by
Bevony
on 7 June 2021 Comments Off on Increased Demand for Rental Housing
Many Canadians have been living in the same rental unit for years with no intentions to move. You know the old adage: “if it’s not broken don’t fix it!” But for many renters, the change in the work environment has caused a change in their home needs. And so they need to move. Are you among those who want to move or need to change your living situation? Have you considered building your very own starter home?
Here at SilverBeam homes our speciality is building you the home that will meet your needs. While 50% of Vancouver residents are tenants you don’t have to be a part of that statistic if you think it is time for a new page.
With current home prices skyrocketing beyond the reach of the average Canadian your best options right now would be rent or build. But if you choose to rent, there is a lot of competition out there. Good news though if rental is still your only option. Government support for rental building construction has returned, and we expect to see construction throughout 2021.
Immigration’s Effects on Housing Affordability
With record levels of immigration our unaffordability problems are further compounded. Even though there was a slow down of immigration in 2020 due to the pandemic with a number of COVID-19 restrictions being lifted we can expect the inflow to rise again. And new residents are typically renters. So from immmigration alone we could be looking at a rental demand of approximately 39,000.
Historically, the British Columbia rental market is provided by “Mom and Pop” rentals. These idnividuals invest their home into small rental projects as a way of making an extra income or even their only source of income.
Do you think buillding could be the right move for you to make right now? Give us a call and let us help guide you through the process.
by
Bevony
on 28 May 2021 Comments Off on Buying With Pets? – Why You Should Build Instead!
Are you considering purchasing a Condo but have a pet? Let’s explore the pet policies and help you make the decision to build instead of buy. Yes, that’s right! If you don’t want to get rid of your furry friend, many condo management is making it hard for you to buy. Even in developments where there are already pets, we are seeing new policies banning new pets from entering the building.
It is very troubling to start searching for a home, only to be turned around time and time again because you have a pet. Many feel like they are now in this no-win situation. But is it really a no-win situation? What if we told you, you had another option? Would you be interested in hearing about that? The next option would be to build your home from the ground up! While you may think that is a lot of work and will take a lot of time, we are here for you. We are equipped to help you smooth sail through every step of the process.
You don’t want to leave your pet behind, and do you really want to buy into a residential community where they are already clamping down on pets? Why not get your very own home where you and only you set the rules?
How We Help You Every Step of the Way
We understand how important it is for your home to be a place of solace. We want to help you meet that goal by building a home that is just as unique as you are, and that meets your needs exactly. So whatever your needs are; in this case, a pet friendly custom home, we have what you need.
We organize the process so that you have full control. The process is initiated with a consultation where we take your feedback into account and find out what you really want your home to do for you. We allow you to freely share your thoughts and aspirations. Then we offer our expert opinion to help you see how your masterpiece can come to life.
Our next step after consultation is, to begin with, the design services. We will help you to gather all necessary documents and put together an application package. We will help you with the drafting of legal submissions. These are to be included with every application when building a custom home in Vancouver.
When your application has been filed, we will help you through interviews and such until the final decision is made. Once the permit has been granted, we can now move into the more exciting build phase when your home will come alive in front of your eyes. Want to find out more about our process? Give us a call, we would love to hear from you, and more importantly, we would love to help you build your dream home. Don’t let the current market stress you out in a never-ending search. Let us help you get into not just a home, but the home that really meets all your needs.
by
Bevony
on 21 May 2021 Comments Off on The Home Front Color can Make or Break Your Mood
If you’ve never heard of color psychology before, welcome! Colors are known to have a very powerful effect on the way we feel. That is why there are decor professionals with the title of “Color Consultant”. Color can lift your mood or it can make one feel miserable. The colors in your home are no exception to that rule. The color of a room is one of the first things your unconscious mind takes notice of, and when it comes to your home, these colors can be the first thing you see when you wake up and the last thing you see before going to sleep.
In recent times, people have been spending a lot of time at home, and so more people are turning to color to make their homes more inviting and more relaxing. We have seen an increase in the use of colors such as terracotta, orange, teal, dark blue and green to create feelings of depth. This is for many a drastic change from the paler, more muted shades used in the designs of yesteryear.
Green is one of the colors that is getting the most popular, the fastest. It is getting especially popular in kitchens as well as in bathrooms. The green we are talking about is a very modern and refined green. It is the type of green that is inspired by food ingredients, softer vegetation and dark tree foliage.
How Color Affects Mood
Each color has its own wavelength, and as such each color will stir up a different feeling. Colors in the red and yellow family can provide feelings of comfort and warmth, or they can irritate and cause feelings of anger. It all depends on your mental health and the setting you are in.
Purple is quite the interesting color, and it is also a very complex one as well. It embodies a lot of the warmth of red, while also embodying the coolness of blue. It is considered to be calming as well as uplifting, and is linked to expanding awareness and encouraging creativity and spirituality. Too much purple though can aggravate depression in those who are already suffering from this or other forms of mental issues. It is a great option for children’s rooms, as well as for the rooms for teenage girls. It is great for these age groups due to its ability to simulate creativity, and is believed to thereby stimulate academic ability. Because it contributes to serenity, it is also ideal for use in hyperactive and highly animated children’s rooms.
Break from the Monotony with New Paint Colors
With a year behind us of many restrictions, a lot of us are having a lot of gray days. If you are looking for a way to break up the monotony in your home, but can’t afford a Reno project, changing your paint color is a great way to make the change. The best part is you don’t have to paint an entire wall. You can easily start off by doing an accent wall and adding small decor touches to pull the color into the room in other ways outside of the paint on the wall.
What color do you think would look great in your living room? Let us know in the comments!
by
Bevony
on 28 April 2021 Comments Off on Larger Tax Burden on Vancouver Homeowners for 2021
A divisive city council vote on 4/27 has left Vancouver property owners with a larger share of taxes to pay this year. The changes also provided commercial and industrial property owners with a shift in the amount of taxes they will have to pay, a downward change. The decision created a shift in property taxes of $3.6 million from businesses to homeowners.
How the changes affect Business and Residential Property Owners
This is being looked at as a way for the biggest companies in the city to save money while passing on the expenses to residents. But these arguments were not able to sway the decision. So if you own residential property in Vancouver, you will end up paying some extra money on taxes this year. Businesses on the other hand will be saving around $46 annually for properties valued at $1 million. This will help small businesses that are struggling, but larger businesses will benefit by paying less taxes, even though they can more than afford it.
How Much More will Homeowners Pay?
What residential property owners will pay comes down to the value of their property. For a residential property valuing $1 million, the tax will be $11.
Who Does the Tax Shift Benefit?
If the city did a progressive tax shift, this would be the better option, but it is not what has been dealt. Some smaller businesses will benefit it, but a lot of the businesses that will also benefit are really not in need of the break. It should be that those that have the means to pay be caused to pay more. This move does not seem well-intentioned at all.
Why the Shift?
There has been a boom in the expansion of residential properties. While commercial properties have been negatively affected due to the pandemic. They say the shifting of taxes is a way to properly manage the city’s growth.
We can all agree on one thing, the shift needs to be depoliticized. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments below.
by
Bevony
on 21 April 2021 Comments Off on COVID 19 Condo Updates Revisited
There is some confusion in residential communities about COVID 19 orders and restrictions. There is also confusion about how these should be applied. What can you do if you live in a community like this? Where facilities are not being appropriately managed or monitored to curb the spread of COVID 19?
The BC Centre for Disease Control issued indoor individual exercise requirements on March 31st. There were also orders from the medical health officers due to the increased risk of spreading the virus. How do these rules and requirements apply to your residential community, how are they managing your facilities?
Condo Facility Management Rules
There is a decision from the Civil Resolution Tribunal that requires any strata corporation to require a three-quarter vote at a general meeting to shut down a facility. Because this would be a significant change in the use or appearance of a common asset or common property. If your facility management has not closed down shared areas and you are concerned, maybe find out if others share your concern. If enough are concerned, you can request a general meeting to share your concerns, and cast your vote.
Strata Companies Hiding Behind Liability Waivers
A resident at one community expressed concern about the gym and pool areas still being open in her residential community. The strata has a sign-in sheet that implies users acknowledge the risks of using the space, but this is not enough for concerned homeowners. The facilities are not manned, and people are left to do as they please. This creates the potential for the easy spread of the COVID19 to other members of the community. Even those staying away from shared spaces are at risk.
What We Wish For
It is our hope and the hope of many residents that corporations will be more interested in the health and safety of their residents. Yes, strata corporations can use liability waivers, but they also must comply with health orders. They are obligated to properly staff, manage and monitor facilities, if this is what the health orders require. They should also ensure the proper janitorial and sanitization standards are being upheld, and users’ activities should be recorded. This is how we can quell the risk of increased spreading of the virus.
WorkSafe BC Protocols
WorkSafe BC protocols should also be followed. These apply to all staff that has to interact with and manage facilities for the residents. It’s important for mechanical systems, waste facilities, elevators, hallways and lobbies to be maintained to ensure routine fresh air delivery.
Makeup air systems should be regularly and appropriately maintained. Because these systems pressurize hallways and ensure that vehicle exhaust doesn’t get into traveling elevator shafts. This reduces the chances of smoke or smells from the exhaust migrating to strata units. They also ensure the introduction of fresh air into a building. For these systems to be effective, they must be operational. All routine cleaning and maintenance should be done, especially the changing of filters on a monthly or quarterly basis. Maintenance scheduling is pre-determined by the manufacturer.
Community Education
This is a very important task when it comes to the proper use of facilities, still, if strata corporations have rules, they must be known by the residents. Posters should be distributed or strategically placed to remind residents how to operate in common areas. These can include information on washing hands, wearing a mask, not gathering in groups, etc. Reminders for staying isolated if one has tested positive for COVID-19 or is experiencing any of the symptoms of the virus.
When we are yet to see the impact of COVID-19 close to us, it can be easy to become complacent. Indeed, you should be in the know. Even if your strata corporation is being complacent, do your own research and checks. Check out updates and orders from CHOA by visiting their website and clicking on COVID updates. Here you can see what other residential communities are doing. You can find the available guides and publications, so you can determine if your facilities management are not following the rules.
Build Your Own Home
If you are tired of living in a residential community where you have to share space with people who just don’t care or listen, maybe it is time for you to build your own home. We understand that nowadays home prices are high, and people need their homes to adjust to the new normal. The best way to do this is to create your own custom home. We can help you with that. SilverBeam home builders at your service! Give us a call today and let us help make your dream of owning a home, your new reality.
by
Bevony
on 17 April 2021 Comments Off on Increased Lumber Prices Increasing New Home Building Costs
Lumber and Building Supplies
Lumber prices have been on the rise since 2020 when the pandemic struck and sent many countries into lockdown. As more people are spending time at home and needing a home that meets their needs, there has been an increase in demand. With a lack of supply, the industry is struggling, and prices have tripled and even quadrupled in some instances. These record lumber prices are adding thousands of dollars to the costs of building new homes, as the customers are the ones left to stand the costs at the end of the day.
The Ministry of Forests, lands, Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development has a weekly forest product database with information tracking prices. In mid-September of 2020, a basic spruce, pine and fir 2×4 cost $960 USD per thousand board feet. In 2019, the annual average for the same was approximately $372 USD.
President of the B. C Council of Forest Industries, Susan Yurkovich, notes that across the province, a number of lumber mills had closed down in the early parts of the pandemic. And this is what causes a lot of the pressure on supply.
Effects on the House Construction Industry
The house construction industry is still holding on and doing well. People are spending money on their houses as they start to remodel their homes, make repairs, etc., as they are spending more time at home and need their home to meet different needs now. Equally, people are looking for new houses as their needs change, and they need their homes to be equipped to meet the needs of working from home, homeschooling, etc.
This has caused an increase in demand in an industry that is already lagging in providing for the previous demand. While it will definitely take some time for inventories to refill, we are looking to the fall when there is typically a reduction in demand as the province heads into winter. Hopefully at this time, the supply can catch up and prices can fall.
Current New Home Prices – Highest in the Past 3 Years
With low supply and increased prices, building materials are hard to source. Either because they really aren’t available, or the prices are so high. The cost of new homes has increased more than the last three years in just one month due to the high prices of building materials brought on by the pandemic.
Statistics Canada reported their New House Price Index shows an increase for newly-built homes. Since May 2017, there has been an increase, but this has been the biggest one seen.
The Pandemic and House Prices
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a very big impact on the Canadian housing market on a whole. It initially brought reselling to a halt. Demand came back slowly, and sales rose, with many homes starting to sell way above asking. The demand then started spilling into the new house market, and so the demand for wood, drywall, tubing and wiring has risen.
Because many places have physical distancing measures in place, many people have diverted their summer vacation savings towards home improvements, renovations, and finding a house that will meet their new needs better.
Suburban areas with room for new builds are seeing a high amount of demand. New house prices have risen by 1.8% each month. For 2020, the index was up 2.1%, which is the highest it has been in two years.
What Will High Lumber Prices Cause?
Data agencies expect a record high of lumber prices this year that will increase the cost of a single family home between $5000 and $10,000. Because of the increase in home demand, there is expected to be an increase in lumber and other building related supply prices.
Here at SilverBeam Homes, we try our best to keep costs down, while still providing customers with top quality houses and workmanship. How much house can you afford? Get in touch with us and let us give you a quote.
by
Bevony
on 5 April 2021 Comments Off on Tips for Decorating kids’ Bedrooms
Let’s take a look at the latest trends in kid’s bedroom decor and nursery decor. Here are some third party reviews and recommendations to change up your child’s room and create a new look and feel.
Even though you are decorating a child’s room, you really always want to start with you, the parent/caregiver. Most often, it is the mothers that have a vision of what they want the space to look and feel lie.
Consideration for Nurseries
As it relates to a nursery, you always want to have window coverings as a key consideration. These are to be considered, not only for their esthetics but also for their function. You want window coverings that are highly effective in keeping light out so your baby will get more sleep. A baby that gets more sleep will be a gift to the entire family.
When considering nursery, furniture choose flexible options that are versatile enough to adapt to your child’s needs. Modern furniture tends to be minimalistic in nature.
Space saving furniture is another great choice. These allow you to maximize your space, which is important especially if you don’t have a lot of space to work with in the beginning. Also consider multipurpose furniture as well. So find a crib that also has a changing table and some amount of diaper storage. There are also storage cribs that feature drawers where baby clothing, bedding, receivers, burp cloths etc can be stored. That will free up space as it may reduce your need for a dresser or chest of drawers.
Space saving and multipurpose furniture also allow for a cleaner and tidy look which will make a room more inviting. This can give both you and your baby a way to be at ease while in space.
Considerations for Older Kids Rooms
When it comes to older kids you want to balance the options with mature materials and colors. For whimsical fun pieces you want to limit these to accessories. Just keep in mind that as they grow, their tastes will change and you don’t want to be updating their rooms every year.
Choose items that are sophisticated with a modern design and you can always add a splash of color. You can take into consideration your kid’s tastes when choosing an accent color. You want to at the same time balance out rugged pieces that are kid friendly but not too childish in appearance.
Equipping Kids Room for the New Normal
With the current pandemic, more people are working from home and kids are also learning from home. So there is a need for activity tables, workstations and multi-functional furniture. Consider a loft bed for its space-saving capabilities. It allows space for a bed and for a work area in one room without it becoming too cluttered.
Updating a Child’s Room
If your child has outgrown their room decor you may be able to update their room with small touches. If their furniture is still functional you can simply swap out rugs, bedding, window coverings and even wall paper to update the room to a more mature look.
After we build your home you want to move into a space that is inviting as well as fully functional. When it comes to kids’ rooms we hope these tips help. And if you would like to hire an interior designer or decorator, then go right ahead. Sometimes their vision and experience will see further than your dreams for your child’s room.
by
Bevony
on 31 March 2021 Comments Off on Attempts to Temper Crazy Price Gains in the B.C Real Estate Market
The housing market in British Columbia is hot right now thanks to fallen interest rates. As such, the bidding process is being scrutinized to see how it can be changed to temper these price increases. The new normal on the property market is multiple offers which drives selling prices far above a seller’s asking price.
There are now discussions being held about how the bidding process can be changed. This, in an effort to temper price increases. The real estate system in British Columbia is quite opaque. And so, homebuyers rely on the information about offers that are provided by the seller’s agent. So a buyer really has no idea what is going on in the back end. What this means is that an unscrupulous realtor can sway things in their favor. We are not saying that this is happening nor that it is happening often, but we know that the potential is there.
You never really know in actuality how many offers have been submitted. So, if a realtor tells you “we have shown this property 20 times” you may want to put in a higher bid. You will want to do this as you may feel like the competition is high. When in reality, 20 people viewing a property does not mean 20 offers were made. It also doesn’t mean that all the offers made were done at the asking price or higher.
What is the Bidding Process Like in Other Provinces?
In Ontario, there is more transparency in the process. Sellers file offers to a public registry so buyers can see just how many offers have been made on a property. You still are unable to see the terms and prices of an offer. But at least it still gives you a better look at the property listing and how it is performing.
Suggestions for a New Bidding Process
Most bidding websites use an “automatic step-up clause” system. This allows bidders to set a maximum bid and bidding occurs in specific increments. This type of system could help to temper the blind bidding we see being done in the market today.
One example recently tweeted showed how one house got two offers. One was at asking price and the other was $175,000 over asking price. In this case we can see how an automatic step-up clause system could prevent such a huge jump. If the bid amount was set up in increments of $5000, the successful buyer would not have had to spend so much extra money on this one property. And in turn, the property prices of other sale units in the area would not be affected.
Now that borrowing is cheaper for buyers, they can afford more than they could in previous years. With the growing concern about the pandemic, more people want to find that home that really meets the needs of their families while keeping them safe. So buyers are motivated once they can afford a property. But what about those who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and are now having to deal with living with less income? As prices increase, their dreams of owning a home fade day by day.
Benefits of More Transparency for the Offer Process
Allowing more transparency in the offer process could help some people still have the ability to afford a home during this time. In our current market, you only have the seller’s word and that is what you have to take. Sellers can even fudge the numbers, so they can increase demand.
With this type of behavior in the market, more and more sellers are expecting to get higher prices for their properties. And this creates a double standard of sorts. When agents are working with the buyer they want transparency but when they are working with the seller they want the reverse.
How Can Changing the Process Help?
Changing the process can help everyone. Most sellers go back into the market as buyers. And then they will want to benefit from a more transparent process.
Arm yourself with the knowledge of your rights as a buyer. The Real Estate Council of B.C states that buyers and buyers agents can inquire about the number of offers or how their offer compares to others when there are multiple bids. All brokerages must maintain records about submitted offers, so the information is there if there is an investigation or audit.
Ask for this information as a buyer so you can make an informed choice when trying to purchase a home.
How SilverBeam Homes Can Help
At the end of the day, if you find yourself in a situation where you simply cannot afford homes on the market, contact us. Here at SilverBeam Homes, we may just have what you need. Let us help you to build your home from the ground up according to your needs and to match your budget. Don’t know where to start? That’s OK, we can set you in the right direction and refer you to different professionals within our network for all your home buying needs.
by
Bevony
on 25 March 2021 Comments Off on Let’s Look Back at 2020 in Real Estate
Many players in the real estate market of Greater Vancouver had big plans for 2020. The COVID-19 came along and disrupted so many plans and lives. While people in all industries were hit, the hit for the real estate market was notable. The main reason being that the real estate industry had a lot of interactions that were mainly faced to face. This would include interactions between realtors and sellers as well as realtors and buyers. Initially, no one knew if the industry would continue to function and the lack of ability to meet face to face was just the first hurdle. But it wasn’t all bad.
Real Estate Designated an Essential Service
In March 2021, the government of British Columbia identified Real Estate as an essential service. And so the industry was encouraged to remain open as long as public health orders were being obeyed. The industry adapted quickly. Many took advantage of virtual showings, zoom meetings, and other types of digital media to keep the lines of communication open.
So it was the traditional open house that was first stopped. There was also the disconnection of the button on many MLS programs so that people couldn’t book open houses. While ways and means were being implemented to work around the lack of face-to-face meetings, there was a bit of difficulty to get the market moving again after the initial scare and pause.
Everything was changing. Staff had to be working from home, realtors had to be educated on the new ways to do business going forward. All in all, it was a challenging experience for most in the intermission.
How the Changes Affected The Industry
When Real Estate was designated an essential service, the Real Estate Council of British Columbia and the British Columbia Real Estate Association along with WorkSafeBC started to develop protocols. It was these protocols that lead to the opening of the industry. Realtors could continue their work and people could continue to fill their needs for selling or purchasing a home.
They started by adopting existing tools that were underutilized and started to include more information on new listings. Information such as room sizes, floor plans, photographs, and video tours all were being shared more often and quickly became the norm. Realtors would also advise clients to drive or walk around a neighborhood before making an appointment for a viewing. This way they could get a feel of the area and see if it truly emulated their style and matched their needs from the exterior.
How Have The Changes Affected The Selling Cycle?
Interestingly enough, all the changes have caused a shortening of the cycle. With more information readily available to buyers they can easier identify homes they are interested in and cross off others they are not. All while not driving around to multiple open houses while losing time and money doing so.
But how does it affect the realtors? Well, they now have a lot more work to do. They now have to space viewings and sanitize a house between viewings. There is also more back-end work since they are adding more information to listings causing longer working hours. But they do it happily as their industry is open. They want to keep it that way while satisfying their customers and helping them to find their dream homes.
Changes in Frazer Valley
Fraser Valley saw a drop in sales by 50% in April 2020. New listings also declined at a whopping rate of 60%. This was a real shock to the market especially since the last time figures were this low were in the ’80s and back then the population was less than half of what it was in 2020.
They too had to replace open houses with virtual experiences providing full digital floor plans and more photographs. This came at the expense of extra time and money spent on listing a property. But it was well worth it for many as it meant keeping their jobs and keeping their own families and their clients safe.
Comparing the Market to 2018 and 2019
Let us consider the pre-pandemic market and the post-pandemic market. In 2018 and 2019, the higher-end market was very quiet. Before the COVID-19 hit buyers were not even motivated by the low-interest rates. Everybody was in a “waiting it out” type of limbo. People were seemingly waiting for prices to drop significantly. While sellers were removing their listings from the market due to the very low offers that were going around.
Along came the pandemic and more people were stuck at home trying to cope with their homes even when they were outgrowing their homes. That is why there was a shortage of inventory when we look at the statistics from July 2020.
With the ability to provide more information digitally, the industry benefited by seeing a reduction in the tire kickers. Fewer people were going out to open houses on the weekend just to burn time or to entertain themselves. So actual viewers were coming in, already knowing what the house looked like and already know their way around. Many of them knew right away if they loved the house or not and if they would be putting in an offer or not.
The Current Process
The current buy-sell process is very conscious. Buyers are now looking more at the quality of a listing instead of looking at crazy amounts of listings. Zoom calls are very important to streamlining operations. Some operations have been streamlined so clients can book zoom meetings online.
The use of technology has made many operations more efficient.
by
Bevony
on 17 March 2021 Comments Off on Design Trends That Can Lead to Huge Regrets
Overdoing trends can lead to big regrets for many homeowners. Today we want to help steer you away from overdoing trends. Trends tend to be bold, daring, and thought-provoking, and it is easy to fall victim to their charm. Because they are new and noteworthy, it is easy to want to jump onto the wagon, but you will want to play it safe and avoid getting too on-trend with the fixed elements in your home. Leave the excitement to the accessories and accents.
Designers have the expertise to make trends work in a home harmoniously and sympathetically, ensuring beautiful home decor. But when left to your own devices you may not have the touch to provide that balance between too little and too much.
There is a lot of regret from homeowners and a survey done in the UK showed that 61% of participants had regrets of making their homes “too industrial” while another 52% which they had not gotten pulled in by the trend of open shelving. While the actual trends themselves may not be the problem, it is more likely the way they went about applying the trends in their home.
Know What Works
You want to look at the style of your home before you decide on decor. For example, if you have a traditional style home you won’t find industrial decor suiting int well but you could add an industrial flair to your urban downtown condo.
Remember those salad bowl vessel sinks from the late ‘90s, those may be a regrettable choice as today we have moved to straight lines and sinks carved from natural stone for a more rustic and modern mountain style.
Then there was the trend of open shelving. This one is still working well with modern designs. You will see this concept in kitchen designs and it follows the “less is more” approach. Kitchens nowadays have less adornment and open shelves that allow space for not just your usual kitchen inhabitants but also for beautiful objects that have been carefully curated to be left on display. This way you can have a functional item also acting as a decorative item.
How Much Regret Are We Talking About?
When it comes to blindly following a trend, you can end up with a decrease in the value of your property. Yes, you read that right, following the wrong trend or indulging too much in a trend can lead to a decrease in property value. On your regret evaluation, scale how big of a regret would a decrease in your property value be?
Play it safe, keep the fixed elements in your home boring if we may use that word and add the touches of trend in the accent and accessory items that you can easily change and move around. So what trends should you stay away from? Or what trends should you not dive into the deep end with?
Leather sofas
Wall texture
Chic shabby furniture
What’s The Better Option?
We aren’t saying you shouldn’t use any of the above, what we are saying is that you should not go overboard. Right now, in the pandemic, we all are spending more time at home and so a relaxed piece of furniture such as your sofa is something you want to be comfortable and inviting. You can swap things around by adding a slipcover. This way when the trend changes you can change it out without completely purchasing new furniture.
We mentioned leather sofas, and the truth is that the modern leather sofa is not the same as the ones our parents had in the 70s. Ours are more streamlined and are available in more than that one shade of brown so you can find something that works with your home and with your vibe.
Wall textures are another thing that have come back in, but you can now choose monochromatic options or tones and colors that work well with your furniture and your lifestyle without clashing with other items in the room. The bottom line is to be mindful, to be deliberate and keep the core of the space neutral. Get trendy with the accessories, with the accents and with the decor while keeping the main items safe.
In Conclusion
Trends come, and they go, some stay longer than others, and yet others come back around soon after disappearing. Revamping major items in your home with every new trend will be exhausting mentally, physically and financially. Anything you do in your home that doesn’t make it feel more like you or yours is something you will regret. So before you go gung-ho with a new trend, get some swatches, take them home and let them live with you for a couple days or weeks. Wait and see how you feel before you make the decision to do a drastic change that you may regret later on down the line.
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