By Mi-Ling Stone Poole –<\/p>\n
DEAR MI-LING: I recently dropped by a model home to find inspiration for my design project. The designers did a beautiful job.<\/p>\n
All the furnishings seemed well-appointed, but after a closer look I realized that the design was not realistic for my family.<\/p>\n
Have you noticed this before? What are your thoughts?<\/p>\n
Lauren<\/p>\n
DEAR LAUREN: I applaud you for actually seeing the room for what it was designed to be: a staged home. Oftentimes a staged home will lack function, because it\u2019s all about appearances and tricking the eye.<\/p>\n
Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n
\u2022 More space. In this situation, you might have a bed with two small nightstands and no dressers. The smaller furniture allows the room to look bigger. This might not be practical for most homeowners unless you have huge walk-in closets with plenty of storage.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lots of light. This is used quite often to open up a space. You might notice that all of the window treatments are at a minimum or nonexistent. This might work for an unoccupied home or a space on a large lot with a wooded backyard, but probably not for an occupied home. Adding drapes or window treatments will warm your space, add color to the room and insulate your windows.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Trendy paint colors. Bright pink or lavender might look great in a staged room, but can you live with that color on a day-to-day basis? One option is to paint an accent wall with a bright color or paint the entire room in a more neutral color and accent with the bold colors.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Flooring options. In a staged home, you might discover that the gorgeous wood floors were not designed for kids sliding around in socks. Consider all the options; carpet might be a better choice, or an area rug to cushion their fall.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Accessories. Were you “wowed\u201d by that waterfall in an entryway or end tables filled with stuff? In the real world, you may need a little space on that table to work, eat or live. And the water fountain might not be practical if you have small children or a pet.<\/p>\n
The bottom line is to create a space that functions for your family by incorporating all of the accoutrements that you need to live comfortably in a space.<\/p>\n
Build your design around the function of the space with the colors you love, and it will speak to your heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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