Our Top Holiday Decor Picks from Target

Our Top Holiday Decor Picks from Target

by | Nov 28, 2022 | Decorating

christmas tree in living room

When it comes to interior design, there are certain things you should splurge on – and certain things that really shouldn’t break the bank. You only decorate for the holiday season once a year, and with decorating trends constantly changing, there’s no reason to drop all your cash when there are plenty of affordable – and gorgeous! – festive pieces available. If you’re looking to deck the halls on a dime, take a peek at some of our favorite holiday decor finds from Target this season.

Season’s Greetings

The first thing your guests will see when they arrive for a holiday get-together is your front door. We love elegant but festive greenery to make a great first impression. These picks from Target are a bit more understated than the chunkier wreaths of Christmas past.

Deck the Halls (and Shelves and Tables)

A key component to any kind of decorating is paying attention to the details, and holiday decor is no different. Adding a few festive touches to your tables, bookshelves, countertops, or mantle is easy with these whimsical seasonal accessories from Target.

  • This copper mailbox to store your letters to Santa from Hearth & Hand with Magnolia
  • This plush knitted tree from the Target Wondershop, perfect for sweater weather vibes
  • This glittery winter scene in a glass cloche from the Target Wondershop
  • This jute woven deer from Threshold, perfect for a touch of organic design
christmas holiday decor

Wreaths aren’t just for the front door! Try incorporating this holiday decor staple into other areas of your home.

christmas holiday decor

Festive Fun

While you’re busy perfecting your home’s holiday aesthetic, don’t forget your children’s rooms! Bring a touch of holiday magic to the kids’ spaces in your home with these fun Target finds.

  • This adorable Santa nutcracker from the Target Wondershop
  • This timeless truck figurine from the Target Wondershop, perfect for any kid’s bookshelf
  • This winter throw pillow from Threshold for a touch of the holidays at bedtime

With all the inexpensive seasonal decor available this time of year, it’s a breeze to prep your home for the holidays on a budget. There are countless decorative finds available at Target; these are just a few of our favorites! What are your favorite festive finds at Target this holiday season?

5 Small Decor Changes to Give Your Home Holiday Flair

5 Small Decor Changes to Give Your Home Holiday Flair

by | Nov 14, 2022 | Decorating

christmas tree in living room

Some people love going all out for the holiday season and decking the halls from top to bottom. Others prefer a more minimal approach to seasonal decor, either for the aesthetic, or sometimes just to make the post-holiday teardown easier. If you want to keep your home a bit more understated this holiday season, try one (or more!) of these quick and simple decor changes for just the right amount of festive flair.

Inexpensive Objects

You might not have room for a large Christmas tree or an elaborate holiday display in your home, or maybe you just have a neglected corner that needs some extra festive flair. We love decorative objects to spruce up any small space. Best of all, you don’t need to break the bank. There are plenty of beautiful, inexpensive pieces available for the holidays. We love these minimal but festive deer from the Target Wondershop – just $10 each!

christmas holiday decor

Add holiday potpourri to existing bowls for a touch of festive fun.

Holiday Add-Ons

If you have a well-styled home, you probably have a few staged bowls or dishes or trays laying around. It’s easy to add a touch of holiday magic to your existing decor with some faux florals and greenery. Holly and pinecones are elegant choices for the holiday season. Flocked branches can also add a touch of snowy elegance to your displays. We love this festive potpourri from Crate & Barrel – with the added bonus of a warm cinnamon scent!

Seasonal Swaps

Scented candles are a staple in many homes, but not all scents are created equal. There are smells for every time of year – and scents specifically for the holiday season! If you regularly keep a scented candle on your coffee table, desk, or vanity, swap out the generic floral notes for something more seasonal. You can even find scented candles with a bit more visual interest than the typical jar candle. We love this bell-shaped holiday candle from Pottery Barn that doubles as a decorative object.

Whimsical Wall Art

Take a look at your wall art for another simple decor swap this holiday season. No need to put any extra holes in the wall – just replace your existing wall art with something festive, and swap back when the holidays are done! If you want to add some extra holiday glow to your space, you could try something lighted, like this neon lettering from Pottery Barn.

Cozy Comfort

Throw pillows are one of those small details that can really tie a room together. If you’re looking to change your living space up for the winter holidays, swapping out or covering your throw pillows is a great solution! Don’t be afraid to mix and match for the perfect holiday vibe. This faux fur pillow, this snowflake pillow, and this Christmas tree pillow, all from Target, are the perfect trio to add festive texture to your living room.

Whether you have a small space to decorate, want to save some money on holiday embellishments, or just prefer a more understated holiday vibe, any of these small decor changes can make a big difference. Interior design is all about the details – and the same goes for seasonal decorating! What are your favorite quick and simple ways to spruce up your home for the holidays?

5 Ways to Prep Your Home for Listing

5 Ways to Prep Your Home for Listing

by | Aug 1, 2022 | Uncategorized

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, you might be wondering, “What can I do to help my home appeal to potential buyers?” Maybe you’re even thinking about completely overhauling an outdated bathroom or a retro kitchen. Great news: you don’t have to renovate your entire house to make it more desirable. A few simple updates and a bit of preparation can help any home stand out in a competitive market.

Clean

It can be hard for potential buyers to see past dirt and grime. Give your house a good deep clean before putting it on the market. Be sure to focus on areas of the house that might not always get a lot of attention during regular cleaning, such as:

  • Bathroom grout and tile. If your grout is light gray when it’s supposed to be white, it’s probably in need of a deep clean. Bathrooms are important for most buyers, so giving your grout a good scrub to restore it to its former glory can go a long way.
  • Floors and carpets. Maybe your floors have seen better days, but you might not have to go as far as tearing up the carpets or laying new floors. Rent a carpet cleaner or hire someone to deep clean your floors for you, and it’ll make a world of difference.
  • Windows and other details. Take the time to clean not only your window glass, but the sills and the rails and the casing, too. This might seem like a detail most buyers would overlook, but it goes a long way toward making a house feel fresh and new. Keep other small, detailed areas in mind, too, like baseboards, radiators, vents – anything that might have been collecting dust for a while.

Repair

Are there old nail holes on your walls that you’ve become blind to overtime? Do you have a cabinet door that doesn’t hang quite right, or a cracked tile that needs to be replaced? Before you list your home, take care of all those little fixes and projects you’ve been putting off for ages. Especially when it comes to walls, it won’t take you long to spackle and sand before moving on to the next step on our list.

Paint

A coat of paint can make all the difference, especially if the paint colors you chose for your walls aren’t necessarily to everyone’s taste. Before you put your home on the market, give the interior a fresh coat of paint. Choose softer, more neutral colors that can appeal to anyone. You want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves in the space, and they might struggle imagining themselves relaxing in a home with bright orange or green walls.

Unless the exterior of your house is really worn down, you probably don’t need to worry about painting it. Give it a good pressure wash, and if you think it needs refreshing, try painting just the front door to draw the eye and add some curb appeal.

Update

You don’t need to remodel your entire house before you sell it, but there are a few key updates you can make to add significant value and appeal to buyers:

Not sure what to prioritize when it comes to updating your home before you sell? We can help! Check out this inspiration for recommended updates we put together for one of our clients.

  •  Lighting: When it comes to lighting, don’t rely on a single ceiling fixture centered in the room. Consider additional lighting, like wall sconces or lamps, to add depth and dimension to a space. You might also want to switch out your standard, builder-grade light fixtures for pieces with a bit more character. A contemporary chandelier can add a lot of visual interest!
  • Hardware: If you don’t have the time or money to remodel your kitchen or your bathroom, updating the hardware and plumbing fixtures can go a long way. Replace outdated faucets, knobs, hooks, and other small hardware with more contemporary options to give your home an instant facelift.
  • Cabinets and Countertops: If you have a little more wiggle room in your budget and your bathroom and kitchen are in desperate need of a refresh, update the cabinets and countertops along with the hardware, and consider switching out your bathroom vanity.

Stage

We love personal touches, but when you’re trying to sell your house, it’s best to depersonalize as much as possible. Potential buyers should be able to imagine themselves living in the space. Here are a few ways you can help people envision their lives in your home:

  •  Rearrange your furniture. Try to stage your furniture in the best way to maximize the space, and remove any furniture that is too large.
  • Declutter your space. Remove extra knick-knacks and personal photos, and focus on staging your walls and surfaces with neutral decor, art, and greenery.
  • Set the dining table. Even if you don’t eat at the dining table much, set it for a full meal so potential buyers can imagine themselves eating there.

Before you list, try some of these simple solutions and small updates to give your home the refresh it needs to attract buyers. And, if you need inspiration – we can help!

 

Primary Bathroom Reno: A Peek Into Our Design Process

Primary Bathroom Reno: A Peek Into Our Design Process

by | Jul 22, 2022 | Bathroom Renovations

Sometimes people cave to the pressure of having a bathtub in their primary bathroom for the benefit of resale value, even if they aren’t avid bathers, but we’re giving you permission to get rid of that tub! If you aren’t using it, squeezing a bathtub into your primary bathroom might just be a waste of space, and a bit of an eyesore. Take a look at how removing the outdated bathtub helped us transform this master bathroom for our clients in Cary, NC.

We started this project with a bathroom that was stuck in the ’90s, featuring a built in garden tub, a tiny gold-framed shower, a low vanity, and outdated lighting. Our clients wanted us to transform their retro bathroom into a spa-like oasis.

Our first step was removing the garden tub, allowing us to expand the shower, add floating shelves, and open the area in front of the window to give the entire space a brighter, more airy feel. We chose a ceramic tile that mimics the appearance of marble to keep the bathroom looking luxe while still being easy to maintain, and we embellished with real marble hexagon tile in the shower pan and niche. An additional handheld showerhead, a bench, and a custom glass enclosure completed this gorgeous shower. The tub won’t be missed!

We enhanced the spa vibes with a brand new vanity with a Carrera marble top and polished nickel fixtures. Simple but beautiful wainscotting, tall mirrors, and new wall lighting pulled everything together, and a contrasting chandelier globe served as a focal point to finish off this updated oasis.

Of course, these design decisions aren’t made spur-of-the-moment. What the before and after photos don’t usually show is all the planning that happens long before demo starts, from layout renderings to tile selection to installation specifications and more. Take a look at the carousel below for a peek at all the decisions that have to be made before a renovation begins.

Our clients were thrilled with their new spa-inspired, tub-free master bathroom. If you’ve been thinking of bidding farewell to your bathtub, here are a few more gorgeous before and after photos that might help you take the leap.

Before

After

Full Kitchen Reno: Before & After at Lakeside

Full Kitchen Reno: Before & After at Lakeside

by | May 2, 2022 | Kitchen Renovations

Not all homebuyers can see the potential in an outdated space, but Matt and Mary purchased their home knowing they would eventually want to update the kitchen. The original layout of Matt and Mary’s kitchen was claustrophobic, the workflow funky. The fridge was adjacent to the side door off the driveway — their primary entrance to their home — the oven was in a cramped corner, they lacked counter space, and the peninsula made the room feel closed off. Along with the awkward layout, everything was old, musty, sagging, and in desperate need of replacement.

At Spotted, we start every project by sitting down with the client to discuss the current state of their space, digging deep to pinpoint what’s working and what needs to change, and then we put together a preliminary quote and budget. There are plenty of options for financing home projects, from personal loans to HELOCs — but Matt and Mary wanted to pay for their kitchen remodel without a loan, so we set their project aside while they saved up. A few months later, we circled back and got started on their new kitchen. Matt and Mary didn’t mind waiting a bit longer; the anticipation is half the fun of a big project.

We had a few main goals with this remodel:

  • Improve the workflow of the kitchen
  • Create more open space to enlarge the room
  • Optimize the kitchen for a homeowner who loves to cook and bake!

A design board and renderings help us visualize the finished product.

kitchen hardware

A huge thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring the beautiful hardware in this space.

Serene Lily 7 9/16″ Center to Center Bar Pull

1 1/4″ Diameter Mushroom Knob Multipack

With Matt and Mary’s needs and wants in mind, we started preparing design renderings, revising until we’d found the perfect solution for the kitchen’s odd layout. At the same time, we pulled design inspiration from Matt and Mary’s Pinterest boards, and started sourcing everything we needed — tile, plumbing, countertops, and more — from local suppliers.

A few weeks later, after plenty of revisions and lots of fine-tuning, we were ready to start ordering materials. Behind the scenes, our design team was busy creating construction plans, meeting with our contractors, tracking our sourced items, and double-checking everything to ensure it arrived on site — on time and intact.

With everything reviewed, approved, and accounted for, construction finally began. The Spotted team conducted regular site visits to ensure everything was being installed to spec, and we handled any issues that arose during construction, acting as the liaison between the clients and the construction team. Our goal is to make the renovation process as easy and stress-free as possible for every client. As is the nature of construction, things will go wrong and issues will arise – but we stay on top of things with a solutions-first approach.

Take a look at the before and after of this gorgeous kitchen remodel! We optimized aesthetic and function to create a beautiful, livable space, perfect for cooking, baking, and gathering. Maybe these results can even provide some ideas and inspiration for your own future kitchen remodel, or help you see the potential in an outdated space during your homebuying journey.

Before

After