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Water-Efficient Landscaping Tips for Summer

Are you concerned with saving water this summer? Not only is water essential to life (for you and your plants), but saving more water can also save on your bills.

In the heat of summer, there’s nothing better than a cold drink and a soothing breeze in a beautiful, manicured yard. To get the most from your home’s exterior without being wasteful, you want to make sure you’re not using too much water to keep up the maintenance.

Don’t worry, you can do your bit for the environment without losing your little patch of heaven! Read on for these water-efficient landscaping tips to get you through the hot months to come.

Make an Action Plan for Your Garden

As every Orange County homeowner knows, it takes planning and dedication to maintain a lush garden in Southern California. For the sake of mother nature and your utility bills, it helps to make a conscious effort to save water as you plan your home’s exterior.

In addition to selection and arrangements, your landscaping plan should take into consideration things like:

– regional/microclimatic conditions of your yard

– topography

– use of property

– current vegetation and landscaping

For best results, you should also group your current plants by their water needs, sun/shade requirements and preferred soil conditions.

This information will vary because each yard is different. Once you’ve done the research and taken your notes, you can start to put a plan together to meet the needs of your yard.

Choose Native Plants

Consider preserving any plants that are already thriving in your yard. Since they’re already acclimatized, see if you can incorporate them into your design. These plants are most likely to perform well in your soil and local environment.

If you don’t like their current location, you can move plants to sit in designated beds or spread them out as you desire. A lot of native plants in Orange County are beautiful to look at and will mix in with any flora design that you have your heart set on.

Use Plants That Thrive in Dry Conditions

For some plants, you can see signs that they’re able to withstand dry, drought conditions. Look for plants that have “hairy” leaves — they have them to reduce evaporation. Think of the leaves that Lamb’s Ear plants have.

Another great option are succulents. Succulents have juicy, fat leaves that specialize in the storage of water. Remember that any plant you put into the ground needs watering for the first 1-2 years. Even if they’re tolerant of droughts, they still need to establish themselves. When you purchase new plants, make sure you do the research on how much water they need to get started.

Keep Your Soil Healthy

No matter the climate, every yard needs a healthy soil foundation to thrive. This is why you should check your soil before starting your improvements. Basic tests will tell you if your soils are acidic, alkaline or neutral.

Once you know your soil type, you can then work on adjusting the pH levels to what you need. Most local garden centers will offer testing kits and can help you make the adjustments.

Make Use of Mulch

If you want to preserve the moisture in your soil, then applying mulch is the best thing you can do. Mulch prevents evaporation and makes a better environment to encourage root growth.

You’ll want to apply a layer of organic mulch around 2-3 inches deep. Organic mulches you can choose include chopped leaves, pine straw and shredded bulk.

Mulch also helps to prevent weeds from taking over. The more weeds growing, the more competition there is for soil moisture. As mulch decomposes, it additionally improves the soil to help boost its water absorption. This is a big bonus when it comes to summer landscaping.

Be Cautious When Adding Turf

Grassy turf can be a great addition to add color and appeal to your landscape, and it’s nice to dig your toes in on a sunny day. However, drought can cause devastation to its growth cycle. So, if you want a lush lawn, you need to have a plan about where you’ll plant it and how it’s watered.

Play areas and recreation spaces are popular spaces to install turf, since it’s safer and more comfortable than dirt or mulch. But grass takes a lot of water, so keep these areas smaller, if possible. This will increase your water efficiency, reduce runoff and lower overall evaporation.

Some grass species cope with drought better than others. If you prefer not to constantly water your lawn, pick a grass type that goes dormant in extreme conditions and springs back to life when rains return.

Use What Mother Nature Provides

In such low-moisture areas as Southern California, it can help to get creative with how you source your water. You can collect rain and dew with tanks and barrels to capture what nature already provides. When it rains, a barrel beneath your gutters can capture a large amount of runoff from your roof.

These water collection barrels have a hole in the top for water to flow in. They then have an on/off tap at the bottom where you can place your watering can.

You can buy them ready-made, or you can make one yourself. Check with your local environmental/water agencies who may offer classes or instruction manuals on the subject.

If you create a water collection system, make sure to cover the intake hole with mesh to stop debris and mosquitoes from entering. Keep the barrel elevated too, as this will make it easier to fill your watering devices.

Be Sensible and Do Your Maintenance

To encourage strong root growth in drought conditions, your plants still need water! How much water is required depends on your soil type, plant species, topography and other factors.

Whatever you do, check your local water restrictions and abide by them. Example water restrictions might include:Watering only from 8 pm to 10 am

– Only allowing irrigation to run for 15 minutes max

– Exceptions for drip irrigation and low-pressure sprinklers

– Nozzles on hoses for manual watering

– Watering only allowed 3 days a week

– Alternating watering days between even- and odd-numbered houses

Before you invest time, money and a boatload of water, it’s important to know your local water restrictions. When you know these in advance, you’ll be able to plan around them without sacrificing the condition of your yard.

Use Drip Irrigation & Soaker Hoses

Another of the best summer landscaping tips is to use a drip or soaker hose. A soaker hose has little holes along the length of it. This lets water seep out of it at a slow pace over time. Drip irrigation is another slow method of watering that’s more efficient.

In both cases, efficiency is higher because the water gets right into the roots. Watering above the plants coats their upper portions in water while providing less to the roots right away. Also, the spray from water falling can be wasteful, and you don’t want to be the bad neighbor who wastes water!

Water-Efficient Landscaping Tips Made Easy

Now you know these top summer landscaping tips, you’re in great shape to make a plan and start saving water this summer.

To recap: Know your local water restrictions and always follow them. Use native plants and plants that thrive in dry conditions, if possible. Work with what nature gives you, and your local environment. The best landscaping designs always tie in the home and the yard environment in one cohesive look. This will provide you with a beautiful yard, even in the driest of summer months.

If you’re looking to find your perfect patch of Californian heaven, contact us today. At the Stavros Group, we’re always happy to help you make a plan to reach your real estate goals.

How Does Smart Home Technology Affect the Sale of My Home?

In the 1950’s, homeowners were wowed by dreams of the future, with flying cars, self-baking ovens and automated vacuums. Many of these concepts have come to life with smart home technology, though not necessarily in the way they were once imagined.

Smart homes today revolve around making life easier, letting you adjust everything from temperature to lighting from anywhere in the world. These types of improvements do a lot to attract millennial buyers who have grown up with technology and look forward to its integration into the home.

A Little Does a Lot

Having access to tech in a home office, kitchen and bathroom will set your home apart from other houses without such modern conveniences. Fortunately, unlike completely remodeling major portions of the building, adding value to your Orange County home with smart tech won’t break the bank.

Spending around $1,000 before putting your Newport Beach house for sale, a paltry sum where renovations are concerned, will result in significant gains on the housing market. Though these aren’t always monetary, it can result in a faster sale since these features are very attractive to buyers that would be interested in installing some of the same units themselves.

Doorbells and Detectors

Many tech tools don’t take much of a time investment when it comes to installation but provide a host of benefits that you and future homeowners will inevitably enjoy. Some of the most common items that will help craft the perfect smart home include:

Video Doorbells – Security is always a major concern, and being able to keep an eye on your front door while at work or even in the shower makes a home feel that much safer.

Smart Locks – Another front-door option, these take a little more effort to install but the added security and keyless entry options make it a worthwhile addition.

Smoke Detectors – Knowing anytime when there’s a fire or batteries need changing is a definite boon, and the cost of multiple detectors can be offset by smart devices that listen for the alarms already present in your house.

Thermostat – The first real integrated smart device, this can ensure your home is always at the correct temperature and can even respond to voice commands when you’re relaxing on your couch!

Light Bulbs – Lamps on timers have been a mainstay of vacationers for decades, but smart bulbs will turn on with your phone, and many can even adjust color and brightness on a whim!

Smart Speaker/Hub – Alexa and Echo, Amazon and Google’s smart-home supermodels, are just two examples of units that respond to your voice and tie all of your tech together into a cohesive unit.

These simple upgrades will transform your home, and even though they seem like superficial additions they let possible buyers see your house as more than building. Safety and security are just as important as comfort and convenience, and when it’s all integrated it becomes one irresistible package!

Room to Improve

While all of this technology does wonders for your home, you also need to consider which rooms will benefit most from electronic additions. Every area can be upgraded, but certain tech fits more easily in specific locations.

Living rooms or gathering spaces are definite spots to create a centralized hub for technology. Having your smart hub where everyone congregates makes it much easier to control and monitor the house while entertaining, and hose-shoppers will take notice when the primary living space is set up to be a control room for all of their toys.

Another space that benefits from these upgrades is the kitchen. While a smart refrigerator is more expensive than other options, adding high-tech appliances to the most complex room in the house makes it that much more alluring. Even something as simple as adding receptacles with USB ports by the nightstand can be a deal-maker!

Selling My Home With Savings

It’s not just a fancy screen on a dryer that makes it a big selling point. Making your home smarter also makes it energy efficient. If lights turn off when you aren’t home and thermostats regulate heat and cooling efficiently, homeowners are going to see a drop in their energy bills. High tech security also looks good to insurance companies, so fire alarms and video doorbells are a definite win for you and potential buyers.

Getting your house ready for the Orange County real estate market is never easy, but make sure you keep smart home technology in mind as you prepare to put your Newport Beach house for sale. The added value comes in a variety of ways, and if spending around a thousand dollars helps you make the sale more quickly, it’s an investment any homeowner can get behind!

If you find it time to buy or sell your home in Orange County, I hope you’ll think of me!

The Best Bold Kitchen Trends for Your Orange County Home

They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where traditionally families come together to cook and eat the majority of their meals. Now, due to the recent trend of open concept in Orange County homes, it has become one of the focal points of the home and a place where people spend much of their time, serving as the hub of the home. While all white has dominated the kitchen decor market for some time, there seems to be a recent trend to the opposite side of the spectrum in darker colors. Recently, homeowners are getting bolder in their choices of design features and even bringing back some vintage trends. Whether on the hunt for a new home in Newport Beach or making updates before putting your Laguna Beach home for sale, we’re sharing some of the latest bold Orange County kitchen design trends that could give your cooking space a whole new style.

Get Creative With Backsplash

Backsplashes have been popular for a while now, but the way homeowners are using them to vamp up their kitchen is evolving. Rather than just a small slab behind the counter, people are becoming adventuresome by extending them all the way up the wall. The portion of the wall in which tiles are used isn’t the only thing increasing in size — we now see larger slabs of tiles as well as a variety of textures and patterns taking over. If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your cooking space, this may be the way to do it, as you can pick from virtually any color tile to complement your kitchen area. Large slabs, such as quartz, marble, wood, glass, and stainless steel, are also becoming increasingly popular. With the endless amount of color, texture and material options, it’s no surprise that backsplashes are causing such a big, well, … splash.

Darken the Mood

Another decor trend that provides a multitude of options to be creative and have a little fun with is with paint colors. Slowly we see homes doing away with all traditional beige or grey walls, instead leaning towards more darker, moodier colors like navy, black and dark green. Check out our recent blog post about some of the hottest paint color trends to help spur your inspiration. Although pristine white kitchens are still popular at the moment, we’re seeing more and more people get in touch with their darker side, as well. If you’re looking for a bold update to your kitchen space, try a dark green wall or navy cabinets with gold hardware. It’ll surely make your space pop.

Add a Pop of Color

Remember the days that having all stainless steel appliances was the new, modern craze? Though their popularity still remains high, as they provide a sleek, modern look, some homeowners are becoming a bit more daring and opting for bold colored appliances such as red or blue. This 70’s era trend may not be for everyone, but for those looking to liven up their kitchen area a bit, going with one or even a few bolder appliances may provide the pop that you are looking for. Have fun with it a little and start with a blue or green toaster. If you find you like it then take the next step by replacing one of your larger appliances. One thing to remember, though, is that you want to ensure that your love for that red refrigerator will remain intact for the life of the appliance!

What are your thoughts on where kitchen trends are going? Do you like the bolder, more textured and patterned designs that are taking place or do you prefer the sleek, white, clean kitchen aesthetic? Whatever your preference, here at the Stavros Group, we aim to locate the perfect home for you, complete with either the kitchen of your dreams or a space you can envision once you add your personal touch. If and when the time comes for you to buy or sell, we would love to be of service!

The Best Apps to Make Your Orange County Home Search Easier

With over 3,000,000 people living in Orange County, the competition for homes for sale in Orange County is high. This constant struggle for housing means that the old ways of looking for properties are out. Looking for signs in the yard or reading the local paper no longer gets you the house you are looking for, and house hunters have now turned to technology to aid in their search.

As your Orange County real estate expert, it’s our mission to match you with the perfect home. That’s why we scour the market every day, attend private tours, and maintain a wide professional network of local realtors. We understand that sometimes during the house hunting process it’s only natural for buyers to want to browse the market themselves. There’s no doubt that looking through the gorgeous Laguna Beach or Newport Beach oceanfront homes for sale is exciting. With all kinds of real estate apps available these days, it makes it easy for our house hunting clients to browse through the inventory and bring ideas to us. Although nothing replaces the knowledge, experience and personal customer service that you gain from working directly with a realtor, there are some benefits in utilizing these apps in conjunction with your agent.

Since you may be inclined to browse the market in your spare time, we’ve listed some of the key features of the most popular home-search apps. Have a look:

Zillow

Many people consider Zillow to be the best home searching app. Zillow provides what it calls a Zestimate, which allows you to see the estimated worth of the property you are interested in. (Read a comparison we did on a few online home value estimators.) Bear in mind that this is just an estimate, so it’s always smart to work with a realtor to come up with the most accurate home value based on the current market and your needs. Tools on this app also give you the opportunity to look up various statistics and even search properties based on certain specifications, such as property type, price, region, and features. You can create your own account on Zillow to keep track of your searches and the information you gather.

Redfin

This app is helpful because of its holistic nature. The app updates every 15 to 30 minutes to keep you on top of the game. You can also draw a box around the area you are searching, and only see homes within that perimeter. Search on Redfin for homes for sale in Orange County, and get a thorough list of short sale alters, foreclosures, and sale-by-owner properties. Discuss your favorites with friends, family or your realtor by using the sharing tools that the site provides.

Realtor.com

The National Association of Realtors designates this app as its official search engine. Additionally, the organization has various connections with Multiple Listing Systems, meaning the app updates faster and lists more properties. Connect to your Google Chromecast through this app and stream information to your television. Filter your search based on price, square footage, or even schools in the area.

Trulia

This app is a great choice for those actively seeking to buy an Orange County home. The tools that the app provides have the sole purpose of helping you find the perfect home to purchase. One tool, for example, allows you to filter for very specific features, such as type of flooring. You can also utilize the mortgage calculator as you become more serious about a property, as well as take a thorough look at the home through the various photos and immersive video tours.

LoopNet

This option is great for those looking for properties with multiple units. It provides a wider range of detail about these properties than many of the other apps. LoopNet offers data on traffic, financial details, street views, and geography of Orange County real estate. The app allows the opportunity to consider these commercial or multi-unit properties whether you live in the area or not.

HomeSnap

This app is especially useful for buying a home with your partner or getting input from family and friends. HomeSnap has special features specifically designed for sharing and messaging not only home listings but also home features and details. The app also has the capability of displaying details of a home from just a quick photo of the exterior. Take a picture and see the estimated home value, related schools and ratings, taxes, interior photos, and more.

While nothing compares to the personalized experience you get from working with a seasoned Orange County real estate agent, in certain situations utilizing these apps may be beneficial in helping you get ideas on the type of home, price range, and the area you want to target. Having an idea of what you are looking for, whether it be one of the gorgeous Laguna Beach ocean view homes for sale or a brand new Corona del Mar home, although not a requirement, often makes the job of the real estate agent easier in locating your dream home, as well. Whatever step you are at in your house hunting process, we are honored to help you get you where you want to be. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today so we can discuss your home buying plan and get you into the Orange County home of your dreams!

5 Reasons To Sell Your Orange County Home in 2019

32 N La Senda Dr

The world of real estate can be confusing to those on the outside who don’t spend every day studying the latest trends. When it comes to selling something as valuable as a home, however, it’s important to make as informed of a decision as possible, because a mistake can cost you dearly in your final sale price. If you’re considering selling a home in the near future and you want to know what the real Orange County real estate market is saying, it’s very simple — the time to sell is now! We are currently in a slight seller’s market, but there are signs that a change is not too far off. We’ve broken down a few of the top reasons why it may be a good idea to put your Orange County home for sale sooner rather than later.

1) The Room For Profit Remains High

At the end of the day, the goal in real estate is a pretty basic one: You want to sell your home for a healthy profit over what you paid for it and invested in improvements. The good news is, for current homeowners, it is highly likely that there is a great deal of profit waiting for you if you sell your home. Over the past decades, there has been a great deal of growth in Orange County real estate. The market has been strong since recovering from the latest recession, as well, which means your home is likely worth a good deal more than you paid for it, even if you’ve only owned it a few years.

2) Mortgage Rates Are Down

At the end of 2018, interest rates were on the rise, and it looked like the buying market was beginning to cool. Since then, there’s been a surprising turn of events in Orange County real estate: So far in 2019, rates have crawled their way back down. That means that house hunting is more appealing to potential buyers, who can now make a higher offer while getting the same practical cost over the course of their loan. While the year started off as a slight buyer’s market, lower rates pushed the market back into balance by the end of February, and into what the slight seller’s market we have today.

3) The Competition Is Coming

As of now, the inventory of homes on the market in Orange County is not currently keeping up with the demand. While interest rates remain low, new homes on the market are getting scooped up in bidding wars fast, and the competition among sellers is low. In such an appealing selling market, however, this trend will not continue forever. More and more homes will be listed in the months to come, as more sellers realize the time is right. Acting now lets you beat the rush of competition in the Orange County real estate market.

4) Millennials Are Ready to Boost the Buyer Pool

There are few consumer groups more misunderstood than Millennials, and that often leads to missed opportunities by those in sales. While it’s often reported that Millennials are not interested in a lot of the traditional rites of adulthood prior generations have been known to pursue, the reality is that the economic landscape they entered following the recession simply moved them behind schedule. Now, not only are young Millennials ready to own their first homes, but older Millennials who were hit hardest by the recession are also in a position to shop, meaning an influx of new buyers will hit the market in 2019.

5) The Next Recession Is Coming

While there are many reasons that the Orange County real estate market is so appealing to sellers right now, perhaps the strongest reason to think about selling your home in Newport Beach is what the market is shaping to look like in the not-too-distant future. All good things must come to an end, and economic experts believe that the current strong economy is ready for a downturn—sooner rather than later. While there’s no knowing exactly when it will happen, it’s widely believed that another recession will hit within a few years. If you’re not planning to stay in your current home long enough to ride out the next downturn, 2019 may be the last chance you get to sell in a hot Orange County real estate market.

If you’re a local to Newport Beach, Laguna Beach or Corona del Mar and you’ve considered putting your Orange County home for sale in the next few years, then there is simply no time like the present. The current market is a great one for sellers, and it is likely to become less lucrative the longer you wait to sell. As your dedicated Orange County real estate professional, it’s my honor to help navigate you down a pathway to profit. Don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss how I can help you today!

Home Buyer’s Remorse: Who’s Having It and How to Avoid It

Making the jump from renting to owning an Orange County home is a big step. Many Americans are eager to take the leap into homeownership because it’s one of the factors that embodies the “American Dream”. Unfortunately, many people don’t go into this huge undertaking with the knowledge and information they need to fully understand what they’re getting themselves into. Because of this, new research shows that many new homeowners are suddenly having home buyer’s remorse. Read on to discover why certain people are feeling this way and what you can do to ensure you’re happy with your Orange County home purchase!

A recent Bankrate survey shows that 44% of all Americans have some regrets when it comes to their home purchase. What’s even more surprising is that, when broken down generationally, a whopping 63% of millennials regretted buying their home. A few of the main reasons for this included the size of the house not meeting their needs, bad location, and mortgage payments being too high. However, their biggest gripe was related to unexpected maintenance costs.

Often times, new homeowners are unfamiliar with the extent of the costs required to maintain a home, including utilities, taxes and insurance, and unexpected repairs or replacements. As any seasoned homeowner will tell you, surprises are unavoidable, so it pays to be prepared. Whether you’re a new or prospective home buyer, we’ve provided a few helpful tips to hopefully take away any unexpected costs along the way — take heed and spare yourself the trouble down the road!

What? There’s more?

So you reserved a huge chunk of your savings for that large down payment — great! But you’re not quite done yet… Be prepared for closing costs that’ll range from roughly 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price.

Maintaining your Home and your Happiness

It’s just a fact of homeownership that things are bound to break or give out, and they eventually will need repairing or replacing. It may be tough after a down payment and closing costs, but expecting the unexpected by keeping a reserve for repairs can make the difference between heartache and happiness. It’s recommended to save 1% of your home’s purchase price each year for upkeep costs. Take some time each month to inspect the pain points around your home and you can rest assured.

Don’t Forget Those Taxes

One of the biggest mistakes millennials make is only factoring in the cost of their mortgage into their monthly budget. Property taxes and insurance can be a hidden cost that can create an extra burden if you’re not prepared. Avoid this by remembering when Property Tax is due in your area!

Don’t Get Stuck in the Dark

New homeowners often times come from situations where they were living in a smaller space or renting somewhere that many of the utilities were covered for them. This leads to unexpected costs when maintaining the utilities of your home. It is good to keep in mind that you will typically be paying for electric, gas, and water, some of which may be higher than what you’re used to paying depending on if you’re upsizing or not.

Home ownership should be an amazing and rewarding experience, a dream come true for most Americans. Buying a home puts your monthly payments to work as an investment, by building your own equity instead of your landlord’s. And, as a homeowner, you have total freedom to make the choices you want and live the life you envision for yourself and your family! Just keep in mind that a prepared homeowner is a happy homeowner. While we can’t rid you of property taxes, at The Stavros Group we promise to find you an Orange County home that’s a perfect fit for your lifestyle and your budget! Let us know how we can help.

How to Quickly Spruce up Your Orange County Home

Putting your home for sale in Laguna Beach and want to stage your home to sell quickly? Or just looking to spruce up your Corona del Mar home a bit? There are lots of things you can do to a space to liven it up — buy new furniture, add some unique or colorful decor touches, update fixtures — but probably the one that creates the most dramatic change is adding a fresh coat of paint. For far less than the cost of a major renovation, painting your walls a new color will make your home feel modern, current, and refreshingly new. Whether you’re just moving in, looking to refurbish your existing space, or trying to sell your Orange County home quickly, here are a few of the trendiest interior paint colors that are sure to transform any room in your house.

Metropolitan AF-690 from Benjamin Moore

Voted Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2019, their Metropolitan AF-690 is a neutral gray that is stylish yet comforting at the same time and seemingly pairs well with everything. Shades of gray are very in right now, due to their calming nature and their ability to add an air of class and sophistication to any space. According to Benjamin Moore’s Director of Strategic Design Intelligence, Ellen O’Neill, “Metropolitan AF-690 emanates nuance, harmony and extravagant ease. Always adaptable, it softens to matte or shimmers with sheen. It’s neutral. It’s understated. It just is. This is color, off-duty.”

This color would look great in any room of the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom. To give you even more reason to love it, this Metropolitan AF-690 was also featured on Consumer Report’s list of Hottest Interior Paint Colors of 2019. According to Consumer Report’s Paint Ratings, they recommend using either the Benjamin Moore Aura or the Benjamin Moore Regal Select, both slightly pricier options but are environmentally-friendly, and only one coat is needed to cover your walls.

Blue Tequila from Behr

To add a calming, beachy vibe to your home, a color like Behr’s Blue Tequila is the perfect shade of blue-green to compliment a room. A more modern take on seafoam, this paint can add the perfect touch of color as an accent wall in any living area or bedroom, or coat your entire kitchen in it to transform your cooking area. Pair with a classic eggshell white for a quintessential beach feel, or pair with shades of taupes, browns and even orange to give a more rustic feel. This is another color that is extremely versatile and is bound to look good in whatever capacity you use it!

Peppercorn from Sherwin-Williams

Often people shy away from darker colors, but Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn is a charcoal gray that packs a punch while retaining that neutral elegance. Darker walls make colors pop, especially if accompanied by lighter crown-molding or furniture to contrast with the bold walls. If you’re hesitant to turn your entire living room or bedroom this dark of hue, then start by playing around in the bathroom. A hall bathroom is a great place to try out bolder colors and decor choices since this isn’t a room you’re constantly using. Then, if you happen to love it, you can expand beyond to more areas of your house!

Reflecting Pool from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams

For those looking to add a pop of color to their homes, Reflecting Pool by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams may be a perfect option. This beautiful shade of teal is bold enough to add spice to a dining room or living room, but also modern enough to give a sophisticated and elegant feel to the home. This was another color that made it onto Consumer Report’s list of Hottest Interior Paint Colors of 2019, which recommends using HGTV Home Infinity by Sherwin-Williams or the HGTV Home Showcase paint for this color, both ranking high in their Paint Ratings. Pair it with navy and a yellow hue if you’re aiming for more of a fun and playful look, or with greys and creams if you want just a pop of color. This hue would be a great option when updating a modern or mid-century modern style space.

Ella Rose from Magnolia Home Paint

An unexpected color that you may not have thought of incorporating into your home is pink. Most people associate shades of pink with youthful, “girly” rooms. However, the right shade of pastel pink or dusty rose can add a bit of charm to any shabby chic or traditional home. Ella Rose from Magnolia Home Paint by Joanna Gaines is a beautiful pale neutral pink with accents of peach. It has a softer, sweeter touch to it that will translate to your home. It’s the perfect shade if you want a graceful and timeless color with a fresh twist.

Blueprint S470-5 from Behr

Behr’s Blueprint is a deep hue of beautiful slate blue that would compliment a bedroom, living room or kitchen. Voted as Behr’s 2019 Color of the Year, this color would especially compliment a modern or mid-century modern aesthetic home. Shades of blue are always popular, as they are calming and usually very versatile. However, this shade adds a bit more dimension to a room and can make lighter-colored furniture or cabinets really pop. This was another color that made it onto Consumer Report’s list of Hottest Interior Paint Colors of 2019. They recommend using Behr Marquee, Behr Premium Plus Enamel, or Behr Premium Plus Ultra for this color, all ranking high in their Paint Ratings.

Magnolia Green from Magnolia Home Paint

If you want to recreate the rustic Fixer-Upper look that Joanna Gaines is so famous for creating, then Magnolia Green from Magnolia Home Paint is a perfect place to start. This gorgeous olive green color can be used as an accent or to fill an entire room. It’s extremely versatile and, although you might not initially think it at first glance, it can look amazing in any room of the house. Pair it with creams and grays to complete that enchanting farmhouse look.

I hope these colors have given you some inspiration to get you started on that renovation or home facelift you’ve been dreaming about. Whatever decor choices you make, what really matters is that you make it feel like you. If you get to the point where your current house no longer feels like home and you’re yearning for a bigger change, I’d love to help you find that perfect Orange County property that truly is the home of your dreams.