Make small changes, such as replacing the house numbers, swapping interior fixtures as they wear out, adding an updated pop of color, or replacing old towel racks or light switches in the bathroom. These trendy touches are appealing to buyers and tenants, and they will ensure the design stays fresh without busting your budget or wasting your money on a hot trend that won’t last. 15. LESS IS ALWAYS MORE Cramming your interiors with vintage and modern pieces results in a haphazard design that won’t come together. Remember the advice Coco Chanel gave modern women: When leaving the house, look in the mirror and remove one piece of jewelry. When you exercise the same restraint and become more deliberate in your choices, your interiors will become the perfect combination of classic and modern design. •
10. EMBRACE MINIMALISM Minimalism is a deeply streamlined approach to interior design that does a great job of keeping the space visually calm while focusing attention on one piece that stands out. This might be a statement armchair, a beautiful antique mirror, or an architectural detail, such as a gorgeous original Beaux Arts fireplace. 11. KEEP IT SIMPLE A simple decor is more versatile. Classic pieces with clean lines are still a good foil for the sometimes harsh look of modern design. If you don’t want to worry about blending Rococo detail with Pop Art posters, look for classic pieces that share a similar design philosophy. 12. SPEND YOUR MONEY Financial advisors, investment blogs, and real estate apps will tell you to spend as little
as possible on your investment, but the fact remains that quality costs money. Investing in high-quality fixtures and furnishings may hurt initially, but the long-term payoff is better. These pieces are more likely to hold their value, too, which can be helpful if you sell a home with the interior intact. 13. ASK FOR FEEDBACK You won’t be able to redesign the interior of your investment property to suit every tenant, but it’s good to consider input to make the home more appealing to future tenants and potential buyers. If you’re blending modern and classic design elements for the first time and have not yet put the home up for sale or rent, solicit opinions from family and friends, and make changes that make sense. 14. UPDATE WHAT YOU CAN It’s possible to stay on top of modern sensibilities without going overboard.
LUKE BABICH
Luke Babich is the co-founder of Clever Real Estate, a real estate education platform committed to helping homebuyers, sellers, and investors make smarter financial decisions. Babich is a licensed real estate agent in the state of Missouri. His research and insights have been featured on BiggerPockets, Inman, the Los Angeles Times, and other online and media outlets. Babich earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, with honors, from Stanford University.
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