By Lexia Snow,Interior Designer, Design2Sell

Moving into a new space can be both exciting and stressful at the same time. For some, the possibilities of how to make a space your own are endless; for others, it can be daunting, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are a number of affordable ways to customize your new home with a new look so you can feel like it’s home sweet home.

First, clean your space from top to bottom. This seems insignificant, but the process brightens a space so much. Replace all bulbs with warm white lights and, in rooms that require stronger light, try “daylight” varieties. Clean all windows inside and out so as much natural light as possible can be let in. Magic Erasers are a good way to remove stubborn grime on walls and kitchen cabinets. You can even touch up floors with wood stain markers to diminish unsightly scratches. All of these things prep for what’s next to come.

Once you’ve prepped, paint is the biggest bang for your buck! You can transform a stark room to a cozier space with color alone. To start, you can create a moody vibe in a den or office with dark colors. Greens are a huge color this year in the design world, and some great shades to consider are Benjamin Moore “Rainy Afternoon” or “Intrigue.” If you want to go darker, “Greenblack” by Sherwin Williams is a good choice. For a light version of green, consider a classic like Sherwin Williams’ “Sea Salt,” which looks wonderful in a sunny bathroom. Whatever color or colors you choose, decide which tones you like best (cool or warm), making sure to select ones that match your already existing furniture. Also look at the wood tones in your new home and use those as a guide to pick the right shade. You can use the fabrics in your home and any upholstered items to help pick colors that complement  your already existing color palette.

To spice things up a bit, use wallpaper. Whether peel-and-stick or traditional paste, this can truly transform a room. If you like wallpaper but don’t want to commit, then do a small space like a powder bathroom or entryway, which gives a little surprise to visitors when they arrive. These areas are great for wallpaper because you’re not seeing them most of the day, and if you decide in five years that you don’t like the pattern anymore, you can change it up easier than if it were a living or dining room.

Additional quick and fairly inexpensive updates come in the form of doorknobs, faucets, light fixtures and fans. These little changes may not seem like much, but when done at the same time, they can automatically update the look of a dated home. For instance, if your current home has a mixture of brass and satin nickel door knobs, consider picking one finish to use throughout the whole house. Of course, it’s fine to mix metals, but be sure to mix them in ways where it looks purposeful and not like you bought the last door knob available at the store.

Finish things off by adding some new throw pillows, art and decor. If you prefer louder tones, feel free to go bold with these objects. If you prefer a more calm space, choose neutrals with lots of textures. Either way, don’t forget to add flowers and greenery!

Together, these small changes can make a huge difference when you first move in and are working to get settled. From there, you can continue to customize as you make new memories in your new home.

Meet the Founder:
Barbara Heil-Sonneck, Owner, Design2Sell

Barbara leverages her diverse business experience—spanning international roles in Fortune 500 companies, small enterprises, entrepreneurship, real estate investing, business development, design and a passion for travel—to forge a powerhouse partnership with top real estate producers, advocating for a 10X mindset as they work together on the process of home staging. Each collaboration is design with the following principles in mind:

Marketing for Sale: Our mission is to elevate the perceived value of every property we engage with. Over the past 16 years, we have developed a proven system that delivers measurable, marketable results and maximizes ROI (return on investment) for our clients. Barbara and her team are often hailed as the “secret weapon” and “the closer” in numerous deals.

Design Implementation for Sale or Personal Use: We apply neuroaesthetic interior design principles—an innovative approach that emphasizes the profound impact of our environment on mental and physical well being with a focus on:

• Harmony and Balance: creating spaces that foster calmness, reduce stress and enhance well being.
• Biophilic Design: Integrating natural elements like plants, natural light and water features to boost cognitive function, creativity and overall happiness.
• Color Psychology: Utilizing colors to evoke specific emotions; cool colors like blues and greens for relaxation and warm colors like reds and oranges for energy and creativity.
• Texture and Material Selection: Choosing soft, tactile materials for comfort and security and hard, reflective surfaces for dynamism.

By leveraging these principles, we design interior spaces that are not only visually stunning but also promote happiness and health.

Barbara inspires her followers and listeners to strive beyond the norm, emphasizing the importance of aligning with the right partners, teams and core values. She recognizes that stepping out of one’s comfort zone is essential for growth and is frequently invited to share her expertise about running a successful business and ROI-driven staging and interior design at local, national and international events and panels.