something on the wall would help here, too, or maybe flowers on the window sill.

Bathroom good. Will look even better with shower screen.

Pop 3 or 4 large pots with flowering plants in the back garden. Or maybe 2 flowering and 2 smallish palms, to suggest mediterranean sunshine! Also, putting something on the table might be cheesy, but it works. Wine & 2 glasses, a couple of candles, or a coffee pot & 2 cups.

I'd also suggest a couple of large, potted, flowering plants out front.

While waiting for everyone else to disagree with me - good luck! I'm sure it will sell soon :)

Doinmummy · 21/08/2015 00:53

The land to the left is the councils , I might get someone in to tidy it up ( the council won't notice or care).
My sister is coming over to help me clear the study out. I can get rid of most of my stuff in there but the bloody lodger has stored loads and loads of tools in there . Maybe clear it out , take photos and put it all back again .

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IAmACuboid · 21/08/2015 00:55

Could you perhaps up the curb appeal a little?
Sweep and weed the drive, prune the shrub by the garage to a rounder shape, make sure all the curtains are pulled back, windows all closed etc?

Otherwise it looks like it's just a matter of clearing floor space, taking out anything you can like small storage, bathroom stuff on floors etc, it only needs to be gone for the photo.

Re landing, how about a simple neutral linen Roman blind?

Garrick · 21/08/2015 00:56

Yes, it is worth doing that for the photo - nuisance though it is.