Date Archives: April 2020

If your living space is starting to feel a little stale, there are a few things you can do about it. 

Our real estate agents know what it takes to successfully stage Bradenton and Sarasota homes for sale, and we can assure you that arranging the furniture appropriately can change the entire look and feel of a room. Here are a few simple furniture changes that you can make to improve your space. 

1. Find the Balance
   Interior decorating focuses on striking the right balance. Never is this more important than when it comes to arranging furniture. To avoid rooms feeling lopsided or unsettled, consider both the size and placement of each piece so that you don't end up with all the large or small pieces of furniture bunched together. 

2. Don't Push Furniture Against the Walls
   Though it might sound counterintuitive, leaving a few spare inches between your furniture and the wall behind can actually make the room feel bigger. Determining how much space to leave should be dictated by the size of the space, but even in smaller rooms, it's best not to have furniture pushed right up against the walls. 

3. Choose a Focal Point
   Some rooms have a natural focal point, like a fireplace or a prominent set of windows. If that's the case, you can arrange the furniture around that point. If not, you can create your own focal point, such as a large coffee table or an entertainment center, and use it as the central focus of the room. Furniture doesn't have to be directly pointed at the focal point, but it should be arranged so that the eye is drawn toward that focal point. 

4. Use the Right Size Area Rugs
   Area rugs should generally cover most of the floor, leaving just a bit of extra around the walls. An exception to the rule is if you have hardwood floors you want to show off, but still want a few smaller area rugs to add a splash of color or tie the space together. 

5. Mix Colors and Textures
   A lot of your furniture and decor can be arranged by color, but don't forget about texture as well. If you're arranging throw pillows on a sofa, for example, mixing up colors and contrasting textures helps keep the eye interested. You don't want colors to clash with each other, but they shouldn't all be too similar. 

6. Go With the Flow
   One of the most important considerations, when you arrange furniture, is the natural flow of traffic through the room. The last thing you want is to have people tripping over furniture. Make sure each piece of furniture has enough space to walk by it if needed, especially between the coffee table and any couches or chairs that may be nearby. 

7. Let There Be Light
   Lighting is one of the best tools you have to tie a room together. Use light to your advantage by incorporating a variety of sources, including floor and table lamps as well as ceiling and wall-mounted fixtures. Use natural light as much as possible, with curtains or shades that allow you to control the lighting in each room.

Contact us today to learn more about transforming your living space. We've helped countless families find their dream homes in Florida, and we can't wait to help you find yours!

As we shelter in place, many of us are working remotely from home. While for some, this may be an improvement over the office with its obvious distractions and interruptions, but for others, the home environment offers its own distractions. With schools closed, you may have kids to look after, or if you live alone, the laundry and other tasks call to you as you're in the midst of dealing with your work email backlog. Here are some tips that may help you as you navigate your new work environment.

1. Start Early.
   Get up, get dressed, and get ready for work. Dress for comfort, but get out of your pajamas. Dressing for work puts you in the mood to work. 
2. Set Your Schedule
   Be sure your family, friends, and colleagues know your work hours. While you'll of course be working your regular hours, working from home makes it easier for work to invade personal time during nights and weekends. If you have children, try to share responsibilities with the other parent, or look into getting some help with the kids during work hours.
3. Take a Break
   Setting a schedule isn't just about working – breaks are necessary too. Plan for breaks and lunch – away from the computer. 
4. Keep Distractions at Bay
   At home, we often hear the call to do laundry, sweep the floor, or fix something that's broken. Resist these temptations during working hours. Likewise, just as you would at the office, avoid diversions such as working with the tv on, texting, chatting on the phone, or indulging in social media.
5. Have a Designated Work Space
   Whether it's a corner of the dining room table, an unused closet in a spare bedroom, or the entire bedroom itself, create a specific space as your office. Even if you just need a place to plug in your laptop, it should be your place during the time you work, and ideally, be a room where you can close the door.
6. Personalize Your Work Space
   You spend eight hours a day at your desk, so you might as well make it appealing. Have fun with it! Go online and search for tips for making your home office space light and bright. Paint the walls white to lighten up the room. Use pops of color, like a colorful chair, some greenery, or art to inspire you. Save space with modular shelves and bins for your supplies. Put some personality into your home office and you'll enjoy working there. 
7. Create an Environment for Concentration
   Unless you live alone, working without disruption can be challenging. If you don't have the luxury of a quiet space, try some noise-canceling headphones. Play classical music or sounds of nature to create an environment that makes it easier to concentrate.

Need a home with just the right office space? Our team can help you find Bradenton or Sarasota homes for sale that offer a better home office space when the time is right. Contact us today. 

With the kids at home for the foreseeable future and many public spaces closed indefinitely, many parents will need a helping hand keeping their children entertained during this difficult time. Our REALTORS® understand that, while having fun is a great distraction, children still need to spend adequate time learning and growing while out of school. Thankfully, these seven educational websites offer great ways to keep your kids entertained and academically engaged while at home.

1. Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Webcams
   With the weather warming up, a trip to the zoo would be a perfect no-school activity for children. Unfortunately, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed until further notice, but that doesn't mean that children can't check in on their favorite animals. The National Zoo has webcams set up throughout the zoo that give a live glimpse into the areas where many animals live. 
   
   
2. San Diego Zoo Live Cams
   The San Diego Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the world, and you don't have to visit in person to see why. They've set up nearly a dozen live webcams that your kids can stream right at home. Take a trip to Africa and watch the baboons and penguins. View the koalas of the Outback, the apes of the Lost Forest, and the polar bears of the Northern Frontier. Go on an exciting digital safari to see giraffe, burrowing owls, elephants, tigers, and condors. 
   
   
3. Google Arts & Culture
   Google is ready to open your children up to the art and cultures of the world. Their free online Arts & Culture program lets kids explore famous landmarks and streets, view high-definition artwork from renowned artists, and examine artifacts from pre-history to present day.
   
   
4. Online Tours of the Louvre
   There are few museums in the world as highly regarded as the Louvre, and now you can visit without buying a plane ticket to Paris! The Louvre offers virtual tours online where your children can explore Egyptian Antiquities, Remains of the Louvre's Moat, and the Galerie d'Apollon.
   
   
5. Children's Museum Houston
   While the Louvre is a fascinating facility, younger kids may enjoy activities and videos created by the Children's Museum Houston. Make learning fun and hands-on without leaving your home with their extensive video database.
   
   
6. Scholastic Learn at Home Virtual Program
   In light of recent events, Scholastic is devoting its efforts to maximizing learning potential for children who are currently out of school. Their Learn at Home online program contains resources for parents, teachers, and students aged preschool through grade six and above. They post day-to-day projects featuring cross-curricular content to keep their minds growing.   
   
   
7. Space Foundation
   Take a trip with your kids (and Snoopy) out of this world with some fun lesson plans created by the Space Foundation. This free downloadable STEM curriculum is perfect for kids in grades K-8. 

Are you looking for a way to stay entertained at home? Why not browse some of our Bradenton homes or Sarasota homes for sale? Many of these stunning properties feature high-definition photographs and even virtual tours. Contact us to learn more.