As noted in my Part 1 article, home staging has been named by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the hot business to start in 2006. That’s great news, in one sense, because it raises the profile of home staging. Increasing the general public’s awareness of the concept of staging is always a good thing, since you can do less "educating" and more "selling". The more people are already aware that staging exists and how it benefits them, the more staging becomes a "must do" for anyone selling a home. It will become an expected part of the real estate transaction just like home inspections and appraisals.

On the other hand, being named a hot business by a widely read publication such as Entrepreneur means if you’ve been thinking about it the time is now. Get established. Develop contacts. The competition among staging businesses is sure to increase in the years to come. Demand is sure to increase as well, but now is the time to jump in and do it. According to fees charged by professional home stagers you can realistically make $4,000 per month working weekends only.

Fees for consulting only (meaning the homeowner does all the work) are in the neighborhood of $100 to $150 an hour. Some stagers charge a 2 hour minimum. For this price you’d be going through the home and making a list of everything the owner can do to boost the home’s appeal. You can have a ready-made check list where you check the items that apply to the particular home. But use that as your reference and make the home owner something that is highly personalized. You know, a polished report made just for them looks much more impressive than just handing them the same check-list that you use for everyone. If you can add photos it will look even better. Do the walk-through, make your notes and photos, and go back to your office to whip up your beautiful report to deliver promptly to the home owner. (This is exactly what home inspectors and real estate appraisers do). Once you’ve done this several times it won’t take much of your time at all and you can structure your fees accordingly. My feeling is that there will be so much for your clients to do to prepare their homes, you definitely need to give them something to refer to. Walking through the house rattling off a "to-do" list is not enough.

Flat fees often work better than an hourly fee. You can just say "My standard fee for consulting is $200, and that includes preparing a detailed report for your home". To me that sounds like a better deal than the rather open-ended "I charge $100 per hour".

In future articles we’ll discuss more aspects of pricing your services, as well as marketing and other start-up issues.

For more from Jackie Riley including free staging tips go to http://www.redesignforprofit.com To see more about starting up a staging business go to http://www.redesignforprofit.com/starting-home-staging-business.html

Dividing the room into different use areas is a great way to break up the space. Obviously a fireplace is a great focal point. Keep seating in front of it perpendicular (i.e. sofas facing each other with ottoman or coffee table in between) or L-shaped. Don’t forget to put a small table at each end of the couch/love seat with table lamps and space for a drink and a book.

Next, create a gaming area either for board games or cards. A square or round table with 2 - 4 chairs and a pendant light/chandelier is all you need. Add a floor lamp nearby for more ambient lighting. If not for games, how about adding a bistro set for light dining or morning coffee?

I would take advantage of windows and their light by building or improvising a window seat. Use a large bench or settee or even a loveseat right under the window. Add a long cushion (you could even recover a body pillow!) and some coordinating throw pillows, and your reading spot is ready! Keep an end table and lamp close by for additional reading pleasure.

Fill in the corners with a screen and/or tall plants (can be silk). Don’t forget to uplight them with canister lights for dramatic effect. You may even have room for a writing desk and small bill-paying center. Use your imagination, look at designing magazines and go for it! You’ll be glad you did.

Happy decorating!

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“Making A Difference One Person & One Home At A Time” ™ Lisa is a WAHM and decorating consultant in the central Illinois area. Get deco ideas and home décor at Decorating with HGPgal. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and contest and share your decorating tip on the DecoForum. http://www.HGPgal.com

Carpets are a big investment and you want to make sure they last as long as possible. Follow these 8 tips to extend the life of your carpets.

1. Vacuum

Vacuum, vacuum, and then vacuum some more. It’s the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to extend the life of your carpet. That’s because vacuuming often removes the fine grit that falls deep into the carpet and causes wear. The more you vacuum the longer your carpets will last.

2. Buy A Good Vacuum

All vacuums are not created equal and you need one that has enough suction to pull the grit that lays low in the carpet not just the surface debris. It’s the grit deep in the carpet that rubs and wears the fabric causing your carpets to look old and wear out faster. So spend a little more on that vacuum and save thousands in replacing your carpets.

3. Replace The Padding

When you replace the carpet replace the padding. If you don’t you’ll void the warranty on your new carpet and you’ll shorten the life of your carpet. There are specific types of padding designed for specific types of carpet. The compositions can be quite different. Replacing the padding with new padding will eliminate or reduce stretch, footprints, and dips and sags. It will keep your carpet looking fresh much longer and extend the life of your carpets.

4. Carpet Cleaning

Next to vacuuming carpet cleaning is the next most important maintenance you can do. You should carpet clean your rugs at least once a year and if it’s a high traffic area more often. Carpet cleaning removes the grime and debris that wears away at the fiber it also removes oily residue and stains. It will make your carpet look newer and it will extend the life of your carpet. When carpet cleaning make sure you do not use a cleaner that leaves a residue as this will attract dirt and compound your problems.

5. Shoes Off

Have people remove their shoes when entering the room. Even though the soles may be clean they carry fine particles and oily substances from outside which can damage the carpet and age it.

6. No Bare Feet

Now I bet you didn’t realize that bare feet are as damaging to your carpets as shoes are. That’s because the soles of your feet will have a oil film [no you can’t feel or see it] that will be picked up by your carpets leaving a residue behind that attracts dirt which then abrades your carpet.

7. Mats and Runners

For high traffic areas such as halls or entrances a mat or runner is an excellent way to save abuse to the carpet and it can add an additional touch to your decor. Use the mats and runners to absorb initial dirt and grime upon entering the house and keep it isolated. The mats can easily be replaced or cleaned. This will add years to the carpet in these areas.

8. Remove Stains

Remove stains immediately after they occur. Follow the manufacturer’s directions or use a carpet cleaner solution. Stains once set can be difficult to remove and nothing will age your rug faster than a bunch of stains. Most stains, yes even the difficult ones, can be lifted if the proper procedures are followed.

These 8 tips will extend the life of your carpets, and keep them looking fresh and newer for longer.

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

This area of home life is different from others in that it involves all the senses and to that degree it is successful, engendering varying emotions. Decorating isn’t really a hobby, nor is it merely an activity; it’s a driving force of many people to live in comfortable and pleasing surroundings while they regenerate from a stressful world.

Yet, decorating by itself is not nearly as completely satisfying as having an organized home that is rich in beautiful detail. Decorating and organizing go hand-in-hand, like a one-two punch of home completion.

In an effort to motivate you to action, use these suggestions to help you on your way to an organized home this spring and summer.

Paper Clutter

1. If you’re like my dear Mother and you still have newspapers from 1978 because you haven’t read them all: Don’t walk, RUN to the sanitation department and rent an industrial sized dumpster to leave in your driveway for a week.

2. I’m giving you permission to touch your incoming mail and papers more than once – only if the second “touching” is on the way to the dumpster.

3. You know that pile of “things to file” that keeps growing? Guess what – dump that too. You can always print off another copy or send away for the info. over the Internet. (This, coming from the daughter of a paper monster…)

Clothing

Twice a year, my mom would make me try on clothes for the upcoming season. She would invariably choose cold mornings to try on summer things and the hottest day on record to slip into woolens and flannels… (If your kids give you flack for trying on clothes in the comfort of air conditioning, you may use this as your own example.) If you haven’t worn something in the time it took you to have your second child, it’s probably not worth hanging on to (unless, of course, the dumpster is full).

Use a great tip I just discovered: Pick three nights a week to try on 5 items in your closet, then go to your dressers and do the same thing. At this rate, the average American woman should be able to go through all her clothes in about 3 years, 9 months and 14 days. No need to worry, it’ll be a different season then!

Kids’ Toys

1. You could try to “limit” the number of toys they play with each month and cycle them to and from the garage so your little ones get variety.

2. That takes too much effort. I just threatened my boys if they left toys out on their floor at bedtime, they would be in the dumpster the next day (the toys, silly!). Do this twice, and you’ll have this hot spot under control.

I hope these points have given you some new ways to look at the problem of clutter and refreshing methods to deal with them. Given the fun you’ll have with that dumpster, you might want to consider renting a second one for the hubby’s stuff.

I’ll tell you what. If you really do rent a dumpster (okay, it can be the smaller version) I’ll have a reward for your diligence. Ladies – Email me that you filled your dumpster to the very tippy top and something funny that happened during the process. I’ll send you a coupon for a discount on a Fragrance Lamp that will fill your home with lovely aromas. Gentlemen – Email me the same (that is, that you actually rented the thing and filled it, and an amusing related story) and I will send you a Gift Certificate for your wife. Such a deal!

Publishing Guidelines:
You may publish this article with the article and resource box intact and unchanged provided any links are hyperlinked. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. (The challenge paragraph may be omitted for space.)

Lisa DeClue is a WAHM and really does love her Mother. She owns Decorating with HGPgal, a website incorporating interior and garden/patio decorating resources, articles, tips and a monthly newsletter in addition to a unique business opportunity. Subscribe to the newsletter at http://HGPgal.com/newsletter.html and be entered into the monthly prize drawing.

Wood floors have made an amazing come back and today they are the number one choice in flooring. Wood floors are classy and elegant and easy to clean but they do lack the personal touch and character so there has been a new demand for area rugs. Area rugs are the perfect wood floor accent!

By adding an area rug you can spice up the dull looking floors, add some color and character to a room, and add a warm touch for your feet on those cold winter days. You will be able to match the area rugs with your home decor with little problem. In fact you’ll have so many choices, choosing might be a bit difficult!

There is a perfect area rug for every room. I guarantee it! You will find the thousands of color variations from wild and bold to soft and romantic. You can choose from Persian rugs, Oriental Rugs, Reed rugs, rag rugs and so many others.

If you just want to protect your wood floor or cover up a stain you can buy very inexpensive area rugs. In fact area rugs are one of the most economical ways to change the look or feel of any room. Give your room a maker over for under $100.00. Your dull surroundings will jump to life just by adding an area rug.

Choose an area rug that reflects your personality and the ambiance of the room. Use an area rug to create a warm and intimate room, or use it to decrease the noise level in a room. So versatile! And a simple or elegant area rug will accent the wood floors in any room. If you get tired of the look you can very easily change the rug unlike wall to wall carpeting which is very expensive to change out.

You will want to match the primary colors in the rug and have it compliment your furniture and wall colors. Be sure to take the lighting in the room into consideration. If the room is dark and dull you will want to increase the lighting or buy a rug that has lighter tones in the colors to help brighten up the area. Make sure that at least the two primary colors match the room or the furnishings.

Look at the room as a whole. Decide were and what the focal point is that you are trying to achieve. If the area rug is to be the focal point in the room consider a large central medallion on the rug. These work well! Make sure that the area rugs patterns will not clash with the patterns on your furniture of the patterns on your walls. You want the rug to interact with the room and not be loud and brash.

When selecting your area rug take a sample of the wall paper or a color sample of the wall paint and a sample of material which covers the furniture with you. If no samples are readily available take several photos in different light conditions with you. This will help give you an idea of the color combinations that will work while you shop for that perfect area rug.

If you have a sample of the hardwood floor take a piece with you. Because the rug will be placed on the wood floor it’s a great way to see what the effect is. Be sure it has some of the warm or cool elements in the rug to accent the wood floor depending on the look you are going for.

The style of rug will play a important roll in the finished look of the room. Look at the room and the type of decor you have. Rooms with antiques will beg for a Oriental rug, but be careful because they may be to busy for the room. You will find that braided rugs work well for a traditional modern looking room.

Be sure the area rug will accomplish the look and feel you are trying to achieve. If you are having a hard time deciding ask the sales person. They have a lot of experience in helping customers choose the right rug. You can also check and see if there is a return policy that way you can return it if it doesn’t work out.

Area rugs are an affordable way to give a room a face lift and they look wonderful with a hardwood floor. So why not give your room a new look?

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

Tabriz are one of the most popular Persian rugs. Tabriz is the dominant city of Northwest Iran and is the second largest city in Iran. It has been the center of the carpet trade for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

Tabriz rugs have many unique designs, but the typical pattern is filled with dense floral motifs, large palmettes or vases. Typical colors are dark red and a powerful blue. Newer carpets can also be soft green and brown.

Tabriz carpets come in all different sizes. The majority will range in size from 4X6 feet to 8X10 feet. You can also find rugs up to 10X18 feet.

Tabriz also has several "sub-styles". These include the Mahi, Naqsheh, and Tabatabaie. The Mahi is commonly referred to as "The Decorators Carpet", because the colors available can match any room. The Naqsheh is generally considered the most spectacular of Tabriz rugs due to its coloring scheme. The Tabatabaie has touches of orange, lemon green and beige.

The material used for the pile of Tabriz rugs are wool, silk, or a combination of the two. A beautiful blend of fine Kurk wool and silk is the most common in fine Tabriz rugs, with wool only used in those of medium quality. In the very finest Tabriz rugs, the foundation is pure silk instead of cotton, and some even have 18 or 24 karat gold threads woven into the foundation.

The master-weavers of Tabriz often weave their signature into a part of the carpet’s border. These signatures can, of course, be found on extremely fine rugs made in other cities, but a signature on the ‘ceremonial’ border of a Naqsheh is the ultimate in formality and sophistication, the true mark of Tabriz rugs.

About The Author

Jeff Brokob is a freelance writer providing tips and advice for consumers buying Persian rugs of all types including Tabriz Rugs, Oriental carpets, antique, and contemporary rugs. His numerous articles offer money saving tips and valuable insight on typically confusing topics.

If you have a southwestern or Navajo decor you are going to be very pleased with the rugs that are available to complete your room. Southwestern rugs are a work of art and very affordable. They are very versatile! Here are 8 styles of Southwestern Rugs that are very popular.

1. Southwestern Handmade Area Rugs

Handmade are rugs will contain Southwestern colors, designs, and figures. They may use subtle desert tones are vibrant bright colors depending on the design. These Southwest rugs are perfect for a bedroom, porch, kitchen, sun room, living room rugs, or family room.

2. Southwestern Spirit Rugs

Southwest spirit area rugs draws use a wide variety of colors and design that are tied to the spirituality of the people. They are normally made of Indian wool although that may vary depending on where you purchase your rug. The spiritual characters are embodied throughout the rug and presented in a variety of patterns and forms. These look great in a bedroom, kitchen, or large bathroom.

3. Modern Southwestern Rugs

Much of the modern southwest rugs come from the Albuquerque New Mexico area where the Spanish and Native American histories are merged to form beautiful wool area rugs that depict Southwestern scenes. Done in mix of soft earth tones but with vibrant color accents or designs. Perfect for a trendy living room, a rec room, family room, or sun room.

4. Timberlake Southwestern Rugs

Bob Timberlake is a well known designer of Southwest designs producing colors that are bolder than the normal Southwestern collections. Each of his rugs is handmade and unique. If you are looking for a designer rug Timberlake collection is definitely worth having a look it. They look fabulous in any room.

5. Mexican Guadalupe Rugs

Handmade depicting Mexican figures and designs in vibrant designs and patterns. Most designs are directly linked to the history of the Mexican people. These beautiful works of art are the perfect addition to any southwestern or Navajo decor. They are a wonderful mix of colors and designs that are pleasing to the eye.

6. Oaxaca Mexico Rugs

Hand loomed 100% wool these flat weave rugs are created in the Oaxaca Mexico one of the southwest states. There are no two rugs alike. Each is its own masterpiece. The designs are based on Mayan and Mexican traditional patterns but each is somewhat different because the artists’ interpretation and style affect the look of the rug. These gorgeous rugs are perfect for a southwestern decor. They look great in front of a hearth or in the center of a room. They are truly a work of art.

7. Mohair Rugs

Mohair is traditional wool for use in Southwestern rugs. These rugs are woven with intricate ancient designs of the past. These rugs are beautifully detailed and look wonderful in a bedroom, bathroom, or in front of a fireplace.

8. Navajo Rugs

Navajo designs are unique and intricately detailed based on the past traditions of the Navajo people. The rustic and earth colors make these rugs exceptionally relaxing. They are an excellent choice for a rustic atmosphere, a cabin, or a Navajo decor.

These 8 styles of southwestern rugs are very popular but there are certainly other choices that are just as beautiful and have their own special charm and charisma. The most important thing to remember when choosing a southwestern rug is that fits your decor and your style.

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website

Amish Furniture makes a home warm and welcoming. Hard woods, have invited friendly visits and important family gatherings for years. When you sit on a solid piece of wood furniture, you feel secure, welcome. You can find this quality but you’ll have to search for it.

Amish furniture has been sought after by the wealthy and the not so wealthy for it’s simple yet elegant designs and traditional quality that lasts for generations. With the dawn of the information age finding furniture on the net has become as easy as entering a search. Just like before you get what you pay for. Often sites are pushing products as Amish Furniture and yet they are made in China. This is very unfortunate, because you can find truly Amish Furniture, all over the internet, but you really have to dig for it.

How do you know the difference you ask? Amish Craftsmen pay attention to detail. They build there pieces traditionally, the way they were taught by their fathers and grandfathers. So when shopping, look for the detail, no two Amish piece are ever alike. Also many of the large sites have a great selection, but with selection you often loose originality. Small Amish Shops are not mass production facilities. Yes they are very productive, but no one shop supplies many of the large retailers, and often imitations can sneak in the back door. Find smaller sites that sell unique products and chances are your finding someone who knows an Amish Craftsmen or two personally. True Amish sites will often allow for custom orders. There customer service will be great, but is often slow, because their craftsmen don’t use modern communication (no telephones at the shop). So be patient. Surprisingly I have found that the true Amish Furniture when bought direct from a small dealer is cheaper than the imported stuff, so don’t think price will tell you if it’s real. If your in the market for some traditional value visit (www.stoveramishfurniture.com).

I grew up in North Carolina, so I count myself lucky for having known many fine furniture craftsmen. When I moved to Ohio, I started visiting the Amish country. I love roaming the Amish Country of the Mid-West finding small family shops and bringing their quality to the world. I have learned much from these simple Craftsmen, of pride and workmanship, and can tell you my site (www.stoveramishfurniture.com), will only offer the best priced best quality Amish Furniture. Amish Furniture made right here in the Heartland of America.

Just a simple guy.

Many of us spend a great deal of time creating a relaxing atmosphere in our bathrooms, after all this is the room we head to take that long luxurious bath to unwind and the atmosphere is important! You can use bathroom rugs for functional decor adding beauty and function all at once.

There are many choices available to you in bathroom rugs. From the traditional styles you find in your local department stores that often come in a package to complete your whole bathroom, to more unique and beautiful bathroom rugs that are plush and rich.

Most bathrooms have either a linoleum or a tile flooring which looks real good but can be cold to the feet. Bathroom rugs can let you show off that flooring while adding decor and warmth for your feet.

Bathroom floors also tend to have water splashed on the floor which can make them slippery. Bathroom rugs can give you a comfortable place to stand when you get out of the tub or shower and provide a safe spot to stand where you won’t slip.

The right bathroom rug can turn your bathroom into a luxurious spa. Imagine that deep plush pile in a rich jewel color. The right bathroom rug can also make the bathroom a fun place for the kids. How about the Muppets or Spiderman on your floor? Add a shower curtain, some matching toothbrushes, and you’ll never again be fighting with your kids to brush their teeth and get cleaned up.

The most important thing to remember when choosing a bathroom rug is that the bathroom is as important as every other room in your home. So take some time to decide what style you are trying to accomplish in your bathroom. Luxury, fun, functionality, contemporary? Then you’ll easily find the right rug. Your bathroom decor can also get a real boost from the right rug!

Bathroom rugs are the easiest way to give your bathroom a stylish unique look. You don’t even have to repaint or retile to get a whole new look. Just add the right rugs and a few accessories and everyone will think your bathroom had a total makeover.

Remember you don’t need to stick to traditional bathroom rugs. You could add an oriental rug, a braided rug, a Persian rug, or any other rug that catches your eye and works with your decor.

Of course there are few things that are important to a bathroom rug. You need to be able to easily clean it. It should not be susceptible to mold or mildew because of the high moisture content in a bathroom. The dyes need to be firmly set, and a rubber backing is great to prevent rotting and slippage. But remember a rubber backing will be ruined by the dryer so you’ll need to hang to dry.

So whether you want to make a new home decor statement in your bathroom or give it a cheap makeover bathroom rugs are an excellent choice!

John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit the carpet rugs website.

Deciding what colors to use when decorating your house can be a real challenge. Do you want a soothing atmosphere, vibrant or warm and cozy? The choice does not have to be complicated if you understand the workings of the theory of color.

As many colors as there are out there all come from one of the colors of the rainbow: red, yellow, orange, green, blue, indigo, violet and black and white.

These colors are divided up into two categories:

Primary Colors: red, yellow and blue. They are called primary because they are pure and no two colors were mixed to create the color. Secondary Colors: orange, green, and violet. They are called secondary because they are mixed from two of the primary colors.

There are also two types of colors within the color wheel:

Harmonious Colors: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Blues, green, blue-green and aqua all lay next to each other and work well together in any room to create a comfortable harmonious atmosphere. Contrasting Colors: Colors, which are on the opposite side of the color wheel. Red-green or blue-orange contrast each other but will complement each other and will create a vibrant intense atmosphere.

Colors can have a powerful effect on the feel of a room. These are two of the “moods” created by certain colors:

Cool Colors: The right hand side of the color wheel is made up of such colors as greens and blues. These colors will create a cool calm mood. They will also make a room look smaller so avoid using too much in smaller rooms Warm Colors: The left-hand side is made up of reds, oranges and yellows. These colors will create a warm, cozy and bright mood. The closer the color you chose is to a primary color the brighter it will be so mix the bright with some softer shades.

There are other factors to take into consideration when choosing colors:

Pastel Colors: Pure colors that are muted by a white color.

Subtle Colors: Pure colors darkened by mixing gray or black

Neutrals: Colors that do not contrast and can mix well with most colors. Examples are white, creams, beige and browns. They are often considered earth colors.

Tones: The tone describes the lightness or darkness of the color. It is best to use a variety of tones in a room rather than just light and dark.

Colors can make all the difference in the look and the feel of a room. You don’t always need to renovate, maybe you just need to color, so experiment and have fun.

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Cass Hope has been a writer for over 5years. Cass regularly contributes to online and offline publications in a variety of areas. Her articles and stories are all based on thorough research and personal experience.She is currently sponsoring this site: http://www.interiordecorating-online.info