5 Ways to Spruce Up Your Garden in 2018

As working professionals, we often find ourselves cramped up inside in front of the dimly blue light of our computer screens. What if we took our work to a brighter, more natural environment? We’d find ourselves much more happy and productive when it comes to getting that pile of work done. Landscaping and gardening are methods in which the Brad Roemer Realtor team love to amp up their homes that they are selling in the market. Although staging a home is one thing, we firmly believe that there are tell-tale trends that are going to be staying around for a very long time. Creating your secret garden oasis from the rest of the world will allow you to confidently zone in on your work with only the distraction of the occasional fly or bird. This safe sunlight exposure calls for extra Vitamin-D and increased vitality.

Here are some of our favorite trends for 2018:

1. Your paving counts: Choose between asymmetrical, limestone and textured paving to spruce up your home’s exterior space. It’s not by accident that these three paving styles all carry the same mismatched properties. Your backyard doesn’t need to be prim and proper to be the perfect spot for hosting summer BBQs and long-winded afternoon sessions working on your laptop.
2. Follow the Mediterranean way of life by investing in some outdoor furniture. As of 2021, it is estimated that Americans will continue to increase spending on such furniture by 3 to 4%. The main attractions are the infamous BBQ along with garden accessories such as potted plants, flower beds and comfy cushions for the whole family to use while enjoying supper outside.
3. While bringing some color into your garden isn’t such a difficult task when you’re growing an ornate and diversified group of flowers, don’t forget to think outside of the box when it comes to this critical design element. Grasp inspiration from Pantone’s color of the year, such as Ultra Violet, by getting a little DIY dirty by painting your brown pots purple. That comfy outdoor blanket we were mentioning earlier? Why not use yellow accents in your cushion and blanket set to match that lovely, effervescent purple? Think of your garden as simply another room and extension to your home. Treat it like it belongs in a garden magazine, and you’ll find yourself spending much more time out there.
4. People are taking it upon themselves to grow their own produce–the locally grown, organic mandate is definitely beginning to influence everyone. Dedicate a portion of your garden to growing rich greens such as kale, spinach and brussel sprouts. Why not add in a few cherry tomato stems and swiss chards plants? Thankfully the Brad Roemer team has working with both limited garden space and vast lots. There’s no excuse to not grow your own garden. Opt for vertical growing plants such as legumes (i.e. beans and peas), squash and pumpkin just in time for the fall.
   
5. It can be stressful maintaining a work-life balance, are we right? Bringing your plants inside aren’t simply an aesthetically-pleasing look, but they can detoxify your air, increase humidity and rid you of daily stressors. As humans, we are meant to be one with nature. Make sure your home is another reminder to get back to your roots when the going gets tough.

During a trip to the outskirts of London, England where Brad Roemer and his wife visited different bed and breakfasts, Roemer was instantly moved by the vintage characteristics of the villages they frequented. Of course, he ensured that the Brad Roemer team scouted vintage-looking homes for his real estate company in California, he also found novel ways to add a flair of vintage in interior design upgrades and renovations.

If you’re a die-hard lover for the rustic feel, then you’ll love these quaint how-to tips that you can apply to your own space.

1. Are your bedroom walls feeling plain and boring, or even slightly dingy? Change up the atmosphere by pulling off that old, ruddy wallpaper in exchange for wood. Yes, sounds a little out of the ordinary, doesn’t it? However, wooden walls with a stone fireplace is something that will invite you to sleep soundly every night. In order to keep your bedroom space feeling open and airy, there’s no need to tack on wood to every one of your four walls. Purchase slabs of wood at your local vintage store and create long, thick stripes on the wall where you keep your bed.
2. Put your old heirloom pieces to good use as you add a vintage thrill to your space. Your old grandparent’s suitcase double as a place to keep your old baubles but also as a decorative item. Think about stacking a smaller suitcase on a low, simple side table.
3. Low investment pieces can seriously make a difference in your home’s look and feel. Purchase a few crips quilts as a throw on your L-shaped couch in the den or living room, and hang up china plates. Think blue and white, as often seen in Portugal, for a nice European addition. A few kitchen canisters propped up against your stove for rice, sugar, salt and flour is another kitsch way to add some vintage in your home.
4. It’s all about the bed when it comes to vintage interior design. Don’t underestimate the beauty of a four poster bed, although there’s no need to stick with the curtains as they can bring some unnecessary weight to your room. At the bottom of your bed, you can add a vintage chest to keep your heavier wool blankets and extra linens for the chillier months.
5. In the essence of spring time, we must pay tribute to the lovely florals that were a centerpiece to the vintage era. Bringing in some delightful floral wallpaper in smaller spaces, such as your guest bathroom or solarium, will allow for the perfect final touches. Add in a vase of fresh flowers that you’ve grown from your garden and you’re set for this new journey through time.

Finding the right pieces for your home will not happen automatically. This is an error we see over and over again with our clients and followers–they wish to purchase everything at once. As Brad Roemer often suggests, you must first create a comprehensive vision of how you want your space to feel and look like before you get started. If you don’t have an interior design or real estate team to help you out, then it will be a very slow process. Every few weeks, dedicate time to scouting out your local flea market for vintage pieces that you can add to your home. Regularly follow the Brad Roemer Pinterest page for weekly ideas on how to incorporate rustic decor items into your home.