Welcome 2024! With a new year comes new design trends. If you’re planning to refresh your home this year, here are a few decor trends according to Southern Living magazine.

• A Show of Restraint. Remove anything that feels unnecessary to ensure each item makes a statement and impacts the general aesthetic.
• Warmer Hues. Painting rooms, including trim, ceilings, and walls, in earthy tones like rich browns, mossy greens, raisin, amber and sunny yellows is in for 2024.
• Classic Details. Pleated upholstery details on furniture is a twist on traditional style that looks crisp and fresh.
• Layered Furnishings. Eclectic found pieces and beautiful antiques paired next to a modern object create interest in a room.
• Durable materials. There is a trend toward investing in furnishings and finishes that will stand the test of time, children and pets. Performance fabrics and rugs, as well as indestructible flooring and countertops, will become even more popular this year.
• Outside Influence. Windows are getting bigger with the view and natural light becoming a focal point of the room, creating a comfortable and cozy environment.

If you’re planning to sell your home this year, I can recommend home improvements and decor suggestions on how to prepare your house to look its best so you can get the most for your investment.

Likewise, if you’re planning to take advantage of lower interest rates that are expected this year, I can help you find your ideal home.

Wishing you a healthy and happy 2024.

Here’s a list of Five Helpful Home Maintenance Tips to help ensure your home is in tip-top shape for the cold winter to come.

1. Schedule your HVAC check-up. Nothing is worse than discovering your furnace is out-of-order on that first chilly night. Turn it on now to make sure it’s working and consider having it professionally cleaned. You’ll also want to change any air filters in your home and prepare your humidifier for winter’s dry air.
2. Prepare your pipes. Exposed pipes can be a nightmare come winter time. Nobody wants to lose water due to a burst pipe. To avoid this, wrap all exposed pipes in foam insulation. You’ll also want to shut off the outside water supply from inside your home and drain all the water from outdoor spigots.
3. Clean your fireplace. Make sure your fireplace is ready for use by scheduling a professional cleaning. Birds’ nests and debris can accumulate in your chimney over the spring and summer, causing either a clog or a fire hazard. A clean flue will help you stay safe and warm this winter.
4. Clear your gutters. After autumn leaves have fallen, you might find a fair amount of debris lodged in your gutters, so make sure to give them a good clean now. Clogged gutters can lead to ice dams and prevent melting snow from draining, which, in turn, can damage your roof and siding.
5. Keep an eye on your trees. Do you have beautiful trees surrounding your house? Be careful – these could cause problems in ice and snowstorms. Branches can get weighed down and snap, damaging your home. When you have a winter storm, help out your trees by knocking off excess snow and relieving some of the weight. A roof rake is a great tool to get those hard-to-reach branches.

By spending a fall weekend now, you can prepare your home for winter weather and keep it running in good condition all season long.

As always, feel free to reach out to me with any real estate and home related questions. As your local Realtor, I’m available to help with all your homeownership needs.

All my best,