Home Design Archives | Blessings Realty | Colorado Springs and Monument Realtor

Most real estate professionals agree that a home’s kitchen and bathroom are two of the biggest selling points for homebuyers. However, even if you’re not planning to sell your home in the near future, you should want your bathroom to be as cozy and accommodating as possible since most people spend considerable time in that room each day.

To add value to your home, or just make it more attractive and useful, here are several upgrades to consider:

Shower, Tub, Sink, and Toilet

Have an expert check your bathroom plumbing to ensure it remains in good condition. Repair any leaks in the water lines and remove evidence of mold or mildew. Fix a dripping faucet and replace worn or rusty hardware in your shower, tub, or sink. Additionally, remove hard water stains in the toilet bowl or grunge around the base.

You may want to repair or replace fixtures that appear dated or that show wear, such as a chipped bathtub finish or cracked counter. Also, consider adding a bidet for convenience.

Lighting

Outdated lighting fixtures can make a room look unstylish and boring. If the electric isn’t up to code, that issue should be handled immediately to ensure safety while using bathroom appliances like a blow dryer or electric shaver. Install recessed lighting or wall sconces to coordinate with the rest of your home decor. Also, dress up any windows with bamboo shades or a cheerful valance—and let the sunlight in when possible.

Flooring

A bathroom floor that’s cracked or showing signs of age can be replaced affordably by utilizing newer water-resistant floor tile or linoleum. Choose a style that meshes with your bathroom’s color scheme and blends with the rest of your home. New flooring can immediately brighten up a bathroom to make it feel more welcoming and updated.

Decor

You may want to paint or add wallpaper to just one wall to bring some personality to your bathroom. Add a couple plants that will thrive on the moisture and help reduce the risk of mold. A wall shelf for decorative vases, flowers, or linens adds storage to make the bathroom more functional. Additionally, hang framed wall art to go with a themed shower curtain as focal points of interest. And a bath mat or throw rug can add a spot of color to bring everything together.

It won’t require much time or money to get your bathroom in top condition. You can continue to enjoy it indefinitely or be assured that if you decide to sell your home, the updated bathroom might just help to clinch a sale.

Article originally published at http://blog.rismedia.com/2020/bathroom-impact-value-home/.

House pride has a new platform in the 21st century: Instagram! #Interiordesign is big (87 million posts and counting), and no redecorating project is complete without a before-and-after shot on the number one photo-sharing platform.

And it’s not just about showing off your new kitchen. Instagram has also become the go-to place for home design inspiration. But with so many pictures to browse, it helps to have a map to find your way to the most relevant ideas – so that’s just what we’ve done!

Instagram’s photographers like to tag their interiors with the design style that they’ve chosen for their project, be it #bohodecor, #midcenturymodern, or #cottagestyle. We decided to find out which styles are most popular across different regions.

Our researchers extracted location data for Instagram posts tagged with hashtags relating to popular interior design styles. We then cleaned up the data and organized it by state, to create two maps: one that shows the most popular design style tag in each state, and one that shows which states share their #instahomes the most.

The most popular interior design style in every state

State-by-state, the most popular design style in the US is #coastalliving. Eighteen states use this hashtag more than any other to describe the interior of their home. It’s no surprise that these are all sea-facing states. However, the east coast favors the style more than the west.

Instead, the west coast states of Washington and California prefer #midcenturymodern. In fact, this is the second most popular style in the States. The ‘new retro’ look of mid-century modern feels both classic and contemporary, allowing amateur interior designers to cherry pick their favorite details from a century of interior design.

The states sharing more photos of their #instahome map

For a state populated by outdoors-types, California sure is house-proud. We counted 10,082 uses of our chosen hashtags by Californian Instagram users, way out ahead of Florida with 4,606. It might be because California is home to San Francisco, the design capital of the US, and LA, which is home to the third highest concentration of professional designers in the country.

At the other end of the scale, Dakotans either don’t care for interior design or they don’t care for Instagram. North and South Dakota have the fewest design hashtags, with just 38 and 42 respectively. Check out the color-coded map below to see how ‘hot or not’ your home state believes its décor to be!

(SEE DESIGN SLIDESHOW AT https://www.angieslist.com/articles/most-instagrammed-interior-design-styles-state.htm)

The #coastalliving style

You don’t have to live by the coast to embrace the coastal living style. After all, everyone loves to bask in the sand or up on deck. But it’s best to avoid anchor motifs and ornamental life-preservers if you can’t actually reach the sea without crossing the state line.

Instead, think about the colors and textures you associate with being at the coast. The Instagram images that really sparkle match frothy whites and steely grays with a broad spectrum of blues and greens. Unpainted or weathered wood immediately adds a nautical look (think decking and driftwood).

Most important is to listen to your own imagination. What are the sensations you connect with being at the beach or sailing? You might dream up a coffee table upcycled from an old fishing basket. Or plump for lots of blankets and throws to cuddle up under when in the cool of the evening.

The #midcenturymodern style

Mid-century modern refers to a sophisticated look that developed between the 1930s and 1960s. Bauhaus design principles had made their way to the mainstream and were now more hip than avant-garde. Today, a mid-century modern interior tells your followers that you appreciate classic design (rather than traditional) and have a sharp sense of style (but never, ever without substance). If in doubt, think Mad Men.

Historically, the mid-century modern style has utilized materials such as plastic, acrylic, and formica – but the best of today’s designers work with sustainable materials. Furniture in this style is stream-lined, often with surprising shapes that are underpinned by practical ideas. Surfaces have a matte finish. Designers may use striking primary colors or moody ‘in-between’ shades like teal, burnt sage, and rust.

Of course, the most sustainable furniture pieces you can buy are vintage. And part of the fun of designing a mid-century modern interior is curating unusual details that fit together in a way that no other Instahome quite manages. A sideboard with hairpin legs topped with an atomic-themed lamp; plastic shell chairs with a trestle-style table. Think about designing your room around one signature piece, and avoid clashing patterns and colors.

The #rusticdecor style

The rustic décor style is most popular in the mountain states and parts of the north east. The look harks back to simpler times, but there is inspiration all around us today – from the farmhouse to the hilltop cabin and the land outside.

Rustic décor takes its cue from the ruggedness of nature. A rustic-themed room is characterized by unrefined textures and earthy colors: browns, greens, and sandy yellows. Furniture is simple and sturdy. Reveal the structural detail of your interior to add that ‘just got home from the frontier’ feel: ceiling beams, exposed brick, and stripped floorboards set the tone.

The beautiful thing about rustic décor is that the charm is in the imperfections. Try upcycling old tiles as plant stands or coasters, and mend torn fabrics with brightly colored thread instead of reupholstering. If you can build your own furniture, now’s the chance for your carpentry skills to shine!

If you’re looking for a new interior design style for your home, Instagram is one of the best sources of inspiration out there. And once your renovation is complete, you can share proud pictures of your Instahome right back on the platform to inspire others!

Article and style inspiration slideshow originally published at https://www.angieslist.com/articles/most-instagrammed-interior-design-styles-state.htm.

4 Ways Your Bathroom Can Impact the Value of Your Home