Nicholas Yount, REALTOR

Decor is key to making your house truly feel welcoming and homey. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy to spend hundreds of dollars on simple decor pieces without feeling like you’ve done enough with your space to truly make an impact. Thankfully, these creative tips can help you express your personal style while keeping decor costs low. Test Your Green Thumb Plants can add a warmth and sense of home to your space as few other things can. Consider low-maintenance plants for your bathroom. Choose plants that can tolerate high humidity. Ferns, bamboo and begonias are all great options.  For your main living spaces, keep maintenance reasonable. If you’re not a plant person, don’t choose a finicky species. Terrariums are excellent options for any space and you can add trinkets or small shells or rocks to show off your style. Keep costs low by finding plants on sale or propagating from a friend for a family member’s greenery. Change Up Your Lights Poor lighting can make any space feel ...

Becoming a new homeowner is an exciting milestone. It can also be an overwhelming process full of decision-making, seemingly endless paperwork and new responsibilities. When the dust settles and you officially sign for your new home, your work doesn’t end there. Many new homeowners don’t realize these important things. Don’t be caught unaware, be sure you understand these important tips. Your Insurance Needs to Be Updated Your home loan likely will require you to have adequate insurance on your house itself. This guarantees that in the event of an unpredictable situation, your lender will be protected. After all, if your house burns in a fire and is uninsured, the owner is unlikely to pay off the loan.  However, this is not all you need. If you and a partner purchased the home together, you will need to look into an updated life insurance policy. In the event of a death, the other person must be able to continue house payments, and the correct life insurance policy can help make th...

A sofa is considered a room’s most important piece of furniture, and the rest of the furniture is typically based around the sofa selection. Since the sofa is likely to be the most used piece of furniture, its comfort is equally as important as its style. However, there are so many sofa options that selecting the right one for your space can be overwhelming. Honing in on your room’s aesthetic style is the first step in choosing the best sofa for you.  Selecting the type of upholstery that will best hold up to your lifestyle is also an integral part of the decision-making process. Ultimately, the sofa you choose should achieve your comfort needs and work with the style of the room. The below guide breaks down the different types of sofas that you may be considering for your living space. Chesterfield Sofa The Chesterfield sofa is a timeless piece of furniture designed in the 18th-century. It’s known for its deep seating and high-rolled arms. It’s tufted backing is traditionally made...

No doubt you’ve heard a proponent of meal planning rave about its benefits in the past. There’s a reason that avid meal preppers seem to be so committed to the process. Meal planning can have a multitude of benefits for yourself and your household. Whether you are striving for weight loss, general health improvements or simply want to ease the burden of a task on your daily checklist, meal planning can be just what you need. Here are a few excellent reasons meal prepping can help your home. Less Waste You’ve likely heard that meal planning can increase your savings. The first reason behind this savings is obvious—eating at home can be a lot cheaper than ordering takeout or going out to eat. However, this is not the only reason that meal planning can save you some cash. If you find yourself tossing spoiled food often, you may benefit from a thoughtfully executed meal plan to ensure that you use your ingredients before they expire. This will prevent you from needing to replace items due ...

Self-care has become a popular topic of conversation in the past few years. As life’s stress has seemed to increase, so has the importance of self-care. While true self-care can look very different from person to person, there are a few great ideas that can work for almost anyone. These home items can truly upgrade your home to create a haven of rest and relaxation. Bathtub Tray There are few things more relaxing than a nice warm bath. A bathtub tray can take any sized bathtub and turn it into a spa-like experience. With slots designed to hold books or a tablet, your phone and even a glass of your favorite beverage, there is no doubt this simple tool will be something you turn to time and time again. Floating Shelf At first glance, a floating shelf may not seem to be a home item that can upgrade your self-care routine, but you would be surprised how a well-placed floating shelf can create harmony in your space. Not only do they boost the aesthetic of your room and increase its organiza...

A correctly sized rug has the power to effortlessly tie a room together, while an incorrectly sized rug can throw off the room’s entire aesthetic. In addition to the rug size, the pattern, color and material contribute to a room's overall look and feel. If you’re looking for the perfect rug for your space, read on for everything you need to know about selecting a new rug. The Rug’s Function When you’re buying a rug, the first consideration should be the function. Is it a high-traffic space frequently used by children and pets? Or is it in an infrequently used area and meant to serve as a decorative piece? Perhaps you want to lay on the ground comfortably, and you need an extra-plush rug with a high pile. Understanding the rug's purpose and the room will help guide your decision in shape, style, material and pile height. Using painter's tape will give you the most accurate idea for the correct size. Or, you can take the size of the entire room and subtract one to two feet fr...

There are certain touches that you can’t quite put your finger on, but that can elevate a home from average to luxe. Maybe you recently moved into a new house that could benefit from some upgrades, or you have a new construction home that has some remaining builder-grade finishes. If you’re looking to give your home some additional subtle touches to elevate its overall feel and aesthetic, there are ways to do so without undertaking an entire redesign. Read on to gather inspiration for the understated ways to upgrade your home that can make a significant difference. Update the Lighting Think of your home’s lighting as jewelry and consider how it will accessorize the overall space. Every light fixture should have an interesting detail, whether it’s the shape, finish or design. Another easy lighting update is to replace standard white chandelier shades with an option in an exciting color, pattern or texture. Add Molding Even if you have a fresh paint job, adding molding to the walls adds ...