bedroom Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

How to Transition Your Kids’ Rooms

January 11, 2016 By Casey Danton

As your children grow and change, so should their bedrooms. However, if you were to revamp their rooms with every changing interest, favorite color or boy band, you would not only be spending a lot of time, but also a lot of money. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re looking to transition a child’s room as he or she continues to get older.

Start With Change in Mind

Designing a child’s nursery when you’re expecting is a fun and exciting experience. What parents may not plan for, though, are the unforeseen changes that the room might need as the child grows. Create a nursery with neutral wall colors and an open floor plan for playtime. It makes an easier transition that you can work with each changing year.

Consult With Them

When you’re planning to revamp your children’s room after a few years, make sure to consult with them. It’s likely they won’t hold back in letting you know what they want. You can enhance a child’s creativity and production levels if their rooms are filled with things that excite them.

Choose the Right Items

There are certain pieces of furniture and décor that can grow with a child. For example, a desk is a piece of furniture that can be added into a room and never seem to lose its importance, whether they’ll be endlessly creating works of art in coloring books or filling out college applications. Other items can include a classic bedframe and a monochromatic comforter.

Work Slowly but Surely

Make sure to try not to overwhelm your child with a lot of changes at once. If you’ve decided that it is time to “grow up” from the nursery, it may be best to do it little by little. Most parents choose to start with a new bed before gradually continuing to swap out the old with the new.

Remember Teen Tips

During the teen years, make sure to declutter (that garage sale money can go to their college fund), freshen up with a new paint job, and provide grown-up accessories. Allow room for self-expression, but with limits. For instance, you can frame posters instead of using thumb tacks or tape directly on the walls. A bold rug is fine for the time being, especially if it protects the carpet or floor from food spills or shoe marks.

Raising children can be one of the greatest joys in life, so make sure their room reflects that! Take these tips with you over the years and let the DIY project become a fun one you and your child can look back on.

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10 Bedroom Hacks That May Improve Your Quality of Sleep

October 9, 2015 By Casey Danton

Are you up all night after being up all day? You’re not alone. You may have tried counting sheep, but have you thought about changing your environment? These simple changes may improve your quality of sleep and help you recharge for the next day.

Block out light

Sunrises are beautiful, but that early morning sunlight can wake you up before your alarm does. Choose thick, dark curtains so your bedroom can remain in optimal sleeping conditions until you’re ready to rise and shine.

Keep noise to a minimum

While you can’t always control sounds outside of your home, try to decrease the volume inside. A thick area rug may muffle noise. If someone in the family likes watching television late at night, consider buying cordless headphones.

Get rid of distractions

Ban electronics from your bedroom. This means TVs, computers, and cellphones should reside somewhere else. Buy an alarm clock and switch to traditional books. Technology stimulates the brain, making it more difficult to relax when it’s time to sleep.

Avoid blue light

Blue light, such as the light from electronics and fluorescent lighting, has been known to disrupt your circadian rhythms — another reason why cell phones shouldn’t be in your room. Eliminate blue light even further by replacing your lights with warm, yellow colored lights.

Find storage elsewhere

Experts say a bed should be elevated so that the space underneath it is available for air circulation. So if sleeping better is your goal, don’t use under-the-bed storage. Find a different spot to stash stuff.

Stick to cool paint colors

Cooler shades such as blue, green, purple, and grey, are known to reduce heart rates and slow respiration. Because of their physically calming capabilities, they may be the best choice of color to choose for your bedroom.

Pick a perfect pillow

Believe it or not, pillows are not “one size fits all.” Your sleep position should determine your pillow firmness. Are you allergic to something in your current pillow? Consider a hypoallergenic one. Spend some time researching the right pillow for you.

Buy your dog a bed

Your dog may be your best friend, but that doesn’t mean you two have to share everything. Give your buddy his own bed so he’s comfortable even when he’s not in yours. You might find that having your own space improves your sleep.

Keep your cool

Having just a little bit of air circulating through the room at night may improve air quality (and sleep). Open a window or use a fan or air conditioner.

Embrace Feng Shui

Bringing Feng Shui into your home may bring calmness and serenity, both of which may help you relax into a deep sleep.

Start with some of these tips today and you may catch more zzz’s with ease.

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Suite Luxury Tips For Your Bedroom

November 25, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Question: Could you share a few budget-friendly ideas my clients can use to add value and comfort to their master bedrooms? John Spadaro, CENTURY 21 Universal Real Estate, Chicago, Illinois

One of the biggest influences on today’s master bedroom is the boutique hotel suite. I’ve designed many and can tell you that turning your bedroom into a five-star experience is easier than you might think. Here are a few of my favorite tips:

• Unburden walk-in closets with an armoire for “him.” He can place his suits there and keep the two of you from fighting to get dressed every morning.

• Lean a great mirror with a thick frame up against a wall. It can function as a full-length dressing mirror while adding architectural interest to your room. And of course, it visually expands the space as it bounces light from wall to wall.

• Add a beverage station and mini fridge. For a little money, you can get a coffeepot, bottled waters, and even a mini bar. Have that first cup of coffee or last glass of wine in private, away from household commotion.

• Consider replacing worn wall-to-wall carpet with hardwood flooring. It wears better and adds value to your home. Add area rugs for comfort—they’re investments you can take with you, should you sell your home. Remember how wonderful a fuzzy sheepskin or all-natural-fiber shag rug feels on bare toes?

CHRISTOPHER LOWELL, an Emmy Award-winning interior designer and TV host, is known for doable design advice that nets stunning results.

Recommended Reading:

-Ask Our Expert: Budget Friendly Bathroom Updates

-Small Changes, Big Differences: 5 Low-Cost Ways to Give Your Home a New Look

-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

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Be My Guest: How to Style a Guest Room

July 23, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Hosting friends and family members means that you get to spend quality time with people you love. Make your guests feel at home.

These tips will help you style a guest room that they will love (yes, even your in-laws).

Minimal Style: Your guests may have different home decor preferences than you. We recommend choosing a soothing color scheme for paint, bedding, and furniture. Neutral paint colors will create a soothing space.

Comfortable Bedding: A bed is a focal point of any bedroom and it is essential for getting a good night’s sleep and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Some people prefer hard pillows and mattresses and some prefer softer. We recommend choosing ones that offer medium support so that guests at either end of the preference spectrum will be comfortable. Once you’ve chosen a mattress and pillows, make the bed with soft bedding that your guests will love to sink into at the end of a long day.

Nightstand: Stock the nightstand with essentials that your guest may need during his or her stay. If you have makeup, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and soap samples, put them in a small makeup pouch for your guest to use if they accidently left anything at home. If you don’t have samples you can place full size bottles in the bathroom for them to use as they get ready. Keep a few books on the nightstand in case they want to read before bed but didn’t pack a book. You may want to add extras like fresh flowers, a candle, and an alarm clock.

Closet and Dresser: If you have space for a dresser, add one to the room so that your guests can unpack and organize their clothes and essentials. Stock the closet with a few hangers.

Towels: Place towels on the bed so your guests have something to use when they get ready.

These guest room essentials will ensure that your guests have a comfortable stay when they come to visit.

Recommended Reading:

-Serene Spaces: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Bedroom

-5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

-Sweet Dreams are Made of These: How to Style a Bed

-How to Style a Nightstand

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

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5 Ways to Take Your Bedroom from Good to Great

July 15, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Your bedroom should be a comfortable oasis where you can peacefully start and end each day. Make your bedroom your favorite room of the house!

We’ve put together five simple ways to help take your bedroom from good to great:

1. Beautiful Bedding: Your bed is the focal point of your bedroom and a vital component for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A good night’s sleep is essential, and a comfortable bed will increase your chances of getting rest. Use our tips to make your bed beautiful and cozy!

2. Art and Personal Photographs: Surround yourself with your favorite art and personal photographs. You’ll love being surrounded by art and some of you favorite memories. Buying art doesn’t have to be expensive. There are a lot of resources for buying decor on a budget.

2. Sitting Area: A sitting area will help elevate your bedroom from good to great! Curl up in your favorite chair to read, chat with your family members while you savor your first cup of coffee, listen to music, and relax. If you are short on space, put a bench or two x-benches at the end of your bed. If you have more space, add a couch, chairs, and a coffee table or ottoman.

4. Storage Space: Create a place for everything so that your room always looks neat and tidy. Getting rid of clutter will also make your space feel much larger. Buy multipurpose furniture, storage bins for under the bed, and a bookshelf. If you have a large closet, you could optimize the space by getting built-in shelving, shoe racks, and drawers.

5. Paint or Wallpaper: Choose paint or wallpaper that matches your style and decor. We have put together a few different color palettes to choose from. Paint or wallpaper can make a huge difference in making your room come together!

One great thing about these changes is that they do not have to be expensive. You can take your bedroom from good to great in just one weekend. These small changes can make a big difference in making your bedroom your new favorite room of the house!

Recommended Reading:

-Sweet Dreams are Made of These: How to Style a Bed

-Good to Great: Take Your Kitchen from Good to Great

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-How to Style a Nightstand

-Serene Spaces: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Bedroom

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Serene Spaces: 5 Tips for Creating a Calm Bedroom

June 19, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Your bedroom should be an oasis. It’s the last place you escape to after a long day and the first place you see when you wake up. With the stress life throws at us, it’s essential to come home to calm space. Creating a tranquil bedroom is easier than you think.

Follow our tips to make your bedroom a serene space:

Neutral Paint Color: Use neutral paint colors in your bedroom to create a soothing space. Bright and vibrant colors tend to be more distracting when you’re trying to relax. Incorporate shades of ivory or pastel blues and greens.

Soft Lighting: Strong overhead lighting, like fluorescent bulbs, is bright but distracting. Light bulbs that cast a warm light will give your room a cozy feel.

Aromatherapy: Give your bedroom a spa like feel with aromatherapy. Light candles or incense (safely) in order to create warmth and tranquility.

Hide Clutter: Conceal clutter. A clean and organized space will make it easier for you to relax and unwind. As Benjamin Franklin said, “A place for everything, everything in its place.”

Minimal Electronics: The ultimate way to make your bedroom a calm place is to skip out on electronics as much as possible. Your bedroom is a place for you to recharge. Electronics can be disruptive and even make it harder for you to fall asleep. Your bedroom should be reserved for sleeping, reading, and relaxing.

There are enough stressors outside the home. Make your bedroom a place you want to come home to at the end of a long day.

Recommended Reading:

-How to Make Your Home Summer Ready

-How to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

-10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Large

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Sweet Dreams are Made of These: How to Style a Bed

June 4, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Isn’t it wonderful to come home to a warm and cozy bed? Your bed is the focal point of the bedroom and a vital component for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A good night’s sleep is crucial, and being in a comfortable bed will increase your chances of sleeping well.

Follow our bed styling tips to achieve maximum comfort and style:

Bed: The right bed will set the tone for the style of your bedroom. If you have a laid back style you may like a wooden or iron bed for a more formal and sophisticated look you may like a upholstered or tufted headboard. If you have a small room you might want to get a bed with a built-in bookshelf, drawers, or space for under the bed storage.

Sheets: Material matters! Flannel or silk sheets retain heat and are great for colder weather. Linen and cotton are great sheets for warmer weather. Thread count also makes a difference – the higher the thread count, the softer the sheets!

Comforter vs. Duvet: The primary difference between a comforter and a duvet is that a comforter is used alone and a duvet requires a duvet cover. A common analogy is that a duvet is like a pillow and a duvet cover is the pillow case. Comforters and duvets can both be filled with down, down alternatives, synthetic materials, silk, or wool. If you like to change the style of your room often a duvet and duvet cover may be a better choice because you can switch it as easily as switching your sheets. Comforters often don’t fit in normal washing machines so people usually wash them less often and use a top sheet.

Pillows: Pillows can be filled with down-feathers, poly-cluster fill, synthetics, or memory-foam. If you like soft pillows you’ll like down-feather or poly-cluster pillows. If you like medium support you should opt for synthetic fill. For maximum support opt for memory-foam. Did you know that you should choose a pillow based upon how you sleep at night? If you sleep on you back you should have medium support, if you sleep on your side you should have firmer support, and if you sleep on your side you should have soft support.

Shams: Show off your style with shams that match your bedding. Most shams will come with a set with sheets and a comforter to complete a specific look. If you choose to go with a duvet, choose sham covers that match the rest of your bedding.

Accent Pillows: Complete the look by placing one or two accent pillows on your bed. Incorporate different styles, textures, or colors to make your bed stand out.

Throw: Some people choose to add a throw for additional style and added warmth on chilly nights. Choose a neutral color that will blend in with the existing palette to keep the look simple and sophisticated.

10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

March 25, 2014 By CENTURY 21

In the words of David Bowie, you can make a few small “ch-ch-ch-ch-changes” to make your bedroom feel much larger with these ten tips.

1. Use Light Colored Paint: When Women’s Day author Kim Fusaro interviewed Sabrina Soto, one of Target’s Home Style Experts, she learned to paint rooms light colors because, “light colors reflect and multiply light, while dark colors absorb it.” Colors like “cream, beige, light grayish-blue and lavender” are good choices for making small spaces feel larger. (Women’s Day)

2. Incorporate Mirrors: Wall mirrors help to make a room feel larger, and making an entire wall a mirror, will make a room feel like it is double the size! (Lowe’s)

3. Use Sheer Curtains: Interior Designers at Pottery Barn recommend using sheer curtains to, “create an airy sense of openness.” If you would like opaque curtains for privacy and controlling brightness, “use a double rod to layer opaque drapes over sheers.” (Pottery Barn)

4. Combat Clutter: Clutter makes a room look smaller – combat clutter for once and for all!

5. Use Multipurpose Pieces: Use multipurpose pieces such as an ottoman with built-in storage. Other multipurpose pieces include beds with built-in drawers and benches with space for storage boxes. (Nest)

6. Add Extra Lighting: The team at Lowe’s recommend enhancing a small space by using recessed spot lighting, a torchiere light, skylights, and solar tubes.

7. Use a Monochromatic Color Scheme: According to the experts at Lowe’s you should, “use a monochromatic color scheme on the furniture, rugs, and walls.” They recommend using, “different shades and textures of your single color.” (Lowe’s)

8. Paint the Ceiling: The team at Apartment Therapy suggest painting ceilings a light color because, “Generally a light ceiling will allow your eye to pass upward without distraction and give the impression of a larger space, so a light ceiling will make your room seem bigger.” (Apartment Therapy)

9. Buy Large Furniture: Although it seems counterintuitive, having one large piece of furniture as opposed to a lot of tiny pieces will make the room seem airier. (Nest)

10. Utilize Vertical Space:Style at Home’s expert, Lynda Felton, recommends using vertical space. She explains that, “Whether you’re hanging art or shelves, or placing furniture, don’t let vertical space go to waste. Using it is practical, providing a display space for art, for example, and it also draws the eye up, making a space feel more expansive than it actually is.” (Style at Home)

We want to hear from you! What are your tips for making a room seem larger?

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Home Decor 101: How to Style a Nightstand

February 24, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Style your nightstand to reflect your personality and streamline your morning and evening routines.

A nightstand is an important component of your bedroom. It is the last thing you see when you turn off your light and fall asleep and the first thing you look at when you turn off your alarm and turn on the light before getting out of bed.

Here is our list of essential items for your nightstand:

1. Reading Lamp: Choose a lamp that fits with the decor style of the rest of your room. For example, if your room can be defined as Art Deco choose a modern lamp and if your room includes Coastal elements choose a lamp design that is inspired by the ocean.

2. Clock: Regardless of your morning routine a clock can help insure that you are on time.

3. Accessory: Add an accessory such as a tray to store the jewelry you wear every day, your favorite candle, or a vase of freshly cut flowers.

4. Picture Frame: Style your nightstand with a picture of loved ones to make you smile when you fall asleep and when you wake.

5. Books: Who doesn’t love reading in bed? Keep a few books at arm’s length.

6. A Notebook and a Pen: You never know when inspiration will strike! Be prepared.

7. Art: Hang your favorite print, photo, or painting above your nightstand to tie the look together.

What recommendations do you have for styling a nightstand? How have you styled the nightstands in your home?

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