value design

Small Investments For Big Impact
How Inexpensive Changes Can Make A Big Difference In Your Condo’s Appeal
By Marcia Bradford
The busy summer rental season is on its way and your condo unit may be looking at little drab and dingy. You’d like to completely redecorate it, but your budget is tight. What can you do?

Plenty, according to interior designers who decorate condos along the gulf coast. Presented below are some ideas for inexpensive ways to update and freshen the look of your condo’s interior.

Rearrange, Clean & Freshen
Richard Tubb, owner of Richard Tubb Interiors in Birmingham, Ala., said one of the simplest approaches to updating the look of a condo is cost-free. “Almost every time I walk into a condo where I am asked for advice about decorating, the first thing I do is move the sofa,” he said. “Most of the time, sofas are placed flat against a wall, making the room look square and boxy. By simply angling the sofa and possibly placing a sofa table or a nice lamp behind it, you can make the room look much more inviting and attractive.”

The dining table is another item that Tubb usually moves a bit, typically angling it so that everyone gets an outdoor view while eating. He also likes to create seating areas that are cozy and romantic, taking advantage of the views of the beach, rather than grouping chairs around the television. “There are many people I’ve worked with who are so surprised at how much better their condo looks just from rearranging the furniture,” he said. “Think about the first impression people get when they walk down the hall and enter the living space. Make it interesting and inviting, not boxy and boring.”

A thorough spring cleaning is an important, economical step toward giving a condo a fresh look, smell and feel, according to Anne Caulfield, owner of Interiors by Thalia in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. “Use a steam cleaner for a good deep cleaning, and make sure all the molding and trim work is caulked and touched up,” she advised. “The baseboard molding usually gets nicked and scuffed and can really show wear and tear. It can really make a difference just to clean and fix these areas.”

Tubb also suggested infusing the condo with a “calming, woody smell” using teak candles, for example, to provide a “spa-like” aroma when people arrive. “The idea is to create a feeling of relaxation,” he explained. “But don’t use sweet or fruity candles because that can be too overwhelming for many people.”

Update The Accents
If you are able to spend a little money—say, $100 to $500—on some new items, the best use of that money is to update some of your accents and accessories, designers said.

“You certainly won’t be able to do a complete remodel for $500, but there are a lot of little things you can do that will greatly improve the appearance of your condo,” Caulfield said. “New accent pillows, plants and throw rugs will provide fresh focal points for your renters. Make sure to remove things that look dated or faded. Artwork, for example, often gets faded by the sun.”

Terri Allen, owner of Terri Allen Interiors, I.D. in Foley, Ala., said that re-covering barstools and dining rooms chairs is a great way to update a condo. “We have a lot of customers who get this done and are very pleased with the results,” she said. “We will go to the condo and pick up the chairs, bring them to our shop to recover them and then reinstall them when they are done.”

An alternative might be to re-cover one or two easy chairs in the living room, Allen said. “Keep in mind that it’s important to use the right types of fabric that are suitable for upholstery and can take the beach environment.”

Since many condo owners have switched from wall-to-wall carpeting to tile floors in recent years, a nice area rug can be used to make a room more cozy and warm, Allen said. “You can get a nice 5-foot by 8-foot rug for under $500 that can make a big difference in the feel of the room.”

Tubb advised removing all old silk plants that “tend to get faded, dusty and squashed.” He further suggested removing accessories with the West Indies look, which is becoming dated. “When it comes to artwork, I always recommend that people try to find unique items from local artists or lesser-known artists from areas they visit rather than using cheap prints that are somewhat generic,” he said. “The more unique your accents are, the more you set your condo apart. At the same time, try to use a blend of colors and patterns that is pleasing to most people. Lighter, earthy colors, accessorized by diminished patterns, appeal to a wide range of people.”

Another relatively inexpensive way to keep a condo up to date is to supply high-end fashion and design magazines, Tubb said. “Make sure they are current and put them out on the coffee table. Many renters, especially women, love having these available to browse through while they’re at the beach.”

If possible, he advised, work directly with the cleaning person or company to make sure they trade out the magazines each month. “Make sure the cleaning staff know that you care and appreciate their work,” he said. “Compliment them on the good job they are doing.”

Contact Our Designers Richard Tubb Richard Tubb Interiors Birmingham, Ala. (205) 324-7613 Terri Allen Terri Allen Interiors I.D. Foley, Ala. (251) 943-9795 www.terriallenid.com Anne Caulfield Interiors By Thalia Shalimar, Fla. (850) 796-1100 www.interiorsbythalia.com

Change The Wall Color
Condo owners who are willing and able to do some of the work themselves might want to consider painting at least some of the rooms, Caulfield said. “The best and most obvious way to update a condo interior is to apply a fresh coat of paint. You might want to try some of the popular brighter colors, such as lime green, terra cotta or robin’s egg blue, for some of your walls. Or, you might want to paint the walls a neutral color and use the brighter tones for accents. The point is, when you use your own elbow grease, you can save all kinds of money on interior improvements.”

Caulfield acknowledged that it might seem overwhelming for condo owners to update their interiors, especially if they are doing the work themselves. “It might be best to just concentrate on one room this year and really get to see what you have accomplished, rather than try to spread a small budget over the entire space. If the living area looks good, you might focus on one of the bedrooms.”

One of the most practical things that can be done in units that have smaller bedrooms near a walkway or hallway is to invest in light-blocking window covers, Allen advised. “Many of these units have small windows in the back bedrooms, with thin mini-blinds that do not block the lights from outside, so the room never gets truly dark at night,” she said. “We have found it very helpful to install a heavy drape or a Roman shade with a black-out liner in these rooms, and this can be done for under $500.”

Allen, Caulfield and Tubb all offer on-site consultations for condo owners seeking ideas and advice. “Sometimes it’s worthwhile to hire a consultant who is aware of the latest trends and has seen a lot of other condos,” Caulfield said. “A designer can often give you a laundry list of things you can or should do on a specific budget and can save you from making decorating mistakes.”

She also recommended that condo owners look at interior design magazines or visit online sites, such as www.diy.com.