Creative Home Podcast - Home Staging /Decorating Tips Kasia McDaniel

If you have a large house and a bonus room that you don't quite know how to use, I would love to share some ideas! Bonus rooms can be tricky if you have too many things going on but it can be a wonderful space if planned correctly. So let's get into some bonus room ideas on how you can best use it in your home.


We never had a bonus room in our first home because it was a 1600 sq ft house. We had 3 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and an eat-in kitchen. There was no extra space for anything else. But in our home in New Mexico, it was over 2000 square feet and we had the same setup but it was an open floor plan all one level. There was a room that was across from the dining room and living room that had no "designation" so we had to think about how to use it. We eventually turned it into a playroom but it wasn't ideal because it was literally across from the formal dining room which was nice and neat and then you had an open room (no doors or walls) to the potentially messy playroom. We only had one child at the time so we used one bedroom as an office, the kid's bedroom and then a guest bedroom. So this extra space was just ... extra. So what do you do with those kinds of spaces? Let's talk about some ideas that might work for you depending on your status in life.


I share options on how you can use your bonus room if you have kids and options if you don't have kids (or no longer have kids).


Mentioned in this episode:

Home staging consultation https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult-checkout/

With the pandemic behind us, homeowners are looking to change things up, especially in the bathroom. I want to share some 2023 bathroom trends that are coming up that you may want to consider if you are remodeling. You can start off with just a few changes or rip it all out and start over anew.

In this episode we talk about:

Bathroom trends seen in the local area in North Carolina

BHG bathroom trends nationwide and how they compare to the local area



Mentioned in this episode:

Home Staging Starter Kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

A living room can be a great place to relax, watch TV and hang out with friends. But if you have an awkward layout with a corner fireplace and you aren't sure how to set up your furniture, it may be a source of stress for you. Let me share some ideas on how you can ideally set up your awkward living room with a corner fireplace.



Mentioned in this episode:

Home staging starter kit: bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

Trends come and go but I know some of you are wondering what's the next biggest thing when it comes to kitchen cabinet colors. I will share what some experts say and also talk with Maggie Dutton of Cabinetry of Pinehurst to get a local perspective on cabinet colors here in Moore County, NC.

In this episode we cover:

2021 Color trends

2022 kitchen cabinet colors trends

2023 kitchen cabinet color trends and examples of colors so you can visually see them

Plus, I have expert Maggie Dutton from Cabinetry of Pinehurst who shared her insights into what her clients are asking for in Moore County, NC and see if they are aligning with what the rest of the US is doing.



Mentioned in this episode:

Home staging starter kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit
Omega Cabinetry omegacabinetry.com
Maggie Dutton at Cabinetry of Pinehurst cabinetryofpinehurst.com

You may have lived in your home for 10, 20 even 30 years. But now you are selling it and you are told by a real estate agent you need to change a few things. They may even recommend meeting with a home stager. As a senior, you may not realize houses need to look their best and not look outdated in order to appeal to buyers. Let me share 5 tips for seniors selling their homes so that you can sell it faster.

In this episode, we talk about outdated items you may find in an older adult's home and how to remedy and update them to appeal to buyers. You may not realize that certain things are outdated and do not realize that it turns off buyers. Maybe your parent's home is the one being sold and they need some inspiration to make a few changes. Share this episode with them to get them started on a few things they can do to get their home ready to sell.

Mentioned in this episode:

Home Staging Starter Kit bit.ly/stagingstarterkit

Master bedrooms may now be not politically correct to say. Real estate agents are now calling them primary bedrooms or primary suite. Regardless of what you call it, these bedrooms are the main bedroom in the house and the largest. We talked about updating them where I gave you a few ideas (episode #234 Four easy master bedroom updates under $150) but today I want to talk about giving you master bedroom ideas on the decor and layout.



Mentioned in this episode:

Home staging consultation  https://bluediamondstaginganddesign.com/online-staging-consult/

Episode #234 Four easy master bedroom updates under $150