photo by: AdobeStock

Wallpaper is used as an accent wall in this AdobeStock photo.

An old trend is hanging around again in Lawrence homes — wallpaper.

Bailey Stuart, president of the Lawrence Board of Realtors, sat down with the Journal-World to discuss trends that she’s seeing in Lawrence homes as she goes about her business of helping people buy and sell new properties.

Wallpaper — arguably its peak of popularity was the early 1900s, but it also made appearances in many a 1980s home — might not be the trend you were expecting. Stuart can understand.

“I caution people to tread lightly,” Stuart said.

photo by: Submitted

Bailey Stuart

She’s not often seeing entire rooms that are wallpapered, although some small bathrooms might be the exception. Rather, wallpaper has become a fun and practical way to create an accent wall in a living room or master bedroom, for example. In those uses, she said people are often choosing bright colors and bold, geometric shapes.

“Just a little goes a long ways, though,” she said.

Here’s a look at some other topics that have caught the eye of Stuart.

What about paint trends and finishes?

Brighter colors are becoming more popular in many of the homes she’s been in, Stuart said.

“It does seem like the trend of beige and gray of the past — “greige” — seems to be declining,” she said.

But the biggest trend with paint may be that it no longer is getting placed atop wood with the frequency of yesteryear. There was a time period where painted kitchen cabinets, for example, were the norm. Now, Stuart said she’s seeing more natural wood-finished cabinets.

Some newer homes also are looking for other ways to get natural wood into their aesthetic. Incorporating uncovered wood beams into the design is one way that is happening, she said.

What are popular ways that homes are getting smarter?

When Stuart talked about smart homes, she didn’t immediately turn to the voice-activated appliances and controls that have been the headlines in tech magazines and elsewhere. She said two of the most popular smart devices are more mundane — smart thermostats and keyless entry systems.

Thermostats that can be programmed in multiple ways can be a money saving feature, and the idea of not needing keys in your pocket is appealing to many. Stuart said such features aren’t likely going to be the No. 1 item on any homebuyers list, but she said those features — when discovered during a showing — almost always get a positive reaction.

“They do put that house above another that doesn’t have them,” Stuart said.

When it comes to appealing energy efficiency projects, she said don’t forget to look up: Attic insulation. It is not an item that potential homebuyers often see during a tour, but she encourages homeowners who have made the investment to add insulation to tout that in the home’s advertisement. Potential homebuyers can easily see the value of a well insulated attic, once they know about it.

What are the right remodeling projects to tackle?

Stuart said she always encourages homeowners to do home remodeling projects because they think the projects will improve how they live in their homes. In other words, don’t wait until you are about to sell your home to do the remodel.

“Do the upgrades now and enjoy them for a little while,” she said.

As for the type of projects that often standout, the two most popular haven’t changed for quite awhile: kitchens and bathrooms.

Those projects can get all types of complicated, if that is what you want. They can involved gutting the entire kitchen and bath, and replacing all fixtures and appliances, adding granite counters (she says granite has maintained its popularity) and more.

But if that is not your desire or your budget, Stuart said there is relatively simple way to make a big difference in those room: Replace all your cabinet hardware — handles, hinges and other such items — and install new light fixtures.

“Those are the two fastest and easiest ways to give a room a new, modern appeal,” she said.

What are some solid outdoor living strategies?

People find outdoor living spaces are a great area to decompress, Stuart said. That makes items like a gazebo, a sun awning or a fire pit popular options for advanced landscaping projects.

“A lot of people use words like calm, peaceful setting, and privacy is appealing to a lot of buyers,” Stuart said.

photo by: AdobeStock

A fire pit and sitting area is shown in this stock image.

What’s not for everyone, though, is lots of high-maintenance plants and flowers. If you are thinking about a landscape plan but don’t really consider yourself a gardener, Stuart said there are some good options.

“Aim for that happy medium of low maintenance and not busy, but still attractive,” she said.

Hitting that target may not be as hard as it sounds. Stuart said talk with a professional landscaper, or simply ask questions at the local nursery. Ask about drought tolerant plants, and check on items like how often a tree or shrub needs to be pruned.

What’s one tip that people might be surprised to learn?

Pay extra attention to where people take their shoes off in your home. Spend some time standing in that spot and looking around with a critical eye. After all, that might be what your guests are doing.

Everything you see from that spot “needs to be top priority,” especially if you are in the process of selling your home, Stuart said.

“It is a point where you are just standing there, and you do take a lot in right when you walk in,” she said.