Gina Dougherty, Home Staging Redondo Beach, CA- FusionDesignConsulting.com

Choose a theme – Having a theme organizes the look and feel of your decorating. It helps you keep the decorating under control and prevents it from looking cluttered. You can choose a theme based on colors- red and green, turquoise and silver, or pink and gold, purple and green are a few examples. The colors don’t have to be traditional Holiday colors. Or you can decorate based on a style such as traditional, modern, Victorian, country, etc. These images are from Country Living Magazine, you can see many more at their site.

Carry through to wrapping paper- Choose wrapping paper that matches your theme. You could use plain brown paper with a colorful ribbon for a country theme or all silver paper with any color of ribbon to match your decorations. Quality ribbon makes a big difference in the look of your wrapped gifts. You can find ribbon by the yard at craft stores or online. Lastly, handmade tags are a nice finish that personalize the gift.

Tip: instead of using tags for your children, wrap each child’s presents in their own gift wrap- green for Jack, red for Lauren.

Use clear lights- Plain, simple, festive.

Use what you have in different ways- You don’t have to buy all new decorations to make a change, create a new look by using what you have in different ways:

· Ornaments in a bowl for a centerpiece

· Garland around windows

· Table runners on coffee and side tables

· Gather fresh greenery from the garden

· Decorate with fruit, flowers and food- ok, not such a good idea if you have pets or small children...

For Help with Holiday Decorting or more tips call or email Fusion Design Consulting.

The seller of this 1960 original beach house called me after trying unsuccessfully to sell his house in Redondo Beach.

We went through the house together and discussed the strategy for Staging for the best ROI. We decided it was best to concentrate on updated lighting and paint, scraping the popcorn ceilings, and removing old draperies to let in ligh.

The transformation took just a few weeks and the house sold and closed in 6 weeks.

Home Staging makes a big difference even with small updates!

We created a plan for updating and decorating that helped this house sell.

Home Staging provides many benefits, a designer's touch and inspiration, professional referrals, guidance and help with preparing your home for sale. Home Staging also provides one more key element: an objective eye.

Our homes are functionaly and comfortably suited to our lifestyles. We know where everything is and we're also strangely oblivious to where everything is. It makes sense to us that the kitchen counter is filled with items needed for everyday life- the toaster, knife block, can-opener, mixer, mail, canister of utensils, coffee, tea, flour, sugar..., look in your kitchen, I'm sure there are more things you can add to the list.

How's the bathroom counter looking? Your nightstands and dresser? How about the kids' toys- I could swear they really do walk around on their own and spread throughout the house when your not looking.

When your opening your house to buyers you need to see your house through their eyes. Imagine what impression buyers will have when they walk into your house for the first time.

Most times the first impression begins before they even step foot into your house- it begins with pictures on the internet. How does your house look in pictures? Do the pictures showcase a model home or your clutter?

By Staging your house properly you create a great first impression that attracts buyers to your property.

A Home Staging consultation will guide you through all of these issues and help you create a great first impression in pictures and in person. Home Staging is the first step in marketing your house for sale.

One of the key pieces of advice all Home Stagers impart on home-sellers is to pack early. A clean, clutter free house is the starting point for Home Staging.

By packing up seldom used items, cleaning out storage areas, closets, cabinets and garages you create open spaces that home buyers are seeking. By packing early, you are better prepared for your upcoming move. There is so much to do when buying and selling your home, it can be very stressful; but, you don't have to do it alone.

Home Sweet Home is a packing and unpacking service available throughout California and other states.

They offer professional and customized packing and unpacking services. They take the stress out of moving by doing the hard work for you.

Home Sweet Home services include:

•· Packing materials
•· Sorting
•· Packing
•· Un-Packing
•· Organizing
•· Mover and Storage Referrals

Home Sweet Home "packs intelligently"- their staff is experienced, careful and caring. They efficiently organize, pack and label your belongings, making your move smooth and easy.

By hiring Home Sweet Home to pack and unpack for you, they know where everything is packed and how you had it placed before, making it easy to unpack and organize everything in your new home.

They offer "Jump Start" packages beginning for only $399.

I always recommend them in my Home Staging consultation reports and have worked with them several times with excellent results and satisfied customers.

Whether it's packing only some items as advised in the Home Staging Consultation, or packing and un-packing the whole house during re-location, they can help.

You can contact them directly at: 310-984-0543 or 877-UNPACKME or visit www.unpackme.com