Home Decor Ideas

Update your Christmas decorating with on-trend gold accessories. Image: Williams Sonoma Home

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We live for Christmas decorating. The planning and preparation for this special day is part of the magic of the season. With so many events and details to handle, it’s easy to reach for the same decorations every year. There are definitely ornaments and decor that are special to you and will always be a part of your Christmas decorating. By planning a little in advance, though, you can give yourself time to replenish your decorations and add new colors and designs to your home this holiday season. You’ll want to start with a decorating plan so that everything will come together for the big day. To help you with your plan, we’ve created a Christmas decorating checklist.

Ready to Update Your Christmas Decorating? Start Here:

Silver and gold ornaments are the perfect Christmas decorating accent. Image: Pottery Barn

Christmas is about family gatherings and tradition. There’s no doubt that your Christmas decorations are cherished every year, so it’s important to honor that while updating your home’s holiday look. While you’re going over your plans to decorate this year, it’s also a great time to freshen up your Christmas decor.

If you’d like to give your Christmas decorating a fresh look you’ll want to focus on these six things:

• Freshen Up Color: The easiest way to update your Christmas decorating is through a new color palette.
• Create a Plan: Use social media like Pinterest to get inspiration for this year’s Christmas decorating.
• Make Hard Decisions: Deciding what to keep and what to donate is crucial in making space for your new look.
• Stick With Your Plan: Once you decide on a new Christmas decorating plan, sticking to that plan will save you time and frustration.
• Make It a Whole-House Project: Carry your new Christmas decor scheme from room to room.
• Organize as You Go: Stay organized as you’re unwrapping treasured Christmas decor and unboxing new items.

1. Freshen Up Your Color Palette This Christmas

Your Christmas color palette doesn’t have to be complicated. Neutrals make beautiful accents with traditional holiday colors. Image: Crate & Barrel

We love traditional Christmas colors like green and red — you can use them as your base when you update your palette. Silver and gold metallics are an easy way to add more color to your decor, but you’ll want to consider copper and brushed gold if you’re creating a contemporary color palette.

Choosing colors for your Christmas decorating is easy because you don’t have to limit yourself to just a few. You’ll want to choose three main colors for your decorating plan, then add three accent colors to your palette (and metallics to tie everything together).

2. Create a New Christmas Decorating Plan

Christmas decorating inspiration with coastal style. Image: Pottery Barn

If you’re ready to freshen up your Christmas decor, it’s time to make a plan. Making a decorating plan isn’t as formal as it sounds. What you’ll be doing is looking through your favorite social media (Pinterest is ideal for this) for inspiration and ideas. Once you have a vision in mind, note the colors that seem to pop up in every image you love. When you decide on a theme for your decorating this year, you’ll know exactly what’s right for your updated Christmas decorating plan when you go shopping.

3. Make Room for New Decorations

Keep what you love while making space for new Christmas decor that reflects who you are now. Image: Crate & Barrel

Your treasured ornaments and decorations are a big part of your Christmas traditions and will be the center of your updated decorating plan. Like any decluttering project, going through all of your decorations can help you decide which pieces are truly keepsakes and which are not. We’ve all accumulated boxes of ornaments and decorations over the years that are put up out of habit. These are the items that can be replaced by updated decor as part of your new decorating plan.

4. Stick With Your Christmas Decorating Plan

Charming Christmas throw pillows are easy accent decor for your living room. Image: Crate & Barrel

Now that you have a beautiful new Christmas color scheme and decorating plan, your goal is to stay focused as you shop for new decorations. When you know exactly what your new vision looks like, you’re less likely to impulse shop. While it’s best to stay within your plan, allow yourself a few must-have ornaments that you know will become keepsakes for years to come. The secret is in creating a beautiful foundation to highlight your most cherished decorations.

5. Flow Your Christmas Decorating Throughout Your Home

Decorate your guest bath with fun Christmas decor. Image: Wayfair

Spread the Christmas decorating love throughout your home. Seasonal throw pillows, blankets and wall art can be used in any room. For your guest baths, Christmas towels and even a shower curtain can make guests feel at home during the holidays.

6. Save Time Next Year by Organizing Your Christmas Decor Now

Pretty and practical ornament storage boxes make organizing easy. Image: The Container Store

We know that the last thing on our minds as we decorate for Christmas is next year, but taking a little more time to organize while decorating can save time and hassle later on. If you’re going to be storing some decorations in their original boxes, labeling the boxes as you decorate makes packing them away later so much easier. There are usually big sales after Christmas on ornament and decor storage boxes and tubs. Take advantage of those before you take everything down this year.

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If you’re looking for a classic holiday gift to give, ornaments are a treasured gift giving idea. An ornament is a gift that ties right into the season; it makes a great memento of holidays past and fits in with popular holiday decorating styles.

You can use ornaments on Christmas trees, but people also get creative by hanging them from picture frames, walls, rustic branches, garlands, banisters or from homemade mobiles. Some pop culture ornaments can even be treasured items year-round in curio cabinets. The options with ornaments are endless. Below are our top ornament picks for the season.

Winter ornaments

This quaint, snowy cottage would be great for a traditional holiday decorating scheme. You can find it at Amazon ($9 to $41).

Cute penguins are always a delight during the holidays, as in this ornament from Kohl’s ($18).

These adorable winter creatures come in a set from Amazon ($30).

Log slices make a good backdrop for an ornament that would fit in well with a rustic theme, as this handmade design from Etsy ($8.50) shows.

Polar bears always give off a wintery vibe, as in this ornament from AllModern ($30).

Crystal-style snowflakes are a great idea if you’re going for a winter wonderland theme. You can find this 48-piece set of acrylic snowflakes from Amazon ($50).

This white leaf design from Amazon ($11.50) is a wonderful look for a Christmas tree.

Icicles would make a good addition to a wintery theme, like these ornaments you can get from Amazon ($7.75 for a set of 24).

Family-themed ornaments

This is a great gift for any granddaughter from Kohl’s ($13).

This version is a perfect gift for a grandson, also from Kohl’s ($13).

Remember your first married holiday season together with this personalized ornament from Etsy ($19).

This personalized ornament from Etsy ($13) celebrates each member of the family.

Here’s another design for celebrating your first year married in a delightful rustic style from Amazon ($19).

Celebrate your daughter’s first Christmas with this personalized ornament from Etsy ($13).

This personalized ornament option commemorates your son’s first Christmas from Etsy ($13).

You can celebrate your first Christmas engaged with this personalized ornament option from Etsy ($19).

Pop culture ornaments

Nearly every family seems to have at least one minion fan, making this option from Wayfair ($21) a great gift.

Relive a favorite Harry Potter movie moment with this talking Hallmark ornament, available at Kohl’s ($25).

This detailed ornament, which you can find at Wayfair ($21), brings some Disney magic to a Christmas tree near you.

This delightful Chip and Dale ornament, available at Kohl’s ($18), brings some playful fun to the tree.

This gift is great for any video game fan in your life. You can find it at Kohl’s ($18).

Snoopy is always synonymous with holiday specials, making this a wonderful addition to a tree. It’s available at Amazon ($7.99).

Boba Fett, a Star Wars fan favorite, is a good gift for sci-fi fans; you can find him at Kohl’s ($18).

General seasonal ornaments

This classic, highly-detailed Santa ornament at Wayfair ($28) would make a good addition to a traditional Christmas design theme.

You can find these sweet sisterly characters at Kohl’s ($16).

These ornaments would be perfect for a rustic theme around the holidays, and the set is available at Etsy ($20).

This adorable pooch is available at Wayfair ($23).

This hand-painted ornament would make a good personalized gift and can be found at Etsy ($7).

Get a traditional Scandinavian look with this little ornament from AllModern ($15).

This Swarovski crystal ornament catches the light beautifully as it hangs from a Christmas tree. It’s available from Amazon ($87).

This reindeer, which you can find at AllModern ($12), is neutral and classy enough to fit in with just about any Christmas decorating theme.

We hope you find some gift-giving inspiration from our list of ornaments. Ornaments make wonderful holiday gifts for family, co-workers, friends and neighbors alike. For more unique decorating ideas, check out our guide on non-traditional tree decorating.

The post 2018 Ornament Gift Guide for Everyone on Your List appeared first on Freshome.com.

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s natural to favor the more aesthetically-pleasing properties. However, cosmetic features are often decorative and trendy extras. Instead, you should base your decision on the underlying features and value of the home. This includes elements like the plumbing, wiring and roof of any potential home.

Tricked-out closets are trendy, but not necessary. Image: G. Terbrock Luxury Homes

“As a home buyer, it is important that you focus on value over the bells and whistles that can distract from a home’s drawback,” advises Evan Roberts, a real estate agent with Dependable Homebuyers in Baltimore, MD. “Many of these bells and whistles are inexpensive to replicate,” he says. So you shouldn’t pay more for them and you shouldn’t base your homebuying decision on them.”

You shouldn’t increase your offer based on bells and whistles. While you may like them, that doesn’t mean the next homebuyer will. “Paying for low value features will make re-selling difficult,” according to Lucas Machado, president of Florida-based House Heroes. “If you need to move unexpectedly and suddenly, prospective buyers most likely will not assign a high value to low cost features that are already worn.” As a result, he tells Freshome, you might end up selling for a loss, or you may be forced to become a landlord if the sale of your home won’t cover the remaining mortgage balance.

While you may have a list of “must-haves” for your new home, it’s important to be flexible, and consider the big picture. “It’s easy to get caught up in the smaller details,” warns J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company. “Before turning down a house because the faucets are out of date, consider which projects are quick fixes.”

Plumbing fixtures

Speaking of faucets, let’s start with sinks and plumbing fixtures. For example, a farmhouse (or apron-front) sink may set your heart aflutter. But are you really going to base the decision on whether to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home on a sink that costs hundreds of dollars?

Faucets and other plumbing fixtures don’t cost much to update. Image: Fiorella Design

Another “must have” item for some is either a pull-down or touchless faucet. However, John Blackman, a realtor at Keller Williams/Heart of Austin Homes Team, tells Freshome that you can purchase one of these sink faucets for $200 to $300.

If you’re looking at a kitchen or bathroom with outdated hardware, don’t let these cosmetic features be a deciding factor. “Updating your bathrooms and kitchens with new hardware, like door handles, switch plate covers, vent covers, cabinet knobs and pulls, towel racks and wall hooks, only require a traditional screwdriver, and the effects can really refresh a space,” says Sassano.

Lighting

Crystal chandeliers are all the rage right now, followed by pendant lights. But while they’re fancy, you can choose from a dizzying array of these and other types of lights for just $100 to $200. So take the time you would spend admiring the light fixture to examine the electrical wiring behind it.

Don’t be swayed by a beautiful light fixture. Image: Rugo Raff LTD

Crown molding

Crown molding, chair railing, and other types of millwork add architectural detail to a home, but they shouldn’t add to the price you’re willing to pay for the home. At the time of publication, one home improvement store was advertising 3 feet of crown molding for $13.97. You can even use paint to make one-piece molding look like three-piece molding. This is one example of how some cosmetic features may not be what they appear.

Here’s another example: “A lot of builders will use MDF, or medium density fiberboard, but that material doesn’t last very long,” according to Seth Argo, president of Nashville-based luxury custom home developer Focus Builders. “It’s also not as smooth as higher-quality alternatives and it  doesn’t allow for staining, though you can paint it,” he adds.

Crown molding provides architectural detail, but you can add it yourself. Image: Jane Lockhart Interior Design

Garage doors

“Fancy garage doors look great and add a sense of luxury, but don’t cost much,” notes Blackman. In fact, he says it’s the #1 value add component for increasing the sales price, whether it’s wood or painted to look like real wood. That’s great news for sellers, and it’s need-to-know information for buyers.

You can mimic the look of real wood on garage doors. Image: Affordable Door

Custom kitchen cabinets

Custom kitchen cabinets in the home you’re considering may not even be custom kitchen cabinets. “You might think you’re getting custom cabinetry, but they’re really factory cabinets,” warns Argo. He says it’s standard for the majority of builders to use factory cabinets. “Some of these cabinets might look nice from a distance, but they’re actually mass-produced for cheap and then sold locally as custom cabinets.” He recommends feeling the material of the cabinet and hardware to tell the difference.

But, suppose the house has old, outdated cabinets? Sassano says that replacing them can be costly. “As long as the cabinets are in good shape, new doors, new hardware or a fresh coat of paint can make them look like new,” he adds. Again, it’s the underlying quality of a home’s features versus the style or cosmetic features you should consider.

Cabinets shouldn’t be a deal-breaker when considering a house. Image: Martha O’Hara

Paint

If the house is beautifully painted, Machado warns against being swayed by it. “Although a freshly painted bright room is immediately appealing, walls may be marked up in a few months,” he says. “You can also get a brand-new coat in your choice of color at minimum cost.” He warns that wall paint degrades quickly and says it doesn’t really add significant value to the property.

“In fact, fresh paint on basement floors and walls could be masking issues below the surface,” according to Lance Marrs, principal broker at Living Room Realty in Portland Oregon. “Even with fresh paint, a good nose can sniff out potential moisture issues not clearly visible to the eye,” he explains. He recommends having your home inspector check for signs of water issues.

Paint is the most inexpensive way to change a home’s appearance. Image: Michael Abrams Interiors

Staging

There are two reasons why you shouldn’t be swayed by the staging. “The staging will be gone at move-in, unless the offer is to include all the furniture and other items, which is sometimes possible, to be sure,” says Michael Hausam of The Hausam Group at Shore Capital in Irvine, CA.

He also adds that a perfectly staged home is almost impossible to evaluate objectively.

Size and functionality are more important than how the room is staged. Image: Merigo Design

What you should look for in a home

So, what should you consider when buying a home? “Major items such as the roof, heating and cooling systems, patios, pools, electrical, and full green lawns are expensive and time-consuming to install or replace,” says Muchado. “Big ticket items add real property value and should be factored in to your decision and your offer,” he advises.

Hausman recommends evaluating and rating the home in terms of its benefits rather than cosmetic features.  “Focusing on questions like ‘Can I picture myself entertaining my friends in this kitchen/backyard/living room?’ or ‘Is this home a relative bargain?’ can help you look past a particularly appealing staging job to determine if the house is really for you.” Just remember to focus on the the home itself and not the easy-to-replace cosmetic features to make sure you find the right home.

A house with a pool, outdoor lounging area and separate living quarters is worth the extra money. Image: ShubinDonaldson 

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