The Holidays are coming! Are you staging for the season?

The Holidays are coming! The Holidays are coming! Are you in panic mode? Last year about this time, you may have discussed making changes to your décor for the holidays, but decided to wait until after they were over. You weren't doing any heavy entertaining so it could wait.

This year is a whole new ball game. You are hosting Thanksgiving this year and you still haven't made those updates you talked about last year. Don't fret, there is still time to update without breaking the bank.

First of all don't start any major renovations until after the New Year. Big renovations can often take unexpected twists and turns and in the end cost more then you budget for. With that in mind, start out with a few smaller, achievable goals.

As you have heard many times in this column, paint is the cheapest way to get major impact for minor money. Think your furniture looks worn out? Change the backdrop and the furniture will look different too. You don't even have to paint the entire room - maybe just paint an accent wall and BAM! The room instantly changes. Are your tables or painted furnishings looking worn? Update and unify them with a coat of paint.

You may want to purchase new furniture. If you do, purchase as neutral as your taste will allow with upholstered furnishings. This will enable you to achieve many different looks with wall color, flooring, window treatments, art and accessories. I am redecorating my living room and I am so grateful that the chocolate brown leather coordinates with blue and gold and green ... get the picture? I purchased a great base and can change out the look of that room for very little money.

If new furnishings are in your future, keep them in scale with the size of the room. Furnishings always look smaller in the showroom then they will in your house. If you feel you must have that 90 inch sofa that is 45 inches deep, try not to buy the matching chair or loveseat. Find some smaller occasional chairs to complete the grouping.

If you aren't purchasing new furniture, slipcovers can be your friend. I am amazed at the different styles there are currently. You can also make them yourself or have them made by one of the many talented seamstresses in town. The investment in slipcovers is significantly less than purchasing new furniture and you can change them out seasonally!

Speaking of seasonal décor, changing out accessories will give a room a whole new mood and look. Add fall leaves to picture frames or scented pinecones to the vase that was filled with your beach treasures from the summer. Pull out your warmer bedding, window treatments, area rugs and pillows and you won't recognize your house.

Once those changes are made, pull all of the accessories that you haven't changed out and put them in one room. See what you can pull together and put it in a new place. You will be amazed at the treasurers you discover right in your own home. If you have a bunch of mismatched items, unify them with paint! Repurposing what you already have will work wonders when you want to achieve an updated look for little expense.

If this advice seems a little overwhelming, stop by Whitt's End Home and Garden on Monday, October 26 at 6:30pm. I will be offering a FREE class, called Spice Up your Sofa. See how I take one sofa and by changing out area rugs, pillows, and accessories, change the whole look.

I will also be offering another FREE class at Whitt's End on November 17^th, at 10:30am, called Stage Your Table. Discover some fabulous low cost ways to decorate your holiday table!

I am looking forward to showing you some great Seasonal Staging!

As seen in The News Enterprise, October 23, authored by Sheila O'Mara of Staged SO Right