Children's Rooms Through the Years

Here are some tips on changing room decorations over the years.

Nursery

• The key to longevity is keeping the essentials basic (e.g., beds, dressers, side tables) and decorating with temporary things. For example: White or mint-colored walls provide a basic pastel backdrop; you can then swap out knickknacks, wall photos and mobiles as your child grows up.
• You can choose a theme or add a few prints and patterns in places, such as with the bed linens.
• Keep colors gender neutral so your children can vary how masculine and feminine they want to decorate as they grow up, or easily swap rooms with a sibling.
• Monochrome themes are sleek, but make it interesting with varied textures, wood accents and fun wallpapers.
• Storage boxes are a must for storing baby care supplies and, later, toys. Consider buying a vintage or secondhand dresser for decorative storage.

Child's room

• Involve your child: Bring in his or her favorite colors, hobbies and inspirations! Think of how to incorporate travels, comics, celebrity role models and your kid's dreams.
• Swap out baby accessories for items for older kids.
• Keep things simple; kids love to change their minds, so let their decorations bring the color and texture to the room.
• Removable wall stickers let your kid change the walls easily and inexpensively.
• A bedside light will let a child read before going to sleep and help him or her find the bathroom in the middle of the night.
• Drape some string lights across the room for a cozy look.
• When there are multiple kids to a room, keep the walls and furniture simple to reduce visual clutter; bring out each person's distinct personality but aim for complementary designs.
• Storage is a must: Keep it at the edge of the room and leave space in the center for play. To encourage kids' tidiness, ensure storage is nearby and at their height.
• Here are some fun features most kids love: a blackboard wall, a loft bedroom (if possible) or glow-in-the-dark painted stars on the ceiling.
• Let your kids help out in the decorating; afterwards, they'll love their rooms!

Teen's room

• A desk is a necessity for studying, as well as a place to spend free time online.
• Storage is still essential, so make sure it's something he or she wants to use.
• Give your teen display space for pictures, postcards and collections — peel-and-stick cork is inexpensive and easy to use.

Personal space is important, so let your teen decorate after you install the basic furniture.

Should You Fix Your House Up or Sell Now?

With the fall season upon us, change is in the air. For many families, children are growing up and moving out of the house, maybe leaving for college or taking a jump into the working world. Parents are finding themselves as empty nesters for the first time. The question inevitably arises: is it finally time to downsize?

If you’re pondering that thought, you may also be wondering if you should fix-up your house before you sell it, or go straight to the market as-is, allowing a potential buyer to do the updates and remodeling. If you’re one of the many homeowners this camp, here are a few tips to help you decide which way to go.

1. Analyze Your Market

A real estate professional can help you to understand your market and the potential level of buyer interest and demand for your home. Are you in a seller’s market or a buyer’s market? This can change based on the price range of your home, too. A professional can also give you some insight on what you can change or remodel, and how to declutter your house to make it attractive to buyers in your area.

2. Get an Inspector

Right now, the average length of time a family stays in a home is between 9-10 years. That’s a little longer than the historical average, so if you’ve been living in your home for a while, it might be time to make some significant improvements. Think: electrical system, HVAC units, roof, siding, etc. An inspector can give you a better idea of the condition of your home, if it is up to current code standards, and recommendations on how to have your house ready before you put it on the market.

3. Decide If You Need to Remodel

You may also be thinking about driving buyer appeal with something like a kitchen or a bathroom remodel. If so, first dig into the market value of your home, and compare it to the actual cost of the remodel. A local real estate professional can help you determine your home’s market value, and you’ll want to get a few quotes from contractors on the potential remodel pricing as well. Once you have those two factors narrowed down, you can to decide if a remodel will give you a return on your investment when you sell. Oftentimes, it is actually more advantageous to price your house to sell, list it competitively, and then let the buyer pick the colors they want for their bathroom tiles and the type of countertop they prefer. The 2019 Cost vs. Value Report in Remodeling Magazine compares the average cost for remodeling projects with the value those projects typically retain at resale.

Bottom Line

Nationwide, inventory is low, meaning there is less than the 6-month housing supply needed for a normal market. This drives buyer demand, creating a perfect time to sell. If you’re considering selling your house, sit down with a local real estate professional. Partner with someone who can help you confidently determine what will be the best choice for you and your family.

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2 new spots coming to former H Harper Station space from Lady Bird Atlanta's Michael Lennox: Tavern Golden Eagle & Taco Shop Muchacho!