Had your home staged to sell and thought, “Why didn’t I redecorate like this 5 years ago?!”
Don’t live with regrets. Give your home the updates it deserves now and ditch outdated decor that you’ve grown accustomed to.
We’ve partnered with veteran home stagers Anna and Linda from A+U Design Studio in Houston to find easy home upgrades to make your space look up to date. Plus, if you do decide to sell, these changes will give your resale value a big boost!
About A+U Design Studio
A+U Design Studio is a Houston based, multi-functional design house offering interior design, staging, graphic design, and product design. Whether you’re building or updating your home or business environment, staging a space to sell, or needing professional branding/re-branding services – A+U Design Studio is the perfect partner!
6 Eyesores That Make Your Home Look Outdated
1. Once-Trendy Paint Colors
Wall color makes a bold statement, so updating to a more modern option is a quick and inexpensive way to give your home a drastically updated look.
Ditch: Colors that are bold, dark or bright. Wood panelling. Red-tinged neutrals.
Upgrade to: Neutrals in cool tones like grey, light blue or soft mint green.
Photo via HGTV
Anna and Linda’s go-to color when staging a home is a soft grey.
Photo via Laine and Layne
Neutral colors can make small spaces feel larger. They will also add brightness to rooms with little natural light.
Photo via House of Turquoise
Greige (a mix of grey and beige) is a favorite of many desingers and is pretty universally flattering.
Photo via Houzz
Take this look to your windows with Blackout Roller Shades in a gorgeous greige called Stone.
2. Laminate Tile Flooring
Ditch: Linoleum, worn-out carpet, or anything that has a lot of wear and tear.
Upgrade to: Dark wood, laminate or wood-look tile for communal spaces. Use stone tile for bathrooms.
Dark floors will give just the right amount of contrast against your newly painted light walls. A hand-scraped finish for real wood or laminate will give your floors more traction and a worn-in look.
Photo via Fab You Bliss
Wood-look tile is more durable then wood and is safe for kitchens and bathrooms where wood floors could be susceptible to water damage. In open floor plans you can mix wood and stone to define spaces like the kitchen and dining from living space.
Photo via Country Living
Slate or slate like ceramic tile will match virtually any style or color palette.
Photo via Freckles
3. Brass Fixtures and Hardware
When’s the last time you really took a close look at your fixtures and hardware? You might still be living in the 80s.
Ditch: Anything brass and mismatched finishes.
Upgrade to: Plumbing fixtures, hardware and lighting in brushed nickel, stainless steel or oil rubbed bronze.
Chandelier via Pottery Barn
Stainless steel is a timeless finish that’ll be in style for years to come.
Photo via Remodelaholic
Oil rubbed bronze will give a bit more contrast and an old-world feel.
Photo via Wife in Progress
Pro Tip: The key to an updated look is to bring consistency to all of your fixtures and hardware. Choose a unified finish and match large fixtures like ceiling fans for a less hodge podge look.
Anna and Linda recommend stainless and dark blades for ceiling fans.
4. Laminate Countertops
Durability and a polished look go a long way in the kitchen. Laminate that’s chipped or warped will keep your kithcen a few decated behind.
Ditch: Laminate counters
Upgrade to: Solid Stone. Whether you go with granite, or a more low-maintenance manmade stone you’ll make a serious investment in your look and resale value.
Photo via Remodelista
Granite in a dappled neutral is a classic choice that won’t go out of style any time soon.
Photo via Huffington Post
All white kitchens are what many decorators and home owners are gravitating towards. Get the sleek look with a white and grey surface.
Photo via Home Bunch
We love the horizontal veigning in this gorgeous grey and white countertop.
Photo via Decor Pad
5. Mismatched Exterior
Does your exterior look straight out of 1979 while the inside is completely updated? Make sure your entire home is has a unified look.
Ditch: Faded and peeling paint. Colors that don’t match the interior.
Upgrade to: A neutral exterior, tailored landscaping and updated light fixtures.
Photos via The Painted House
Harsh brick finishes can make a space look older than it should. Give your home a clean slate by painting the brick a neutral hue.
Photo via Nest of Posies
Window boxes add serious charm and are an inexpensive upgrade.
Photo via Nest of Posies
Elegant lighting gives your front door an inviting feel. Just like inside, ditch any brass fixtures.
Photo via Nest of Posies
6. Old-School Window Treatments
The key to selling or beautifying your home is harnessing the natural light. Mini blinds can be damaged easily and will create strange shadows in your room.
Ditch: Mini Blinds
Upgrade to: Sleek fabric shades like roller shades, sheers or solar shades.
Fabric roller shades are one of the most affordable window covering options and give windows a clean look. Try a cheerful hue like Blinds.com Economy Roller Shade in Ice Blue.
Solar shades give heat and glare control without losing your view. We love this dark navy called Sea available for Blinds.com Solar Roller Shades.
There’s nothing like sheer shades to give windows a beautiful glow. Get the look with Blinds.com Radiance Light Filtering Sheer Shades in Birch.
Need More Staging Help?
Leave your questions in the comments below, or if you live in the greater Houston area, hire A+U Design Studio to guide you through the process!
